The Belval Blast Furnace Festival is a major cultural and family event dedicated to Luxembourg’s industrial heritage. Organized by the Belval Fund, it transforms the Blast Furnace Terrace into a venue for tours, activities, performances, and discoveries every early summer.
The next edition is scheduled for early July 2027 in Belval, in southern Luxembourg. The exact date and program have not yet been announced. The event traditionally takes place around the first weekend of July.
The Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux is aimed at families, history buffs, heritage enthusiasts, residents of the Greater Region, and anyone interested in discovering Luxembourg’s steelmaking past in a festive atmosphere. It’s also a great outing to understand the spectacular transformation of Belval, a former industrial site that has become a university, cultural, and urban district.
Each edition combines an exploration of Belval’s industrial heritage with a cultural and festive program. Tours, workshops, family activities, and performances make the history of steelmaking accessible to everyone.
The Belval Blast Furnace Festival is an opportunity to explore the impressive industrial facilities preserved at the Belval site. Self-guided or guided tours typically help visitors understand how a blast furnace works and the various stages involved in transforming iron ore into cast iron and then into steel.
Visitors can explore the Blast Furnace Terrace, the Cast Iron Ladle Hall, the Möllerei, and other iconic areas of the former factory. The exact program and accessible areas vary from year to year.
The program for the Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux changes every year. The Fonds Belval generally selects a theme that serves as the overarching concept for the workshops, performances, and shows.
The 11th edition, held on July 4, 2026, had a Japanese theme. Visitors were able to participate in manga drawing, origami, and calligraphy workshops; attend a traditional tea ceremony; discover the Japanese game of yo-yo tsuri; or take part in a family treasure hunt.
The evening traditionally concludes with a grand artistic performance that showcases the site’s metal structures. Dance, music, circus arts, light, fire, and pyrotechnics come together to create a monumental spectacle against the industrial backdrop of Belval.
In 2026, the final show, Hanami, combined dance, circus arts, fire, Japanese music, and pyrotechnics. This immersive production offered a poetic interpretation of the blast furnaces and their architecture.
The Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux is designed as a family outing. Creative workshops, games, coloring activities, discovery trails, and interactive activities allow children to explore industrial heritage in a fun way.
The activities offered may vary from year to year. Some are freely accessible, while others are scheduled at specific times or are subject to availability.
The zip line installed on the Haut-Fourneau is one of the event’s most anticipated attractions. It allows participants to launch themselves from the blast furnace platform, about 50 meters above the ground, with an exceptional view of Belval and southern Luxembourg.
During the 2026 edition, the zip line was open to participants ages 14 and up. The price was 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children or students. Access was on a first-come, first-served basis without reservations, with payment made on-site.
Participation requirements, schedules, prices, and the minimum age will need to be verified for the 2027 edition.
The date and program for the 2027 Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux have not yet been confirmed. The high-altitude tours and the zip line may also be modified or suspended depending on weather conditions and safety guidelines. Please check the Fonds Belval website before your visit.
The Blast Furnace Festival takes place on the Blast Furnace Terrace, in the heart of the Belval neighborhood in Esch-sur-Alzette. The site is located near the University of Luxembourg, the Rockhal, the Belval Plaza shopping center, and the Belval-Université train station.
The train is one of the easiest ways to get to the event. The Belval-Université train station is just a few minutes’ walk from the blast furnaces. Bus routes also serve the neighborhood.
Parking is available in the area, but the neighborhood can get very crowded during the festival. Public transportation is therefore recommended, especially for visitors coming from Luxembourg City or other towns in the south.
| Location | Recommended Time | Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Date: 2027 | July 2027 (to be confirmed) | Check the Fonds Belval announcements and the official program. |
| Getting There by Public Transportation | On the day of the event | Get off at the Belval-Université station, then walk to the venue. |
| Participate in the zip line | As soon as the activity opens | Check the minimum age, hours, price, and admission requirements. |
| Watch the final show | In the evening | Arrive early to find a spot with a good view. |
The Belval blast furnacesare one of the most visible reminders of Luxembourg’s steelmaking past. For much of the 20th century, the iron and steel industry played a central role in the country’s economic, social, and demographic development.
The Belval Blast Furnaces A and B were part of the vast industrial complex operated by ARBED. The site produced pig iron from iron ore, which was then transformed into steel.
The steel industry attracted a large foreign workforce, particularly from Italy, to southern Luxembourg and neighboring Lorraine. These migrations have left a lasting mark on the cultural identity of the Greater Region. The Villerupt Italian Film Festival is an important part of this Italian-Lorraine heritage.
After steel production ceased in Belval in the late 1990s, a large-scale redevelopment project was launched. The goal was to preserve the main landmarks of industrial history while creating a new neighborhood focused on research, education, culture, housing, and services.
The blast furnaces have been preserved at the heart of the new urban landscape. Today, their silhouette complements the contemporary buildings of the City of Science, Research, and Innovation.
The neighborhood is home to the University of Luxembourg, research centers, the Rockhal, housing, shops, restaurants, daycare centers, schools, and a train station. This mix of uses makes Belval an iconic example of the transformation of an industrial wasteland into a modern neighborhood.
The Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux offers a firsthand look at this transformation. Visitors can see how the old facilities have been preserved, restored, and integrated into a new urban environment.
If it’s your first visit, arrive early enough to explore the site before the evening shows begin. Daylight allows you to better observe the industrial structures and understand the layout of the former factory.
Check the schedules for tours and workshops as soon as you arrive. Some activities are only offered at specific times or have limited capacity.
Wear comfortable shoes. The site includes metal surfaces, stairs, and walkways that may require some agility. When climbing the blast furnace, follow safety instructions and access restrictions.
If you’re visiting with young children, alternate between historical tours and fun activities. The final show may end late—adjust the length of your visit to suit their age.
A visit to the Fête des Hauts-Fourneaux can be an opportunity to explore Belval and southern Luxembourg more broadly. The neighborhood combines industrial heritage, contemporary architecture, higher education, culture, and recreation.
The Rockhal hosts concerts and shows throughout the year. The Cité des Sciences is home to several buildingsof the University of Luxembourg and research centers. Restaurants, shops, and public spaces also offer plenty to see and do to extend your visit.
Belval thus exemplifies a major transformation in Luxembourg: the shift from an economy dominated by the steel industry to a region based on knowledge, research, culture, and services—without erasing its industrial heritage.
The next edition is expected to take place in early July 2027. The exact date has not yet been announced by the Belval Fund.
The event takes place on the Blast Furnace Terrace in Belval, in the municipality of Esch-sur-Alzette, in southern Luxembourg.
General admission to the festival is traditionally free. Certain specific activities, such as the zip line, may require a fee.
Yes. Workshops, games, entertainment, and discovery trails are usually available for families. However, some high-altitude activities have a minimum age requirement.
The train is particularly convenient. The Belval-Université station is just a few minutes’ walk from the Terrasse des Hauts-Fourneaux. The neighborhood is also served by several bus lines.
Tours of the blast furnace are usually organized during the event. However, access may be limited depending on the schedule, weather, and safety guidelines.
They stand as a major testament to Luxembourg’s steelmaking past. Preserving them helps integrate this industrial heritage into Belval’s new university, cultural, and urban district.
Organized by: Fonds Belval
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