April 30, 1955: THE END OF A MINING ERA AT FOND-DE-GRAS

April 30, 1955, marks a turning point in the industrial history of Fond-de-Gras. On that day, the last remaining active mine permanently closed its doors, bringing an end to decades of iron ore extraction in the valley.

While this closure signaled the end of mining operations at Fond-de-Gras, the industry in Luxembourg continued for a few more decades. The country’s last mine, Thillenberg, shut down at the end of 1981, marking the definitive end of iron ore extraction in Luxembourg. A few years later, in 1997, the last blast furnace, Furnace B in Belval, was also shut down, closing the chapter on more than a century of steelmaking history.

Fond-de-Gras was one of the most significant mining sites in the country, with no fewer than 21 mine entrances scattered across the area. However, mining activity was not confined to this valley alone; numerous other mines operated along the railway line connecting Pétange to Bois-Châtier. At its peak, this line served 18 loading points, facilitating the transport of iron ore to the steelworks.

Starting in the 1940s, the mines at Fond-de-Gras gradually shut down, some due to depletion. The last mine in operation, Chiers, originally called Oberst-Blenken, continued its activity for a few more years. It used the Chiers loading platform, located across from the current Fond-de-Gras station. This exit point also handled resources from the Gorcy and Couillet mines.

In November 1954, with resources nearly exhausted, Camille Mines, the operating company, received permission to extract the last remaining iron ore by dismantling the security pillars. By April 1955, the company officially informed the mining authorities that operations would cease at the end of the month.

Although mining activity ended at Fond-de-Gras, it continued in the surrounding area. The MMR, later MMRA, carried on operations, particularly at Schlammefeld, an open-pit mine near Fond-de-Gras. In this region, ore extraction took place both underground and in open pits. Initially, mining was primarily underground, but over time, the trend gradually reversed.

The open-pit site was connected to Doihl via a tunnel, from which another gallery led toward Lasauvage, remaining active until 1978. However, for economic reasons, all the ore was transported by funicular rather than by railway. Mining operations ceased definitively on July 24, 1978.

As for the Fond-de-Gras railway line, it was already seeing little use in its final years. A landslide, which began in September 1964, ultimately put an end to all railway activity in the valley—until the arrival of the Train 1900 volunteers, who revived the line for tourism.

April 30, 1955, was not only the day a mine closed but also the end of an era. However, it also marked the beginning of a new purpose for the site: preserving and passing on the memory of those who kept the valley alive for decades.

Starting in 1970, the railway line was brought back to life thanks to the dedication of Train 1900 volunteers. Then, in 1990, a second association was founded to restore a mine, allowing visitors to experience the underground life of miners firsthand.

 

* Article about the railway line : RAILWAY LINE FOND-DE-GRAS – Minett park

** Article about the open-pit mine: “SCHLAMMENFELD” – FROM AN OPEN-PIT MINE INTO A NATURE RESERVE, part 1 – Minett park.

*** Article about the cable car : «T‘SEELEBUHN », LE TÉLÉPHÉRIQUE DOIHL-RODANGE; PARTIE 1 – Minett park.

**** Article about the history of Train 1900 : A PASSION FOR FOND-DE-GRAS, FROM FATHER TO SON – Minett park.