In the second half of the 19th century, iron ore from Lorraine and Luxembourg appeared to be on the decline. When pig iron was converted into steel using the Bessemer process, the result was far too brittle.
A guide to Luxembourg's industrial past, focusing on steel production heritage and mining sites now open for tourists.
In the second half of the 19th century, iron ore from Lorraine and Luxembourg appeared to be on the decline. When pig iron was converted into steel using the Bessemer process, the result was far too brittle.
Almost 100 years ago, the electric locomotive ADU No. 6 was assembled in the former steelworks of the Aciéries Réunies de Burbach-Eich-Dudelange, better known as Arbed.
During the modernisation of the steel company ARBED (Aciéries Réunies de Burbach‑Eich‑Dudelange), a concrete water tower was built in 1928.
To dispose of blast furnace slag from the Dudelange iron and steelworks, the company utilised a series of slag wagons provided by the German firm Jünkerather Gewerkschaft.
Two brothers, Charles and Jules Collart, secured a concession in 1881 to mine iron ore at the foot of the Katzenberg in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The Belval blast furnaces in Esch-sur-Alzette are the last remnants of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg steel industry. In 1997, the steel factory was shut down for good, only to rise like a phoenix from its ashes a few years later.
Right on the border between Belgium and Luxembourg, the Huldange tunnel was inaugurated in 1889, the last hurdle for goods trains running on the Vennbahn.
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If you love hiking and exploring industrial history, the Minett Trail in southern Luxembourg is the perfect adventure. Winding through the country’s historic steel heartland, this trail connects old industrial sites, cultural landmarks, and striking landscapes.
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