Details Announced of Slate Museum Extension in Martelange

Yesterday the Secretary of State for Culture, Guy Arendt, and the Secretary of State for the Economy, Francine Closener, presented the details of the renovation of the slate quarries in Haut-Martelange on the border of Luxembourg and Belgium.

Having operated from the end of the 18th century until the 1980s, the slate site was acquired by the State in 2003 and is included in the supplementary inventory of historical heritage.

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, through its National Sites and Monuments Service, the slate quarry site has already been the subject of multiple interventions in the interest of safeguarding the existing heritage. In order to promote the site for didactic, cultural and tourist purposes, it was decided to make this exceptional heritage accessible by developing and using the underground chambers of the old slate quarries in Haut-Martelange, in order to provide the region with an area of cultural tourism.

During the presentation, Guy Arendt emphasized the importance of the planned work: "We are facing an exceptional site that is an integral part of our collective cultural heritage. In addition to the steel industry, the extraction and processing of slate was the second largest industry in the country and played a significant economic role for the country until the beginning of the Second World War. It is therefore important to highlight this site for didactic, cultural and tourist purposes."

The Secretary of State for the Economy, Francine Closener, welcomed the project of revaluation in terms of tourism: "We will create a new tourist attraction around the country's industrial and handicraft heritage, accessible regardless of the weather. This project is in line with our 'TOURISM 2022' strategy which consists of highlighting our strengths and the identity of the Grand Duchy to attract visitors looking for an authentic and high-quality tourist experience."

The subterranean circuit is about 350 meters long and allows visitors to descend to a depth of more than 40 meters under the natural terrain using different existing stairs and galleries. The investment of €7.1 million includes a water pumping station (up to a depth of 42 meters) with the installation of a water pumping system. It also includes the compliance and security of the on site excavation rooms ready for the opening to the public. The project will be set up in close collaboration with the association "Frënn vun der Lee", currently in charge of the site's operation, as well as the commune of Rambrouch.