Programme, Territory

Rumelange in the spotlight – Esch2022 celebrates the Municipality of the Month from 22 October until 21 November 2022

The stage is set for the municipality of Rumelange! Apart from the remnants of its thriving industrial past, Rumelange has drawn up a spectacular cultural programme designed to attract visitors from near and far during the upcoming weeks.

A visit to Rumelange is above all an opportunity to discover the cradle of iron ore mining in Luxembourg, an activity the location has been known for since the Middle Ages. In the mid-19th century, the initial foundry gave way to the first mining companies, which transformed the small village into a prosperous town as it became one of the most powerful operations in the sector. A stopover at the Musée National des Mines de Fer (National Iron Mining Museum) is therefore a must for anyone wishing to get to know the town. On the programme: a walk across the overground site and a descent into the galleries of the Walert iron mine, 70 metres underground, which was in operation from 1891 to 1963. The tour takes place on a mining train, which is very popular with children, through the former open-cast mines, which are now overgrown with vegetation, and then along the main mine gallery, which is almost 3 km long. It’s the perfect way to find out more about the work of the miners as well as the tools and equipment they used!

As soon as you leave the museum, it becomes clear that Rumelange is not a very big town; at 6.83 km2 in fact, it is the second smallest municipality in Luxembourg, but the only one to be entirely located on an iron deposit! However, thanks to its shops, new residential areas, modern infrastructure aimed at all ages and its rich network of associations and clubs, it currently has 5,636 inhabitants. Many of them will tell you that they appreciate the calm that reigns in the town, the pretty Parc Fenderie where it’s nice to go for a walk and above all, the local pride, the Ciné Kursaal.

This cinema was opened in 1908 in what was then a simple bistro. Initially dedicated to events and theatre, it was expanded and eventually used for film screenings. Since then it has been running continuously – apart from a few days during World War II.

Rumelange is also the birthplace of Jean Baptiste (a.k.a. Batty) Weber. Born in 1860, this renowned writer and journalist made his name by writing an impressive number of serials depicting local society. A literature prize bearing his name is awarded every three years to a Luxembourg writer.

Rumelange is also the home of sculptor Albert Hames, whose workshop still exists. Bought by the town in 2018, it is a listed a national monument and the only Luxembourg artist’s studio still standing today. Thanks to the SPEKTRUM project, it has now become a space for creativity, tourism and immersive accommodation for those wishing to have an artistic and creative experience.

Within the framework of Esch2022, the late artist’s house, his studio and a new building will be open to the public starting November 2022. In the coming years, the artist’s former family home will be transformed into a creative hostel for national and international guests, artists and project collaborateurs.

SPEKTRUM will thus become a meeting place focussing on process-based, experimental and immersive cultural and artistic practices as well as creative tourism.

Besides, have you heard about the mysterious CDLR-76 zone in Rumelange? No? It is the location of strange sound manifestations reminiscent of a phenomenon that has often been talked about but that remains inexplicable to this day: the enigmatic Russian radio UBV-76. This is a mysterious radio that emits sound signals from an unknown transmitter. About 25 times a minute, it broadcasts a humming sound, telephone conversations, Morse code and excerpts from “Swan Lake” throughout the day. There are numerous theories about its origin and its role, but none of them could be proven until now.

And this phenomenon is exactly what the ((( CDLR-76 ))) project is focusing on. The reason is because a similar noise manifestation has also been perceived on the former mining area in the municipality of Rumelange. This area is known as the CDLR-76 zone. The letters C D L R stand for Cedric, Damiano, Laura and Ruth. These are the people who first discovered the phenomenon while on a walk. The number 76 is supposed to be a reference to the mysterious Russian radio.

At this spot you perceive sounds reminiscent of changing the station on a badly tuned radio. You hear conversations even though there is no one around. It’s a true mystery. But there is a special website (www.cdlr-76.space) that records the activities in the CDLR-76 zone. Anyone who has information about this mysterious phenomenon is invited to come forward.