... waiting to be granted a new lease of life. Domingos Oliveira takes us to special depots in Colmar-Berg and Leudelange.
Firefighters and fire engine enthusiasts alike will be entranced by the these depots, with halls full to the brim of historical fire vehicles - some like carriages, with wooden ladders, and others with a more classic motorised style.
These are true treasures for historians, but frustrating in equal measures, as the vehicles are not available for public viewing in the depot. The vehicles are densely parked and difficult to navigate around, rather than properly displayed in a museum style.
Inside the Leudelange warehouse. / © Domingos Oliveira
Historians would no doubt find the collection of antiquities and rarities somewhat heartbreaking, left to "rot" instead of being preserved.
The full collection is "worthy of committed volunteers", said former Minister of Home Affairs, Dan Kersch, in response to a parliamentary question in 2017. The idea of a firefighters museum was floated at the time, with the minister saying a museum would bring together the heritage and history of firefighters and volunteers in one place, recognising the commitment and dedication of the latter. A significant infrastructure would need to be put in place to gather the collective memory and properly showcase the technical know-how required for the service.
However, as discussions would be required between all relevant associations, ministries and administrations, it was considered too early to make a decision on the project.
A look into the warehouse in Colmar-Berg. / © Domingos Oliveira
The idea for a firefighters- or general technical museum has been in talks for years, with the old WSA (Warehouse Services Agency) terrain proposed as an ideal site for a museum. However, concrete plans still have not been made to date, so it would seem that the collection of historical vehicles is set to remain in Leudelange and Colmar-Berg for the foreseeable future.
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In the next instalment of the popular series, Domingos Oliveira will take readers on a journey through the "Rout Lëns" neighbourhood in Esch-sur-Alzette. The next instalment will be postponed by a week due to Grand Duke Jean's funeral taking place on 4 May.
About this series
In this popular series, RTL photographer Domingos Oliveira takes you to hidden places, lesser known locations and buildings with an interesting story.
1) The first instalment captured the last moment of the agricultural centre in Mersch.
2) We then visited Zenningen Zoo, which was closed in the early 80s.
3) Our third trip took us to Hesperange's eery swimming pool which now looks like the setting for an apocalyptic film.
4) The fourth photo series targeted the veritable ghost town "Cité Syrdall."
5) We also visited the iconic cinema Ariston in Esch, which opened in 1962 and closed in 2016. The cinema's history is an eventful one - from erotic films to youth theatre.
6) In the sixth instalment, we took a trip down memory lane and revisited pictures of Luxembourg City's former "centre Aldringen," an underground parking lot and cultural hub that gave way to Centre Hamilius.
7) In the seventh instalment, we explored the former police museum in Luxembourg's Verlorenkost neighbourhood.
