Credit: Jazmin Campbell, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 5 August 2025, Luxembourg's Minister for Culture and Minister Delegate for Tourism, Eric Thill, invited members of the press to participate in a tourist excursion exploring the southern Minett region and its industrial heritage.
Each year, this traditional summer event highlights tourist attractions in a different part of the country - last year's focus was the northern Éislek region. In addition to showcasing emblematic sites, the excursion allows the relevant minister and officials to engage directly with tourism and cultural stakeholders on the ground.
Journalists and other professionals gathered at P&R Bouillon in Luxembourg-Hollerich on Tuesday morning for the southbound bus journey.
This year's excursion began with a guided visit to Parc Merveilleux in Bettembourg. Founded in 1956 by Dutch landscape architect Willem Ter Braake, the park was taken over by the APEMH, a Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation for parents of children with intellectual disabilities, in 1997. Since then, the APEMH has managed the site as a sheltered workshop employing nearly 100 people. Today, the 25-hectare site is Luxembourg’s only animal and leisure park, combining a zoo featuring over 200 animal species from five continents with fairytale-inspired scenes, playgrounds and various children's attractions.
Parc Merveilleux has become Luxembourg's most visited tourist attraction, drawing a record 290,000 visitors in 2023 (and about 283,000 in 2024), ahead of Vianden Castle and the Bock Casemates in Luxembourg City. The park primarily appeals to families from Luxembourg and neighbouring countries.
During this first (rainy) stop on the excursion, park director Marc Neu and other representatives welcomed Minister Thill, joined by Bettembourg Mayor Laurent Zeimet, Alderman Gusty Graas and other guests. The visit focused on recent and upcoming projects, including new enclosures and play areas (e.g. an inclusive wooden "Labyrinth" playground), as well as an "Animal Welfare House" (a sheltered wooden hut with educational panels) and a pollinator-themed educational trail currently under development. Participants also had the opportunity to view some of the animals, although many were sheltering from the rain.
Set to celebrate its 70th season in 2026, Parc Merveilleux is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), which includes over 350 member zoos across 47 countries. As on-site representatives explained, EAZA accreditation is valid for five years and helps ensure ongoing compliance with animal welfare and conservation standards.
The State subsidises the park and Minister Thill described it as an important tourism partner. Each summer, the General Directorate for Tourism (Ministry of the Economy) recruits students (about 270 in 2025) to work at tourist sites, with more than 20 assigned to Parc Merveilleux this year.
Minister Thill also highlighted the park's commitment to inclusive and accessible tourism. It carries the Eurewelcome label and its status as a sheltered workshop supports professional inclusion and training opportunities for people with disabilities.
Visitors can also rent out a "Kabaischen" (cabin or lodge) in Parc Merveilleux: the "Renert" cabin, named after Luxembourg’s iconic literary fox, is operated by Simpleviu and was set up as part of Esch2022 - European Capital of Culture. Park representatives noted that the cabin is fully booked most days during the school holidays.
At the end of the guided visit, Marc Neu presented Minister Thill with a gift.
Participants then boarded the bus for the next stop: a visit to the Fond-de-Gras industrial site (separate article to follow).
For more on tourism figures, see: https://chronicle.lu/category/at-home/56200-luxembourg-sees-record-3-6m-overnight-stays-in-2024-positive-tourism-trend-continues-in-2025
