The Minett: Luxembourg's land of the red rocks

Why go

Most visitors skip the south, which makes it a rewarding surprise. The landscape of old open pits has grown back into forest and grassland, the steelworks have become concert halls and universities, and the towns have a warm, multicultural character shaped by generations of Italian and Portuguese workers. For families, it has some of the country's best days out.

Esch-sur-Alzette

**Esch-sur-Alzette** is Luxembourg's second city. Its long pedestrian shopping street, Rue de l'Alzette, has art nouveau facades, cafés and shops. On the wooded **Gaalgebierg** hill above town, the free **Escher Déierepark** animal park is popular with families. The **Kulturfabrik**, a former slaughterhouse, hosts concerts, theatre and a café. Esch was a European Capital of Culture in 2022, and many projects from that year live on.

Belval

On the edge of Esch, **Belval** is a new district built on a former steelworks. Two preserved **blast furnaces** tower over the University of Luxembourg, and you can climb one for a view of the old industrial landscape. The **Rockhal**, next door, is the country's largest concert venue. Belval Plaza has shops and restaurants.

Mining heritage

• **National Mining Museum** in Rumelange: ride a small mine train into a real former iron ore gallery.
• **Fond-de-Gras**: a preserved industrial site where the **Train 1900** steam train and a mining train run on summer Sundays and holidays.
• **Ellergronn nature reserve**: old mining land turned to forest, with trails and a visitor centre.

Hiking

The **Minett Trail** links the region's towns and nature reserves through red rock cliffs, old pits and forests. Along the route, small design cabins called Minett Park huts offer an unusual place to sleep.

Family days out

The **Parc Merveilleux** in Bettembourg is a long-running family park with fairy tale scenes, animals and playgrounds, easy to reach by train.

Getting there and around

Trains run frequently from Luxembourg City to Esch-sur-Alzette and Belval, and buses connect the smaller towns. Heritage trains at Fond-de-Gras run seasonally, so check dates before you go.

Where to stay

Most visitors make the Minett a day trip from the capital. Esch-sur-Alzette and Belval have business and mid-range hotels, and the Minett Trail cabins suit hikers.

Food

The south's Italian and Portuguese heritage means excellent pizzerias, pastry shops and family restaurants. Try pastel de nata in a Portuguese café or a simple plate of pasta after a day underground.

A sample day

Take the train from the capital to Belval and climb the blast furnace in the morning. Ride the bus to Rumelange for the mining museum, then head to Esch for lunch in a Portuguese or Italian restaurant and a stroll down Rue de l'Alzette. On a summer Sunday, swap the afternoon for the Train 1900 at Fond-de-Gras. Finish with a concert at the Rockhal or the Kulturfabrik.

A biosphere reserve

In 2020 UNESCO recognised the Minett as a biosphere reserve. Old open pits have become habitats for orchids, rare insects and birds, and the red cliffs make striking scenery. Several reserves have marked trails and information boards, so you can learn about both the mining past and the nature that has returned. It is a story of a landscape healing itself, and a good reason to linger.

Practical tips

Many heritage sites in the south open only from spring to autumn, and some only at weekends, so check before you set out. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a warm layer for the mine visit, as it stays cool underground all year.