Minett Tour

The land of the red earth

The Luxembourgers call the region in the southwest of their country ‘Minett’, in which a red, ferrous ore colours the earth reddish-brown. In the middle of the 19th century the mining of the ore contributed decisively to the prosperity of the country. Today, the former industrial sites recall the time of steel and the history of the country. Our concept of connecting them in a network has worked: The Minett Tour turns the RedRock region into a new attraction for tourists and excursionists.

The Minett Tour

The Minett Tour covers a total of about 35 km and connects five very different industrial heritage sites. According to our concept and feasibility study, networking these locations was the first important step in highlighting the existing offerings: a joint website and a detailed brochure – with clear opening hours and prices – now present the locations in a uniform corporate design. We have already developed numerous ideas for the individual locations, which can now be considered as next steps.

The locations

Each of the five locations, most of which are under protection as historical monuments, has its own charm. Some of these museum sites have been voluntarily repaired and operated since the 1970s and are to be further developed and expanded for larger numbers of visitors in the coming years. Here it is necessary to work out the special characteristics even further, to coordinate them with each other and to strengthen them through thematic focus. The use of the tools is diverse: interactive forms of communication are just as possible as dramaturgical guided tours for visitors or central starting points.

Park Minett Fond-de-Gras
A new visitor centre aims to establish the history of iron as a connecting element for all the sights in the park. Further exhibition areas in historic buildings can be attractively designed with interactive exhibits, e.g. related to railway services.
Belval - City of Science
A permanent position on the Belval site is to be created in the Massenoire Hall, which will encompass the transformation from an important steel manufacturer within the EU to today's use as a scientific and residential district.
Museum Cockerill Pit
A common entrance area is planned for the Ellergronn Nature Park and the Cockerill Museum, which will receive visitors and provide an initial overview. The various buildings of the museum as well as the courtyard are to be combined in an overall context.
National Museum of the Luxembourg Iron Mines
A modern media production will shed light on the history of iron ore mining and mine work on the mine tour. For example, visitors could project films onto the walls themselves using mine lamps.
Documentation Centre for Human Migration (CDMH) - The permanent exhibition is to be expanded to include further exhibits on the history of migration: In this way, visitors can meet people from the region with different backgrounds who talk about their roots. Audio installations communicate the historical atmosphere both inside and out.

Services

Project development

  • Concept and Feasibility study
  • Financial estimation
  • Visit forecast

Conception and scenography

  • Concept positioning and thematic definition
  • Development of dramaturgy and main idea
  • Development of interactive exhibits

Design and planning

  • Location analysis
  • Graphic design and guidance systems

Project information

Client: Office Régional du Tourisme Sud, Luxembourg

Execution period: since March 2015

Contact person

Nina Sperling

Consulting

sperling@studioklv.de