Belval Blast Furnace Festival

Discover Luxembourg's industrial past in a festive atmosphere! Every year, the Belval Fund celebrates Luxembourg's history in its own unique way, offering visitors an extraordinary program. Culture and festivities come together to showcase the Belval blast furnaces and teach visitors all about the history of Luxembourg's steel industry.

The Blast Furnace Festival traditionally takes place on the first weekend of July. The dates for 2026 have not yet been confirmed, but we will be sure to keep you informed.

Immerse yourself in the heart of Luxembourg's steel-making heritage

The Blast Furnace Festival is much more than just a celebration. It is a journey into the heart of Luxembourg's industrial heritage and steel-making history. This annual event, organized by the Belval Fund, takes place in the imposing setting of the Belval blast furnaces. Impressive remnants of a time when Luxembourg was one of Europe's leading steel producers, they now welcome visitors. Once symbols of industrial activity, these huge metal structures have become iconic monuments. They bear witness to the region's industrial past and project visitors into a future focused on innovation and culture.

At the beginning of the century, many Italians came to Luxembourg to work in the steel industry. The Villerupt Italian Film Festival was born out of this wave of migration.

Discover the events of the Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux

An immersive experience in the industrial past

By participating in the Blast Furnace Festival, you will immerse yourself in the history of Belval. Exhibitions, guided tours, and interactive demonstrations recount the life of this former industrial city, dedicated to steelmaking. History buffs can explore the Möllerei and Massenoire buildings, which offer a glimpse of the infrastructure necessary for the blast furnaces to operate. Visitors will also learn about the complex process of transforming iron ore into steel.

Activities for young and old

In a festive atmosphere, young and old alike can discover the industrial heritage through activities designed for all ages. Model-making workshops, street performances, concerts, and children's reading sessions are organized throughout the weekend.

You can also discover the huge project to rehabilitate these industrial wastelands, which have been abandoned since the late 1990s.

The giant zip line, for thrill seekers

One of the main attractions is the zip line installed between the two blast furnaces, promising an adrenaline rush at a height of over 60 meters. The most daring visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the site and its surroundings during a dizzying ride. Advance registration is required at fonds-belval.lu, and the zip line is reserved for those over 14 years of age.

Fireworks displays and artistic performances

Fireworks displays and captivating artistic performances illuminate the metal structures of the blast furnaces in a magical atmosphere. This fusion of light and music creates a unique and poetic moment, highlighting the raw beauty of this industrial site. Visitors are enchanted by this poetic and unique moment.

Free admission with entertainment Zip line: €8 for adults, €5 for children and students.

The challenges of the Belval redevelopment

The steel industry in Luxembourg

Firstly, the rehabilitated Belval blast furnace site beautifully showcases the former industrial site of Esch-sur-Alzette. Blast furnaces A and B remain a testament to the iron ore mining operations carried out by the Arbed steel group in Luxembourg from 1911 onwards. The transformation of ore into cast iron and then steel was achieved through successive mergers, with the Arcelia and Usinor groups in 2002, then with Mittal Steel in 2006. Now known as Arcelor Mittal, the company is one of the largest employers in Luxembourg.

Industrial brownfield redevelopment projects

Since the closure of the steel industry in Belval in the late 1990s, a huge redevelopment project has been launched. The aim is to transform the industrial wasteland into a vibrant center of cultural life, innovation, and knowledge. It is one of the largest redevelopment projects in Europe, seeking to integrate historical elements into the heart of a new modern district.

Today, part of the site has been converted to preserve this testimony to the past. The renovations are magnificent, and the industrial remains blend perfectly into the new urban landscape.

Thanks to collaboration withthe University of Luxembourg, the City of Science, Research and Innovation, the Belval site is now home to an ecosystem of students, researchers, and creative minds.

The district is also now home to the Rockhal, Luxembourg's largest concert hall.

Around these major points of interest, numerous restaurants have opened, as well as a shopping center, nurseries, schools, and a train station.

Belval residents appreciate the ease of everyday life, with all amenities within walking distance.

The redevelopment project therefore aims not only to preserve Luxembourg's industrial history, but also to enhance this heritage by integrating it into a dynamic urban and educational context.

Visitors to the Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux can discover how these infrastructures have been adapted for new uses while retaining their original identity. It is the perfect opportunity to learn about this commitment to preserving and promoting industrial heritage while supporting a sustainable future.

By coming to the Blast Furnace Festival, visitors will gain a better understanding of the challenges and successes of this unique transformation, which is breathing new life into the old blast furnaces and ushering them into a new era.

Don't miss this extraordinary event.