The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked country in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) bordered by Belgium, France and Germany which, like Belgium lies at the crossroads of Germanic and Latin cultures. It is the only remaining Grand Duchy in the world and is the second-smallest of the European Union member states. Luxembourg is an example of proper organisation and successful planning: it combines a strong steel, finance and high technology industry, a strategic location at the heart of Western Europe and a diverse natural beauty, it is one of the three richest countries in the world. The topography of Luxembourg is mostly smooth, with some slightly mountainous spots in the north. Luxembourg is surprisingly biodiverse —given its size— and it is full of beautiful nature and gorgeous historic monuments. Its history is filled with stories of mighty emperors, ambitious counts and bloody battles of the Middle Ages. The fairy-tale like castles of times past are still there, perfectly blended into the landscape, to remind people of those times.