Differdange, Rue de Hussigny

On a hiking route of just under one kilometer in length, children and their families get their full money’s worth: along the path starting from the "Vëloschoul" in Differdange, six stations with unusual wooden sculptures tell the stories of their fairy tale characters. From the wicked witch to the carved puppet Pinocchio, Snow White or Cinderella, all fairy tale characters have their own sculpture. The "Klenge roude Leiw" by the author Mireille Weiten-de Waha is also part of the figures. It is not only about finding the stations but more about playing: the stations include challenges for the little ones, such as climbing a wall using Rapunzel’s braid. The path also hides wooden carved forest animals that can be spotted using the telescope installed along the path. Still: don’t forget binoculars!

A true piece of Differdange’s historical heritage, the Grôven Mine was in operation until 1957 and has now opened its doors to the public. What is a mine? How did the miners live? What tools did they use? How did they work? What was all this for? The answers to these questions and many more can be found in the depths of this gallery, which has been fully renovated to accommodate visitors. Short sound bites recount the main stages of the mine’s history in a few minutes. Visitors can look at old photos and tools, peer into cavities and breathe in the smell of hard work. You can just imagine all the noise and activity and what the daily life of the miners was like. At the Grôven Mine, visitors can experience for themselves the important role mining has played in Luxembourg’s history. Attention: The mine is currently closed due to renovations!

The route starts in Lasauvage, not far from the La Sauvage hiking hut. Since the route is marked in both directions, you can either hike towards the ponds in Lasauvage or through the gardens of the nature school. You will come across some relics of the former iron ore industry. For the most part, the route goes through the forests, providing a nice refreshment in summer. The 10-kilometer long route is very demanding, as there are some elevation meters to overcome.

The south of the Grand Duchy was occupied like the rest of the country following the invasion of Nazi Germany on May 10, 1940; However, there were occasional battles as units of the French army occupied the area for advanced defense purposes. After the rapidly changing conditions in the following days however, they withdrew and so the entire Minett region, like the rest of the country, came under occupation by the III. Reich - a situation that would last until liberation on September 10, 1944. The region also played a role in the liberation in 1944, as the south of the country was the first to be liberated by the advancing Western Allies. Today there are a number of monuments here to honor this historic moment, but also, for example, the "Liberty Road", the route of liberation that leads from Normandy, France, to Bastogne in Belgium. Here in Differdange, the third largest city in the country, there are numerous memorial sites. Brass cobblestones remember fellow citizens, most of them jewish families, who fell victim to the repression and persecution of the Nazi regime. Monuments are dedicated to the victims, but also to the resistance to occupation.