Schifflange: A City of the Future in the Making on the Wasteland of an Industrial Heritage

Between past and future

Although close to the capital, this town, founded in the 8th century, had only 500 inhabitants at the height of the industrial revolution. Today, the town is twenty times more populated and boasts a railway station, a wide variety of shops, a swimming pool and numerous restaurants and services. It is surprising to learn that despite the loss of its main economic flagship in 2016, Schifflange continues to show an insolent demography growth (+ 40% over the last twenty years). So what is its secret?

Schifflange: A municipality open to the world

It is true that, situated in a cross-border area and served by the A4 motorway which allows Paris to be reached in less than four hours, this town on a human scale still has some surprises in store for us in terms of development. Through its Festival of Cultures and its Café Polyglotte, among others, it reveals a spirit of openness that has enabled it to become and remain a dynamic pole of attraction over the years. And its strategic location and the mentality it has been able to maintain are not its only assets.

A territory of reconquest and progress...

Since the closure of the ArcelorMittal site, Schifflange shares a wasteland of over 60 hectares with its neighbour Esch-sur-Alzette. To convert this former industrial site into an urban district with the most innovative solutions, the development company Agora, in charge of the project, is not starting from scratch, since it has already developed the Belval district, which is now cited as an example with 3,300 new residents and 250 companies.

A project designed for the citizens of today and tomorrow

With such an inspiring model on its doorstep, Schifflange makes no secret of its ambition to do as well - if not better - than its neighbour by integrating its industrial heritage into a state-of-the-art urban project. To meet the new challenges of housing, mobility and daily life while respecting the environment: this is the ambition of a municipality whose population is expected to increase significantly in the coming year.

The future Alzette district: a progressive and well-thought-out development...

Straddling the municipalities of Esch-sur-Alzette and Schifflange, the project for the new district conquered on the industrial wasteland has been designed to develop over two decades. In the end, it will cover an area of 61.16 hectares and will accommodate:

◦ 10,000 inhabitants,

◦ 50% residential spaces, one third of which being affordable housing,

◦ 50% business areas (SMEs, tertiary activities and services),

◦ Several schools including a high school.

Schifflange: in line with the climate challenges

In Schifflange, the municipality has a long history of being attentive to the needs of its citizens and their living environment. There is no shortage of examples to illustrate this concern, which is dear to the heart of the administration, and which has become increasingly important over the years:

◦ 1997: creation of an ecological service,

◦ 2015: creation of the Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Department,

◦ Rainwater harvesting on communal buildings,

◦ Renaturation of the Alzette and the Kiemelbach,

◦ First municipality in Luxembourg to publish its contribution to the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the National Plan for Sustainable Development,

◦ In the public garden, development of a space dedicated to medicinal plants and a trail tracing the evolution of herbal medicine since the Middle Ages.

Terres Rouges: An area steeped in history

Also known as Minett, the southern region of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has never lacked resources throughout its history. While its prosperity was founded on mineral-rich soils, it has reinvented itself by adapting its industry to the challenges of the modern world. Today, a land of innovation, science and cutting-edge research, it welcomes the curious who will enjoy going back in time on board the Minett park team train or trying out, with the whole family, the hundred or so interactive, educational and fun modules of the Luxembourg Science Center 

An area to live and relax where nature has its place

In Schifflange and the surrounding area, it is a pleasure to discover that the steel industry is not necessarily synonymous with a sacrificed landscape. Many protected natural areas are accessible to everyone all year round, from mountain bikers who can take full advantage of the RedRock MTB Trail, to hikers. For those who want to relax at the weekend without adding to their carbon footprint, this is a place with many options at their doorstep.

What if you could find your own?

Making Schifflange your home is, as you will have understood, the opportunity to access a peaceful, attractive living environment offering all the needed services. It is also a bet on a very promising future. In terms of environmental quality, mobility, employment, training and culture, this is a municipality that has the best assets to establish itself among the most sought-after addresses in the country.