Getting to Belval (Université) by public transport

At the heart of this newly transformed quarter of the city, which comprises the modern campus of the University of Luxembourg, you can see the imposing remnants of the iron ore industry that drove the economy of Luxembourg more than 100 years ago. So much has changed since then, and the two disused blast furnaces of Belval have become a major cultural highlight not to be missed. During Esch 2022 Capital of Culture many cultural events are hosted in new venues specially created in the southern part of the terrace of Furnace A. There is even a treasure hunt designed for both adults and children. Here using a map as a guide, you can have fun looking for hidden clues about the history of the site. Groups of 3 to 10 participants, advance booking required, Children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult.

This special exhibition space takes its name from the heaps of black matter (masse noire in French), which was the compound used to close the tap holes of the blast furnaces that produced industrial metals during the 20th century. Now that the building is no longer the site of industry, Massenoire is used for events related to the industrial heritage of Esch.

The Minett Trail is a 90-kilometer-long hiking route that runs across the Minett region. In ten stages, you can experience smaller and larger towns as well as eight nature reserves. These impress with old forests and former open-pit mining areas. With steep rock faces, red soil, and mine entrances, they are unique in Luxembourg. This section, with an alternative starting point, is wheelchair accessible. You hike between the new Belval district, which has rapidly developed for almost ten years, and the town of Esch-sur-Alzette. There is much to discover along this route: the former industrial wasteland has been made habitable and buildable again with great efforts; since then, the district, officially part of Esch-sur-Alzette, has been filled with new life. Whether cultural center (with the "Rockhal"), research or studies and sciences (Belval is also the location of the very young University of Luxembourg), or recreation, the site is a prime example of successful revitalization.

This summer, you can get a preview of what future mobility between the Unicampus in Belval and Luxembourg City might look like: Not by car, but by two wheels and pedals, the VéloExpress Belval-Luxembourg takes you 27 kilometers to your destination. It starts at the station in Belval and ends at the Glacis parking lot in the capital. Experience the contrast between the modern science city where you start and the nature reserves along the route, which lead you through former open-pit mining areas where nature is reclaiming its space.

Das Rocklab ist ein Ort der Kreativität, ein Inkubator und ein Beschleuniger für Künstler, Musiker und Kreative. Es organisiert regelmäßig Workshops und Schulungen für Musiker, Bands und Musikprofis. Jeder ist herzlich eingeladen, mitzumachen.

Opened in 2005, Rockhal is Luxembourg’s leading music venue capable of hosting a wide variety of international and local artists spanning a wide range of music styles. Located against the spectacular scenery of the former industrial steel plants of Belval, it has a main hall with a capacity of 6,500 people, a smaller venue (The Club) with a 1,200 standing capacity, and a more intimate space which can host up to 200 people (The Floor). But that’s not all, and if you are interested in trying out new musical ideas, you can hire space for rehearsal or recording in the Rocklab, which is a state-of-the-art documentation and resource centre.