4 Best Sights in Esch-sur-Alzette and the Redlands, Luxembourg

This small valley lies around 10 km (6 miles) northwest of Esch-sur-Alzette, and was once the heart of the country's mining industry, connected via a pair of railway lines: one to ship equipment and ore in and out of nearby Pétange; another to transport the workers to the mining village of Lasauvage or into France. It was still operating by the 1960s. In summer, visitors can ride trains into the old mining tunnels, pedal a "draisine" (€10) along the tracks, see rail and mining museums, and tour the old villages where the miners once lived. July also sees the arrival of blues and steampunk festivals. 

You can pick up the map for this architectural walk (free) at the tourism office in town. The route is a breezy 5 km (3 miles) and is a great way to explore a city that, on the surface at least, doesn't appear all that attractive at first. Much of the center was built at the turn of the 20th century, as the iron-ore industry gathered steam. Architects were shipped in from France, Belgium, and Germany, with the era's dominating styles of neo-Gothic, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau seen across magnificent turreted corner houses, the stately town hall, and imperious mansions built for the moguls of the era. 

This cheerful government-run animal sanctuary perches high in the Gaalgebierg hills above the town. The walk up is a bracing plod through the forest park, and once there, you'll find an array of ancient domestic species, including deer, big-horned sheep, goats, and cattle. The tree-house café, in particular, is a congenial spot to while away a lunch hour. Note: there's no public transport here that doesn't require a 20-minute walk. 

The Parc Merveilleux has rides, a petting zoo, a toy train, and miniature golf among its facilities. If you're traveling with kids, this is a great place to let them blow off some steam.