The Irish Club of Luxembourg is organising a Guided Tour (in English) at the National Mining Museum in Rumelange on Saturday 8 May 2021, with groups of 10 people departing at 20-minute intervals from 10:00.

The guided tour lasts 2 hours and starts with a train ride down into the mine where you will see the illuminated underground exhibition with historical reconstructions. As the temperature in the mine is only around 10C, please wear appropriate warm clothing and footwear. You will receive protective helmets before you enter the mine. The train will also bring you back to the surface.

This tour addresses an important part of Luxembourg's industrial heritage of its iron and steel works from its start in 1870 to the closure of its last mine in 1981: in 1906, an all-time record of 6,875 miners were employed in Luxembourg and, in 1913, the country was among the top ten producers in the world of iron ore and pig iron.

The mining museum tour explores the tunnels of the abandoned Kirchberg and Walert mines and aims to keep the memory of the miners' work and develop tourism in a region suffering from the gradual closure of the mines. The first visitor train was introduced in 1984. The mine railway takes you into the underground gallery where you will discover the daily work of the miners as well as the technical development from 1870 to 1997. A museum guide shows you the working conditions of the miners, their first tools, their everyday life in the darkness and moisture and impressive machines form the modern time.

The National Mining Museum site includes 4 former mines:

- Walert: The Walert concession was granted in 1898 to the ironworks of Rodange. The mine was electrified in 1925 and was closed in 1963.

- Kirchberg: The Kirchberg concession was an early mine in activity from the 1880s to the 1930s. The main tunnel was used as the access to the neighbouring Walert mine.

- Langengrund: The Langengrund concession, a very modern mine, was part of a large cross-border group of mines exploited by the steelworks of Differdange. It was in activity from the 1900s to the 1970s.

- Rembour-Vor Hasselt: The Rembour and Vor Hasselt opencast mines were small-scale operations open from the 1870s to the 1950s. 

The National Mining Museum (MNM) is located at the Rue de la Bruyère in Rumelange. Meet at the Acceuil at the Maschineschapp building (100m from the mine entrance) at latest 09:45. Children are welcome.

Cost: €7.50/member, €12.50/non-member; all people are charged, including children. Please note that membership (1 April - 31 March) is €15/person, €30 for families. 

After the tour, we shall meet at the Brasserie du Musée for a drink/meal (availability based on COVID-19 restrictions in effect on the day). For families with young children, there is an impressive modern playground at the venue.

To reserve your place (before 1 May), contact Fiona by email: fiona.mulhern@gmail.com, stating your name and the number of places required for the guided tour, and if you would like to reserve a table for eating at the Brasserie afterwards. Reservations will be confirmed upon payment to the Irish Club's bank account at IBAN LU08 0030 2513 4451 0000 (BIC BGLLLULL).