Nestled between Esch and Audun-le-Tiche, the site we will visit today served as an open air swimming pool for the Esch youth, as well as their friends across the border.
The idea came to fruition in 1925, when the city of Esch sought to increase the practice of swimming in the municipality. Without sufficient water flow at their disposal, the Mining and Metallurgical Society of Terres Rouges decided to adapt a pond in the area of Russange which belonged to the municipality.
This pond became the first swimming pool in the city of Esch, baptised ERA after the Swimming Club which was founded that same year. The site quickly gained in popularity and was developed into a leisure park, even hosting sporting competitions, until it suffered from competition when an indoor pool opened in Esch in 1950.
In the 60s and 70s, the ERA site underwent a lot of development, with enlargement work, the construction of a large changing area, the installation of water treatment. But in 1990, with the advent of the commodo/incommodo, expansion was brought to a halt: the swimming pool no longer conformed to standards.
This proved an unsurpassable obstacle, and five years later, the pool was closed by the municipality of Esch, which had hitherto rented the space for the symbolic value of a franc.
These days, it would seem that discussions are ongoing concerning an eventual redevelopment of the site. Should the idea prove popular, Esch could one day recover its outdoor pool and add it to the list of attractions in the city.
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) The seventh gallery in the series took us to Luxembourg's former police museum.
8) And in the 8th instalment we got to take a look at a cemetery for old fire engines.
9) The 9th gallery visited the Lentilles Terres Rouges site in Esch.
10) The 10th instalment explored the old ArcelorMittal works in Esch and Schifflange.
11) The 11th photo series resulted in fantastic views of Birtrange Castle.
12) The 12th trip was the Deisermillen mill in Grevenmacher.
13) For the 13th instalment, we looked at the old Diekirch brewery.
14) In the 14th gallery, we explored Schengen Castle.
