(L-R): Secretary of State Guy Arendt; Georges Liesch; Roberto Traversini;
Credit: Photo by Ministry of Culture
On Thursday 31 August, the new Vélorails tourist attraction at the Minett Park in Fond-de-Gras was inaugurated, with Luxembourg's Secretary of State for Culture, Guy Arendt, officiating.
The inauguration of six vélorails (pedal-operated open vehicles on rails) took place at Minett Park in Fond-de-Gras where tours of the mine already is an established tourist attraction, offering an insight into part of Luxembourg's industrial heritage.
Funding of the project was guaranteed by the Ministry of Culture, the Directorate-General for Tourism in the Ministry of the Economy, the Ville de Differdange, the Ville de Petange, the Science Center and Aquasud; it is being provided to the Parc Industriel et Ferroviaire of Fond-de-Gras which will make them available to visitors.
Secretary of State Arendt congratulated those responsible for this initiative: "Vélorails is a new attraction for the Minett Park at Fond de Gras and it is a unique way to navigate these historic and exceptional places. The visitor has the opportunity to immerse himself in our industrial history in an active and direct way".
This initiative is in line with the efforts that have been made to increase the attractiveness of the site. The park is a vast area that includes the Fond-de-Gras, the former open-cast mine "Giele Botter", the Celtic oppidum of Titelberg and the village of Lasauvage. Since 2016, various places and activities, such as the two historic trains, the footpaths of Giele Botter, the Fond-de-Gras and the village of Lasauvage, have been grouped under the name "Minett Park Fond-de-Gras".
The rental of the six Vélorails will be possible from 3 September and they will run on the rails between Fond-de-Gras station and Bois-de-Rodange, normally on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 14:00 to 16:00 and Sundays from 10:00 to 13:00. In case of special events on the site, such as the "Steam Punk Convention", the vélorails will not circulate.
The exact dates can be found at www.minettpark.lu or by tel: 2650-4124. The rental rate is €10 per Vélorail and they will be available until the seasonal stop of the Minett trains Park, on 30 September 2017.
