Since the beginning of April, the “Wagon” in Fond-de-Gras, the 7th of a total of 11 Kabaisercher along the Minett Trail, has been open to visitors.

Behind a hall where old Train1900 locomotives are kept, just beyond the municipal border between Differdange and Pétange, is located the Pétange hostel of the Minett Trail. For the Kabaischen in Fond-de-Gras, it was obvious to use a railway wagon, since rail vehicles are attracting tourists every weekend to this picturesque valley, which used to be one of Luxembourg’s centres of iron ore mining.

Even if the hostel still looks like a railway carriage from the outside, it is surprising from the inside. In the narrow space that architect Lisi Teisen had at her disposal, a lounge with kitchen has been created. Three sleeping compartments with two bunk beds, like those found in night trains that have recently started travelling through Europe again, two bathrooms and, as an extra, a sauna located at the rear end of the wagon have been built. You won’t find the bonus of a sauna in any other Kabaischen.

Sustainability and art

For this project, which was one of the winners of the joint architectural competition of the Ordre des Architects et Ingénieurs-Conseils (OAI) and the syndicate of municipalities PRO-SUD, as for all the Kabaisercher on the Minett Trail, care was taken to ensure that it was conceived in a sustainable way. Consequently, timber defines the interior here, as in many of the other Kabaisercher along Luxembourg’s new jewel among walking trails. The train carriage itself was transported from the main station in Luxembourg City to Fond-de-Gras. Over there it stood uselessly on a siding, here it was given a second life through upcycling.

The artist who collaborated with the architect in the realisation of the Kabaischen in Fond-de-Gras is Justine Blau. For her creation, she used the roller shutters of the train carriage, which allow the guests to have a little more privacy, but also allow the artworks of the accommodation to be litteraly discovered. The motifs of the paintings are all related to the geological history of the Minett.

© Minett UNESCO Biosphere

210 € per night to book the whole Kabaischen

Since the beginning of April, the Kabaischen “Wagon” in Fond-de-Gras has been open to visitors. It can be reserved for 210€ per night and can accommodate up to 6 guests. Guests who, after a discovery tour on the Minett Trail and the adjacent former open-cast iron ore mining area “Prënzebierg-Giele Botter“, can end their day in the south of Luxembourg by relaxing in this unique setting.