Belval: hanging out with your friends beneath the blast furnaces

When you're looking for something to do, the reflex is almost always the same: head for the capital. Yet in Esch-sur-Alzette, an entire neighbourhood has been built on a former steelworks site, and the result looks like nothing else in the country. Belval means preserved blast furnaces surrounded by brand-new buildings, a university right at its heart, and a vibe that's completely different from the old town.

A backdrop you won't find anywhere else

The two blast furnaces weren't torn down when the plant closed: they were kept, restored and woven into the new district. The contrast between rusted steel and glass facades is striking, especially late in the day when the light softens. Depending on the season, you can even climb one of the furnaces and watch the whole southern basin spread out beneath your feet.

Even if you don't go up, simply wandering at the feet of these giants is worth the trip. It's the kind of place where every angle gives you a different photo: walkways, pipes, metal staircases, reflections in the glass. If you're into raw, industrial backdrops, you're in for a treat.

What to do there with your friends

Belval moves to the rhythm of its university campus, which keeps the atmosphere young almost all year round. Around the main esplanade you'll find terraces, a cinema, concert venues and plenty of easy food options. The point isn't to rush around: this is a neighbourhood to be savoured slowly, settling in somewhere and taking in that strange mix of industrial past and unapologetic future.

And if you want to make a day of it, Esch town centre is right nearby: its long pedestrian street, shops and cafés round off the outing nicely. The two moods - old town and brand-new district - play off each other surprisingly well.

Getting there without a car or a budget

This might be the best argument of all: public transport is free across the whole country, and Belval-Université station drops you literally at the edge of the district. No car to park, no ticket to buy, just a train to catch. The south of the country rarely makes it onto people's plans - which is exactly why it deserves the detour.