From 16 to 18 October 2026, the CNCI took part in the European Heritage Days with three complementary events dedicated to Luxembourg’s industrial heritage: a conference exploring the challenges of its preservation and adaptive reuse, guided tours across the country, and an architecture workshop for children.
Industrial Heritage at Risk: Challenges and Future Perspectives
On 16 October, an event dedicated to the preservation, transformation and adaptive reuse of industrial heritage took place at the Luxembourg Learning Centre in Belval, featuring several highlights.
A series of presentations brought together international experts: Bartosz M. Walczak (TICCIH), Florence Hachez-Leroy (Université d’Artois / CILAC), Nicolas Pierrot (Île-de-France Region) and Olivier Absalon (Nantes Métropole), who shared their experiences and approaches to safeguarding and repurposing industrial heritage.
A roundtable discussion continued the conversation by bringing in local stakeholders, including Daisy Wagner (City of Esch-sur-Alzette), Yannick Quevedo (Agora) and Aline Picard (IKO), to discuss the challenges and future prospects for the redevelopment of Luxembourg’s industrial sites.
A special session dedicated to the Gebléishal, included in Europa Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered programme, provided an opportunity to explore the challenges of preserving this emblematic site in greater depth.
An exhibition organised in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg also accompanied the event.
Industrial Heritage: Voices | Faces | Traces
On 17 and 18 October, guided tours organised across Luxembourg attracted more than 50 participants.
Beyond discovering the sites themselves, these visits offered an opportunity to hear from the people who keep their memories alive. At the Schungfabrik in Kayl-Tétange, Pascal Useldinger, head of the municipality’s events department, shared childhood memories of the former factory, now transformed into a cultural centre. The presence of a descendant of the Hubert family, who founded the former shoe factory, also created a direct connection to the site’s industrial past.
From the FERRUM Museum to the former mines of Rumelange and Stolzembourg, these visits highlighted the voices, faces and traces of a heritage whose memory is also passed down through personal stories and the dedication of those working to preserve it.
Petites briques pour grande friche : Reimagining Industrial Heritage
On 18 October, 10 children aged 8 to 12 took part in an architecture workshop organised at the CNCI in collaboration with LUCA – Luxembourg Center for Architecture. Through observing Belval’s industrial heritage and building with miniature bricks, the young participants were encouraged to unleash their imagination and envision new uses for former industrial sites. A playful and creative way to raise awareness of the challenges of adaptive reuse and heritage preservation for future generations.
Three events that brought together expertise, discovery and creativity, reminding us that industrial heritage is also a valuable resource for imagining the future.
Photo : Table ronde "Enjeux et avenir", Eric Deville