Luxembourg may be small, but not quite as small as people think. Not only does this little gem have several different regions and diverse landscapes, it also has multiple cities worth visiting! Luxembourg’s tenth youth hostel celebrated its grand opening on July 6th in the Grand Duchy’s second-largest city, Esch-sur-Alzette.
The youth hostel in numbers
• 122 beds in total, spread over 36 rooms
• 2 wheelchair accessible rooms with 3 beds each
• 4 meeting rooms as well as 1 fully-equipped conference room
• Just 26 minutes by train from the capital
• Open 365 days a year
Discover the region’s industrial heritage
Long before Luxembourg became big player in the global financial sector and a founding member of the European Union, Luxembourg’s Southern Minette region was well-known across the World for its ore exploitation, with countless mines and blast furnaces scattered around the area. The never-ending demand for iron also led to Luxembourg’s initial prosperity and influx of foreign citizens, responsible for the country’s diverse and international culture today.
While the industry’s glory days have passed and the economy has moved on to focusing on other sectors, the industrial history can still be witnessed all around the Minette. Several of the
mines, factories and blast furnaces have furthermore been converted into interesting museums and national heritage sites. An
original steam train even still connects some of these sites.
Nature reclaims its territory
While the remnants of Luxembourg’s heavy industry are slowly fading, nature is taking its course in reclaiming the sites, creating a truly unique symbiosis of wilderness and industrial abandonment, where green pastures meet red rock. The nature reserves Ellergronn in Esch-sur-Alzette as well as the Haard in Dudelange and Prënzebierg in Pétange-Niederkorn are just a few of the remarkable examples that are open to visitors on foot or by bicycle.
Packages for groups and individuals
In close cooperation with local partners, Luxembourg’s youth hostels have worked out a diverse set of
packages for school trips and groups. Ranging from cultural excursions to outdoor activities and educational group experiences, there’s something for everyone!
Furthermore, exciting mountain biking packages are available for those willing to explore the unique landscapes of Luxembourg’s Minette, either on their own or in a group!
The place to be for fans of music
Two of the country’s most interesting music venues are located in Esch-sur-Alzette.
The Kulturfabrik, a place converted into a cultural centre features a theatre as well as art exhibitions and a wide range of smaller concerts. The country’s largest music venue –
Rockhal – is located in the Belval district of Esch-sur-Alzette, just a few minutes away from the hostel by public transportation.
Great times ahead!
With the Grand Opening of our hostel behind us and all the formalities done with, the team looks forward to hosting guests from around the World in Esch-sur-Alzette. If the above caught your attention, head over to the
Luxembourgish hostelling association for more information as well as booking options!
