Contact:
Carrières Feidt SA
Montée d’Ernzen | L-7636 ERNZEN
Tél. : (+352) 87 94 75 - 1
Fax : (+352) 87 94 78
The sandstone out of the quarries of Ernzen, better known as Luxembourg sandstone, is light, rather white to beige. Its very fine, full and even structure as well as its high resistance made it the ideal material for monumental buildings. It was therefore used in the construction of the Grand Ducal Palace, the Adolphe Bridge, the headquarters of Banque et Caisse d’Epargne, the “Cercle Municipal”, the Cathedral of Luxembourg, the Basilica of Echternach and the castle of Meysembourg. It was also well known abroad and used for example in the Colonial Museum of Tervuren (Belgium), the post office of Gent (Belgium) or the train station of Leiden (Netherlands).
But the best proof of the stability of the Ernzen sandstone is the Castle of Larochette, built in the XII century. Some parts like the chimney or the arches of the windows are unchanged today, as well in colour as in material.
At the start there were several quarries were the inhabitants of the region, but also migrants from the south (mainly Italy) found a difficult and dusty job. As time went by however, just one “Kaul” continued to be exploited by the S.A. de Montfort. It was during this period, before and after World War I, that most big orders arrived from Belgium. The transport of the stones took place by train, the Jhangli, from Larochette to Cruchten, then continued to Luxembourg City and Belgium. After World War II however, during which the quarry was confiscated, the Belgian entrepreneur did not see any chance of further development. In 1979 then, Feidt Frères took over the place and modernized it.
More details : http://www.industrie.lu/ernzersteinbrueche.html
