In 1959, an eighty-metre-high blast furnace rose from the ground in Sestao, a municipality about five kilometres from the Spanish port city of Bilbao.
Become a member unlock full access for € 50 a year
Already subscribed? Log In
Get the latest stories straight to your inbox
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.
Latest from the blog
On the occasion of International Art Nouveau Day, celebrated each year on June 10, a look at how this ornate architectural movement found its way into the most unlikely of places like coal mines, power stations, and railway yards and the long, sometimes heartbreaking battles to save what remains.
All photos and stories are copyrighted. Of course, linking to articles on the site is possible and allowed.
If you would like to use photos or articles from this website, please contact bart@hiddenmonuments.com.
© 2003-2026 Hiddenmonuments.com