Musée de l'Ardoise

About the museum

The museum is on the site of the former slate quarries of Haut-Martelange. The first underground galleries were dug here at the end of the 18th century; toward the end of the 19th century, several family-run businesses produced more than six million roofing slates a year. From 1890 onward, the German industrialist family Rother bought up the quarries and the village houses, modernized production and gave the site and village a uniform appearance. Around 1900, about 600 people worked in slate; the narrow-gauge railway “Jhangeli” carried away the finished slates and brought in materials. After 1960, new roofing materials and cheap imported slate displaced local stone; in 1986, Luxembourg’s last slate quarry closed.

The Frënn vun der Lee association, founded in 1992 by residents of the surrounding villages, wanted to revive the derelict site and open it to visitors. Since 2003, several ministries have supported the project, and the site passed into state ownership. Since January 1, 2019, the association Musée de l’Ardoise a.s.b.l. has run the museum; its members are the State, the municipality of Rambrouch and the Frënn vun der Lee.

Today the roughly eight-hectare site, with 22 historic buildings, is an open-air museum. Its offerings include the Johanna show mine, which descends 42 meters, an industrial train and the restored Villa Rother, which has housed a permanent exhibition on the photographer Nic. Molitor since June 2026. The museum also holds a photo and video archive.

Highlights

• Johanna show mine: 42 meters underground, 370 steps
• Open-air museum with 22 historic buildings on about eight hectares
• Industrial train across the site on selected days
• Villa Rother with permanent exhibition on the photographer Nic. Molitor
• Guided tours and educational programs
• Bistro on site

Permanent exhibitions

• Espace Nic. Molitor – Villa Rother – In five rooms of the restored Villa Rother, the permanent exhibition shows several hundred photographs from the estate of photographer Nic. Molitor (1882–1952) and life in the Ardennes villages between 1900 and 1950. Admission is free.
• Besucherbergwerk Johanna – A walk through the Johanna slate mine down to 42 meters, via 370 steps; entry at fixed time slots from age 4.
• Freilichtmuseum mit 22 historischen Gebäuden – The former industrial site of roughly eight hectares, with workshops, buildings and an industrial train, tells the story of slate extraction in Haut-Martelange.

Operated by

Musée de l'Ardoise a.s.b.l. (Staat Luxemburg, Gemeinde Rambrouch, Frënn vun der Lee a.s.b.l.)

Admission & discounts

Access to the site and visits to Villa Rother with its permanent exhibition are free. The price list distinguishes between self-guided and guided visits.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The show mine descends 42 meters via 370 steps.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum describes itself as a destination for families, friends and groups. The show mine is accessible from age 4; activities for children include birthday parties, school programs, an outdoor escape room and the ride on the industrial train.

Getting there & parking

The main entrance is on road CR311, between Rombach-Martelange and Wolwelange.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Wi-Fi

Bistro serving hot and cold drinks and small snacks; on certain days the Frënn vun der Lee run the bistro and offer homemade cake. Visitors may eat their own food in the designated areas. There is Wi-Fi on the surface; there is no signal underground.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Available to rent: the sawmill (€615 per day), a workshop room and the hunting lodge (€307.50 per day each), as well as the Bopebistro (price on request).

Plan your visit