Underground Chambers at Martelange Slate Quarry to be Opened to Public

At Friday's government's cabinet meeting, it was decided to develop and open the underground chambers of the old slate quarries of Haut-Martelange.

The Ardoisières de Haut-Martelange site is an integral part of the Grand Duchy's collective cultural heritage which is important to highlight for didactic, cultural and tourist purposes.

As a result, Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Economy - Directorate General Tourism - are to work together to make accessible this exceptional heritage by developing and using the underground chambers of the old slate quarry in order to enhance this important heritage site and to provide the region with a high place of cultural tourism.

However, to be able to be exploited throughout the year, it will be necessary to achieve compliance and securing the extractions rooms at the site to be able to open them to the public. To this end, a site development concept has been developed by the National Sites and Monuments Service.

In order to allow these underground chambers to be visited under appropriate conditions, external facilities are also essential, such as the installation of a reception area with ticketing and distribution of helmets, sanitary facilities, a technical room and a room for the staff. The rehabilitation of the underground chambers and the surface development works of the old slate quarries at Haut-Martelange will be carried out by the National Sites and Monuments Service.

An agreement between the State and the future management structure that will take the legal form of a non-profit association will ensure the participation of the Tourism Directorate-General of the Ministry of the Economy in annual operating costs relating to the daily management of the site. The financial participation takes into account the commitment of staff as the activities of the association develop.

Budget details have not been communicated to date.