UNESCO GEODIVERSITY DAYS 2026
Three Slate Quarries – Three New Purposes
From heritage to innovation: discover how former slate quarries continue to shape our region.
As part of the UNESCO Geodiversity Days 2026, join us for a guided walk of approximately 6 km and discover three remarkable former slate quarry sites. Three places connected by a shared history, yet today illustrating three very different ways of giving new purpose to a heritage shaped by slate extraction.
The journey begins at the Slate Museum in Haut-Martelange, where this industrial heritage is preserved, studied and passed on.
The walk continues to the former Donner slate quarries in Martelange (Belgium), now at the heart of an ambitious pilot energy-storage project exploring the potential of their vast underground chambers.
The final stop is the Geo-Energy site in Martelange-Rombach, where the University of Luxembourg, in partnership with the Municipality of Rambrouch, is studying the potential of the underground environment to develop sustainable heating and cooling solutions for the future Rombach neighbourhood.
Three places, three perspectives
At each stop, a specialist will share their knowledge and expertise:
Jacques Windeshausen, owner and manager of the former Donner slate quarries;
Dr Natascha Kuhlmann, geologist at the University of Luxembourg;
Doris Thilmany, Managing Director of the Slate Museum and long-standing volunteer with the Amis de l’Ardoise asbl.
Along the way, you will also discover the history of slate extraction in the region and the connections between these three sites.
Preserving the memory of traditional skills, advancing scientific research and exploring tomorrow’s energy solutions: this walk reveals how a shared industrial heritage can take on very different roles today.
A unique opportunity to see these slate-shaped landscapes from a new perspective and discover how heritage, geology and innovation can complement one another in building the future.
Practical information
Saturday, 3 October 202610:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Starting point: Slate Museum, Haut-Martelange
Guided walk in French and Luxembourgish
Distance: approx. 6 km
Sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate clothing required.
Reservation required.https://booking.mnhn.lu/fr-fr/offre-tous-publics/trois-ardoisieres-trois-vocations
Extend your visit
After the walk, continue your day at the Slate Museum with a paid visit to the underground slate mine and explore the heritage of Haut-Martelange above ground at your own pace.