Group photo in Haut-Martelange;
Credit: MCULT
Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture has officially launched the nomination bid for the Haut-Martelange Slate Landscape nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Status.
On Monday 4 May 2026, Eric Thill, Luxembourg's Minister for Culture and Minister Delegate for Tourism, attended the official launch ceremony for the UNESCO nomination of the Haut-Martelange Slate Landscape, held at the Slate Museum in Haut-Martelange.
According to the ministry, this milestone marks a new phase in the development and international recognition of an emblematic site of Luxembourg's industrial heritage. Led by the Slate Museum, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Luxembourg Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO and the municipality of Rambrouch, the project aims, in a first step, to have this unique cultural landscape included on the national tentative list, with a view to its eventual inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In his address, Minister Thill emphasised the high potential of this nomination for the region's tourism and cultural development, saying: "The UNESCO World Heritage nomination is a major lever for strengthening the tourist appeal of the former slate quarries. In the medium term, it will also contribute to the renown of an entire region far beyond our borders. Beyond their cultural and economic impact, these sites generate real added value in terms of regional development. Moreover, they are synonymous with decentralisation and cultural democratisation, two fundamental values championed by the Ministry of Culture."
Located in northwestern Luxembourg, the Haut-Martelange site illustrates more than two centuries of slate mining history. Between industrial heritage, living know-how and workers' memories, this cultural landscape testifies to the close interaction between human activity, geology and architecture, the ministry noted.
Purchased by the State in 2003 and listed on the supplementary inventory of historical monuments, the site is now experiencing a "true renaissance" thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the Friends of the Slate association and the Slate Museum, and is being revitalised through key projects coordinated by the National Institute for Architectural Heritage (INPA).
The opening of the Johanna underground route in 2022 and the implementation of new museum, educational and architectural projects strengthen the nomination and demonstrate the site's vitality, according to the ministry.
Beyond cultural recognition, inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List would represent a catalyst for the region's territorial, tourism and economic development, while consolidating Luxembourg's contribution to European cultural landscapes. The ministry added that it would also help promote a sustainable approach to tourism, based on quality, education and the enhancement of industrial and natural heritage.
The partnership agreement signed on Monday between the Ministry of Culture, the municipality of Rambrouch and the Slate Museum confirms the commitment of each party to this common goal, while strengthening efforts to preserve this "exceptional" heritage site, the ministry noted.
