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Mathura Brindavan blog

Luxembourg officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the north as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland (“good country”) in the south. Luxembourg has a population of 524,853 (as of October 2012)in an area of 2,586 square kilometers (998 sq mi).

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal monarchy in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU’s headquarters as well as those of several other major international organizations such as NATO. Belgium brings to mind images of exquisite lace, fine porcelain and melt in your mouth chocolates. Shouldering a legacy rich with culture, art and history, Belgium today is not just the seasoned traveler’s delight, but also a leading commercial and political centre of the European Union as also the headquarters of NATO. It is a country of romantic beaches along the north, rocky highlands down south and rolling green countryside in between. Whether it is Brussels, the capital city of Belgium that beckons you with it’s blend of old and new, or industrialized Antwerp the diamond centre of the world with it’s Gothic churches and quaint cobbled streets or a visit to a lace factory in Brugges – this and more, will make you want that visit to last forever. The land of van Eyck and Rubens is as ravishing now as the masterful brush strokes that captured and immortalized it centuries ago.

Austria, is a landlocked alpine German speaking country in Central Europe bordering Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Austria, along with neighboring Switzerland, is the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the Alps. Tourism forms an important part of Austria’s economy, accounting for almost 9% of the Austrian gross domestic product.Vienna attracts a major part of tourists, both in summer and winter. Salzburg receives about a fifth of tourist overnight stays compared to Vienna, which ranks it 2nd in the summer season. In the winter season, a number of winter sport resorts in western Austria overtake Salzburg in the number of tourist overnight stays.

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a landlocked microstate in Southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. For more than 700 years the leader of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel has ruled Andorra jointly. The first Andorran Constitution was passed in 1993, establishing a parliamentary co-principality. The co-princes remain Andorra’s heads of state but the roles are largely honorary. Andorra has become a popular tourist destination in Europe. Andorra has several major ski resorts, including Soldeu/El Tarter and Pal/Arinsal. These are very popular with tourists from Spain, France and the United Kingdom, particularly because their relatively gentle slopes are ideal for less experienced people as well as families.

France , officially the French Republic is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe, with several overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of three countries (Morocco, Spain) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. From its shape, it is often referred to in French as l’Hexagone (“The Hexagon”). It is a member of the European Union With 83 million foreign tourists in 2012 France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of the US (67 million) and China (58 million). This 83 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours, such as North Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy. It is third in income from tourism due to shorter duration of visits. France has 37 sites inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and features cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquility (green tourism). Small and picturesque French villages are promoted through the association Les plus Beaux Villages de France (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”).