Luxembourg City's new mini-golf course in the Pétrusse Valley welcomed its first visitors on Tuesday. Initially slated to open in April 2025, the attraction was delayed by more than a year, missing its goal of opening alongside the LUGA garden exhibition.
The discovery of small rocks falling from the cliff directly behind the course led to significant safety concerns and a subsequent postponement of the opening.
Fifteen months on, only half of the course's planned eighteen holes are open, the rest are deemed too close to the rock face. The course now features nine permanent lanes, supplemented by three mobile holes, bringing the total to twelve playing areas.
To enhance safety, a temporary fence has been erected between the mini-golf course and the cliff, at a cost of around €80,000.
At the inauguration, Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer stressed that this is only a provisional measure, underlining that the city hopes to eventually reopen the entire site following the installation of protective nets on the cliffs.
However, finding a permanent safety solution has proven to be a complex process, as the site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Polfer explained that any protective nets must not "denature" the site. Once the nets are in place, the stability of the cliff will be subject to ongoing monitoring.
Shaaf Milani-Nia, manager of the UNESCO site, pointed out that there can never be a one hundred percent guarantee that no stones will ever fall, as the cliff is a living natural structure inhabited by both flora and fauna, making its behaviour unpredictable.
Site manager Christian Blei, on the other hand, is taking the setbacks in stride, saying the most important thing is visitor safety. He added that the team made significant progress last year and will continue to improve the site, including upgrading the outdoor terraces.
The new mini-golf course is now open daily. Weekday hours are from 10am to 8pm, while at weekends the course operates from 10am to 10pm.
