The National Mining Museum () of
Luxembourg
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...
is located in the very south of the country, in
Rumelange
Rumelange (; ; ) is a Communes of Luxembourg, commune with List of towns in Luxembourg, town status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France.
Populated places
The commune consists of the following villages:
* Rumelange
* Haut-Té ...
, which is close to the French border. The museum opened in 1973, at the site of the Walert mine. It provides an on-site exhibition of the
tools, machinery, and equipment used from the beginning of the 19th century until the iron-ore mines were closed in the 1980s. Many of the exhibits are deep down in the mine.
The museum
The museum is located in the very south of the country, in
Rumelange
Rumelange (; ; ) is a Communes of Luxembourg, commune with List of towns in Luxembourg, town status in south-western Luxembourg, on the border with France.
Populated places
The commune consists of the following villages:
* Rumelange
* Haut-Té ...
, which is close to the French border, using the galleries of the Walert mine, which had operated for sixty years. There was a fatal accident at the mine site in 1935 when Jean-Pierre Bausch, who had been mayor of Rumelange, died.
The museum opened in 1973.
The Lonely Planet lists the museum at number twelve on their list of top things to do in Luxembourg.
The collection
It provides an on-site exhibition of the
tools, machinery, and equipment used from the beginning of the 19th century until the iron-ore mines were closed in the 1980s. Many of the exhibits are deep down in the mine, which can be visited during the summer months. While most of the museum's collection is in the mine, the exhibition hall contains a number of display cases with a selection of lamps, tools, helmets and measuring instruments as well as minerals and fossils. There are also old maps and documents.
The ''Kirchberg'' and ''Walert'' mine is accessed by train. The rail terminal, 90 metres below the surface, is the start of a 650-metre circuit through tunnels three metres high and from three to five metres wide. Many of the tools are of considerable historical value. The collection includes rare old
boring hammers and
drilling machine
A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a drill bit for making holes, or a screwdriver bit for securing fasteners. Historically, they were powered by hand, and later mains power, but cordless bat ...
s as well as more modern pneumatic drills. The complex array of tunnels also gives an impressive picture of the mine workings.
Opening times
The museum is open in the afternoon on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April to October. In July and August, it is also open on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Special arrangements can be made for groups throughout the year.
See also
*
List of museums in Luxembourg
This is a list of museums in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg City
*A Gadder
*Abbey Museum
*Am Tunnel
*Casino Luxembourg
*European Museum Schengen
*General Patton Museum
*Industry and Railway Park Fond-de-Gras
*Konschthal Esch
*Kulturhuef Asbl
*Luxembo ...
References
External links
National Mining Museum website
{{authority control
Tourist attractions in Luxembourg
Mining
Mining is the Resource extraction, extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agriculture, agricultural processes, or feasib ...
Mining museums in Luxembourg