Stolzembourg, copper, water and a frontier in the Our valley

Stolzembourg is a small village in the commune of Putscheid, right on the Our, with Germany on the far bank. It has no single monument to make it famous, but it brings together three things I think are good reasons to come, a copper mine you can go inside, one of the most important power plants of its kind in Europe and a Second World War episode hardly anyone has heard of.

The copper mine

About 1.5 km from the village lie the remains of an old mine. According to the Syndicat d’Initiative of Stolzembourg, the copper veins of the Klangbaach have been drawing investors to this remote corner, far from any industrial area, for more than 500 years. There were major phases of working around 1856, 1882, 1901 and 1938, and every time the problem was the same, water flooding the galleries.

The visit is always guided and lasts about three hours. It takes in the museum, which explains the local geology and prospecting methods, the 1.5 km geology trail with ten panels and, as the finale, the galleries, some 50 metres underground. You go in through the old drainage tunnel, where water still runs, some passages have low ceilings and you come out up a steep staircase, so you need a basic level of fitness. It’s 11 °C inside. Helmets, waterproofs and boots are lent free of charge.

In September and October there’s a tour on Sundays and public holidays at 2pm, and from mid-July to the end of August every day at the same time, always with tickets bought online. It costs €9 from 18, €5 for ages 6 to 17 and is free with the LuxembourgPass. Under-6s can see the museum and the trail but can’t go down the mine, and neither can dogs.

The SEO power plant

The pumped-storage plant known as Vianden’s has its address in Stolzembourg. It belongs to the Société Electrique de l’Our, founded on 29 May 1951, has 1,300 MW of turbine output, and visitluxembourg ranks it among the most important in Europe. The visitors’ gallery is closed, but guided tours can be booked on the SEO website, and the upper reservoir is open to walk round at any time. Close by, Mont Saint-Nicolas gives views over the reservoirs after a climb of about a hundred steps.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Vianden for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

11 September 1944

This is the story from the valley that struck me most. That afternoon a patrol from the US 5th Armored Division, led by Sergeant Warner W. Holzinger, sent three soldiers across the Our at the old mill weir, because the bridge was partly destroyed, and approached Keppeshausen on the German side. It was the first Allied crossing of the Reich’s border. Eighty years on, the village gave it a new memorial.

Getting there

On foot, along the Ourdall path, 8.5 km from Vianden beside the river. It’s part of the Our Nature Park. For the way back, check the bus on mobiliteit.lu, free within Luxembourg.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Vianden for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Vianden on GetYourGuide.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Luxembourg: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

Before you fix your dates, compare tickets to Luxembourg: the same journey can cost very different amounts from one day to the next.