Everyone's talking about it: a new district is being built 20 kilometers from Luxembourg City. Esch-Belval, colloquially known as "Belval", has been the talk of the town since its launch in 2000. A quarter of a century later, has the eco-responsible urbanization of this former metallurgical site lived up to its promise? Follow us on a guided tour!
What is the origin of the new Belval district?
At the end of the 19th century, Belval was a natural site appreciated for its mineral water source, but steel soon became more profitable. In 1909, a state-of-the-art steelworks moved in.
During the 90s, Belval's metallurgical activity gradually died out. The State and Arbed, the owner of the site, founded Agora, a development company tasked with transforming the former industrial site into a welcoming, sustainable and functional urban district, without denying its heritage.
Belval, a strategic district?
It's in the service sector that Luxembourg's economy is finding a new lease of life and a boost to its demographics, particularly in the south of the country, which is more dynamic in terms of employment.
Against a backdrop of real estate market tension and environmental demands, the Belval wasteland was both a challenge and an opportunity. Eco-responsible housing, preserved green spaces, soft mobility: these are just some of the issues to be taken into account to support Luxembourg's urban development in the right direction.
Belval, a Mecca for culture and economic development
In 2005, the Cité des Sciences, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation welcomed its first occupants, while the Rockhal, Luxembourg's largest concert hall, was inaugurated. The following year, the BIL bank took up residence in a scarlet tower, emblematic of Belval's flamboyant revival.
2008 sees the opening of Belvalplaza and Kinepolis. Three years later, the Bel-Val high school was built next to the Um Belval park. Shortly afterwards, the Technoport business incubator welcomed its first start-ups and the university campus its first students.
Belval: reinventing neighborhood life
The new Belval-Université station opened in 2010, and the Micheville tunnel, eagerly awaited by cross-border commuters, opened to traffic in 2016. Soon, the Belval Nord and Terrasse des Hauts Fourneaux districts were full to the brim with more than 3,000 residents, plus some 14,000 daily commuters: employees, students, teachers...
But Belval hasn't said its last word, and the best is yet to come with Square Mile, built around the Place des Bassins, a real spot of conviviality with an amphitheatre and a promenade around the water, just a stone's throw from Um Belval park. Between now and 2027, a number of mixed-use buildings will house residents, shops and services, creating a village-like living environment based on soft mobility and community living.
For more details, see our article on Belval in everyday life.
Investing in the Belval district is possible, but hurry!
After some 20 years of construction, the Belval district will soon reach its apotheosis with the last residences built in the heart of Central Square, around Place des Bassins. The site will thus reach full maturity, offering its residents an exceptional living environment, equipped with all services and finally freed from the inconvenience of construction.
We know that in Luxembourg, and even closer to the capital, quality real estate is highly sought-after. So now's your chance to find the property that will make you happy!
If you're looking for a renowned builder-developer, Eiffage-Perrard invites you to discover IDESYA. Built around a concept of intimate, secure housing connected to the environment, this top-of-the-range residence is equipped with all the services that make life easier and more enjoyable.