Petange : In the 5th position of the country

The town is leaving behind its industrial past.

Situated in the country of three borders, Petange benefits of a comfortable situation on the frontier of Belgium and France. Since 2000, the town has not ceased to expand, actually counting 18,500 inhabitants and is endowed with extensive development projects.

The installation of the train station on the Esch-on- Alzette-Petange line, followed by the Petange-Ettelbruck line (the Attert line) and the Petange-Luxembourg line at the beginning of the 20 th century contributed considerably to the town’s growth, especially in the steel industry and in mining. Residents worked in the factories and mines, and these economic poles generated increasing activity. Today, Arcelor-Mittal has more than 300 employees, and railroad activity remains prominent in the municipality. Several persuasive elements encourage people to move here: Petange, Rodange, and Lamadelaine remain attractive because of their modern infrastructure (schools, sports, culture) the proximity of both the French and Belgian borders, mobility (railroad and bus) to the cities of Luxembourg and Esch-on- Alzette and the fact that they are immersed in a verdant setting surrounded by woods. Being more affordable than on the outskirts of Luxembourg city, the cost of real estate is another of the determining criterium.

Infrastructures to enhance well-being in Petange.

The political policy now in place with Pierre Mellina, actual mayor, is considering the modification of the centres of Petange and Rodange with the creation of underground parking. The objective: revitalize local commerce in the heart of town and attract new commerce. The parking near the Rodange train station will contain 1500 places by 2021 and will diffuse the problem of parking around the stations, and a ‘Shared-Space’ is also in construction at Rodange, enabling people to walk around safely, to relax on the terrace in the summertime and browse in the shops. In response to the evolution of the population, numerous investments were made in schools, sports, and cultural infrastructures. In 2012, with the help of the Sports Ministry, the QT Centre (national bowling centre combined with a communal tennis centre) was inaugurated. Numerous football fields were renovated, as well as two sports halls and four squash courts at the Bim Diedrich Sports Centre in Petange available to clubs. The municipality also has a volley ball court and two swimming pools, including the swimming pool of Rodange, PIKO-one of the rare Olympic-sized ones in the Grand Duchy.
Artistically, this also applies. The Wax Centre proposes a diversified programme, and a new music school will soon be launched for about 700 students. Petange is also well known for its famous carnival which welcomed more than 30,000 people this year.

Finally, from a touristic point of view, the cultural industry has considerably developed with the Minett Park Fond-de- Gras in the Chiers Valley which attracts more and more tourists every year. The 1900 Train follows on the traces of the former “Miner’s Line” the mining train “Minièrebunn¨ connects the Fond-de- Gras to the village of Saulnes in France via Lasauvage crossing the former mines. The Titelberg Oppidum, vestiges of the ancient Celtic city and the Gallo-Roman vicus, is the only Oppidum (overhanging fortification used as a refuge and meeting place) on the Luxembourg territory.

Petange, creator of affordable housing at Lamadelaine

The municipality which counted 13,500 inhabitants at the beginning of 2000, can now boast to have 5000 more today. Indeed, the population now counts 18,500 residents, including 8979 foreigners or 49,34 %. which represents one of the densest populations in the country, and this is just the beginning. Through its ongoing real estate projects, the locality of the south-west attracts more and more people. “The municipality of Petange has played an active role in the creation of affordable housing in Lamadelaine. Together with the National Society of Affordable Housing, we are creating housing for young families- the subdivision “Atzengen” counting approximately one hundred individual family homes and three small residencies containing 33 homes”, the Mayor specified recently.