RTL Today - Perfect Luxembourg staycation: Steel, Style and Fairytale - Our Top Tips for the South

In the third article of our series, discover the "Land of the red rocks", where Luxembourg´s past and future are visible.

This region is called “Minett” which is the Luxembourgish name for iron ore. It is also known as “The land of the red rocks” because of the red soil that is visible in many places.

This red iron ore in the ground formed the basis for the global success of Luxembourg´s steel industry.

Giele Botte / © Pulsa Pictures / LFT

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Luxembourgish renowned steel can be found in prominent places around the world, for example in the foundation of the new One World Trade Center in New York or in the world biggest skyscraper in Dubai.

Experience the authentic industrial charme of this region, where the University of Luxembourg is at home and where -in non-covid times - the country’s biggest music events take place at Rockhal.

Take the heat – and get some exercise at Belval!

The blast furnaces have lain dormant since 1997, but visitors on the Minett Tour can still immerse themselves in this world.

Climbing up the 180 steps of furnace A will reward you with a breath-taking view of the new town quarter and if the weather allows, you can see as far as France!

If you would like to know more about the area, the exhibition Belval and more shows how this area of steel has once looked like.

Be a miner – for a day!

Miners worked hard in the Land of the Red Rocks. They hewed corridors in the rock, rode rattling railways into the heart of the hills and brought rock to the surface in wagons. The iron ore was washed, mixed, heated, and turned into steel.

In Esch /Alzette you can delve into the lives of these workers: The restored Katzenberg mine site with the Museum of the Cockerill Mine displays the miners’ tools and machinery, a large collection of old photographs of the strenuous everyday grind, transport material and fossils found while mining the ore. On request you can even vist a working forge.

Animal park Esch - a little paradise in the forests

Just a stone throw from the city centre of Esch on top of a hill surrounded by forests this beautifully designed animal park has a lot to offer. Deer, goats, rabbits and many others also fewer known species like Konik and Huzule horses and Poitou donkeys can be marvelled at. Kids can even feed the animals with food provided on site.

While there, you should definitely enjoy some delicious home-made hot chocolate, coffee, tea or fruit juice at the Escher Bamhaiscafé which looks like a fairy tale castle from the Middle Ages with its many turrets and towers.

Sleeping in a treehouse

Perched high up in the treetops, the “Escher Bamhaiser” guesthouses wait for you to explore them. Three guesthouses can accommodate 4-6 people. Take a look at “The house of Maisy” for example.

Lift a car with one hand, win (or loose) against a robot at table football or melt steel in a couple of seconds?

All of this is possible with the right science and you can see how it works at the Science centre at Differdange.

Their exploration room with more than 70 interactive exploration stations has just opened again and here you can book tickets for their spectacular shows.

Interesting and highly topical, for people who know Luxembourgish, is their programme on youtube: Mythbusters Coronavirus.

In need of an adrenaline rush? Check out the most spectacular mountain biking trails of the region!

If you’re looking for the most exciting and spectacular mountain-bike-area in southern Luxembourg, you have found it!

Several trails for different levels lead through the terrain, if you are not a pro (yet) you may want to opt for the Weiler-la-Tour bike tour to start with.

This trail offers some of the best mountain biking in the region! It runs through the Lalléngerbierg nature reserve, a former open-pit mining site that boasts magnificent views of the Belval blast furnaces and the greater region. Once you’ve passed through the abundant vegetation, you’ll encounter up to five metres high red sandstone cliffs.

A Journey into the past- the rural and carriage museums in Peppange

In an old farm house that dates back to 1849, the rural museum traces the life of our ancestors. Take a look at the farming tools and machines and kids might enjoy seeing how children kept themselves occupied over the centuries with toys … and without any electronic devices! 😉.

On the same premises, but open only on Sundays, is the carriage museum, a collection of historic carriages of different types. Among the vehicles on display is a coupé that used to belong to the Grand Ducal court.

Regional office Top Tip:

“The bitter years” – Edward Steichen’s last exhibition that the famous photographer (The family of Man) curated as director at the Museum of Modern Art in New York:

The exhibition, which depicts rural America during the time of the great depression has found its home in the old water tower at Dudelange.

The view from the top of the water tower is fantastic! The mezzanine café Pomhouse on the ground floor is the ideal place to let impressions sink in.

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Please note that due to the COVID -19 situation sudden changes may occur, please double check the information on the respective websites.