The Upper Sûre Lake, or Stausee, was a veritable hive of activity in summer 2020, despite health restrictions. Police were forced to intervene on occasion due to the lack of social distancing and masks around the lake and its popular beaches.
A reservation system was swiftly set up by the local council to reduce the crowds and allow visitors to make use of the lake without breaking sanitary rules. This approach was said to be “positive overall” but Esch-sur-Sûre mayor Marco Schank told RTL Radio on Monday that some adjustments would be made ahead of 2021.
It will still be possible for visitors to book places online, but they will no longer be able to reserve multiple weekends in one go, said Schank, as this would prohibit others from reserving their own space.
The system is expected to cost “several euros”, according to the former CSV MP who retired from parliament in October. Schank explained the price had not yet been fixed by the municipal council, but he expected it to be around two or three euros at this stage.
In November the topic of paid reservations formed part of a discussion led by elected officials from the Upper Sûre nature park, with a second meeting to follow, explained René Michels, mayor of the Upper Sûre Lake municipality. Michels said the decision would be taken in accordance with the other communes because this was “a region with a solution”.
The additional funds, Schank explained, would be used to introduce a shuttle that would go around the different beaches. As of summer 2021, visitors will be able to park free of charge in the large seasonal car park with 700 spaces set up by the municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre before taking the shuttle bus to one of the three beaches (Lultzhausen, Insenborn 1 and Insenborn 2).
Schank added that a new car park in Lultzhausen would also be created next year, if the municipality’s request, which will be submitted in the near future, is approved by the administration.
On the other hand, the car parks in the immediate vicinity of the beaches (around 700 spaces in total) will continue to be subject to a charge. Schank announced that prices will also increase slightly. At present a parking space costs six euros for one day. Those who want to park closer to the lake will have to pay an extra fee, with the total thus coming close to 10 euros.
The municipality also had the idea of building a new hotel in a “hotel zone” in Lultzhausen. In the meantime, however, the state has bought the land, claiming that it wants to ensure that its future use is in line with water protection. The Upper Sûre Lake is the country’s largest reservoir of drinking water.
According to Schank, the municipality was rather surprised by the state’s decision to buy the land. The mayor does not think that the state wants to build a hotel, restaurant, or recreational project, at least there is no mention of such plans in the answer to his party’s parliamentary question on the subject.
Schank does not hide his disappointment, not only at the lack of trust of the government in the municipality, but also at not having been informed of the decision.
