Mondorf-les-Bains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mondorf-les-Bains
Munneref
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Commune
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Map of Luxembourg with Mondorf-les-Bains highlighted in orange, and the canton in dark red
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| Country |  Luxembourg |
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| Canton | Remich | |
| Area rank | ? of 100 | |
| Highest elevation | 317 m (1,040 ft) | |
| • Rank | 95th of 100 | |
| Lowest elevation | 186 m (610 ft) | |
| • Rank | 18th of 100 | |
| Population
(1 January 2019)
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| • Total | 5,273 | |
| • Rank | 30th of 100 | |
| • Density rank | 88th of 100 | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| LAU 2 | LU0001204 | |
| Website | mondorf-les-bains.lu | |
Mondorf-les-Bains is a town and a group of villages (called a commune) in southeastern Luxembourg. It is known as a spa town because of its special healing waters. Mondorf-les-Bains is also home to the only casino in Luxembourg.
The town is part of the canton of Remich. As of 2018, the commune of Mondorf-les-Bains has about 5,082 people living there. This number includes people from nearby villages like Altwies and Ellange.
Contents
History of Mondorf-les-Bains
Early Beginnings
The area where Mondorf-les-Bains is located was first settled by the Celts. Later, the Romans arrived around 65 BC. They built a fort on top of the old Celtic foundations. This fort helped protect the important road that ran from Metz to Trier.
The name of the village comes from a woman named Muomina. She was a niece of Charlemagne, a famous emperor. In the 800s, Muomina gave all her land, including the small village, to Echternach Abbey. Because of her, the village was then called Muomendorph.
Challenges and Rebuilding
Over many centuries, Mondorf was often attacked, burned down, and then rebuilt. For example, St Michael's Church, which was first built in 1065, had to be rebuilt four times. The last time it was rebuilt was in 1764.
Discovery of Thermal Waters
In the 1840s, something very important was discovered in Mondorf. People were drilling deep into the ground to find salt, which was very expensive at the time. Karl Gotthelf Kind, who had found salt in Germany, hoped to find it here too.
He drilled to a record depth of 736 meters. Instead of salt, he found special mineral waters! These waters were not good for making salt because they had a brownish color from iron. However, a local notary (a legal official) named J.-P. Ledure saw another opportunity.
He believed the waters could be used for health and relaxation. He managed to get support to create the "Société des Bains de Mondorf" (Mondorf Baths Company).
The First Spa
The company quickly hired an architect named Charles Eydt. He was asked to build a special building for the thermal waters. This first spa opened on June 20, 1847.
The spa became very popular. Wealthy French visitors came to stay in the fancy hotels that quickly appeared nearby. The village grew and became very successful. However, in 1871, the flow of French visitors stopped when Germany took over Alsace and Lorraine.
Growth and Revival
Even though the town officially became "Mondorf-les-Bains" on August 28, 1878, the spa had been struggling since 1871. Things only got better after the government took over the facilities on April 21, 1886.
Paul Eyschen, who was a high-ranking government official, worked hard to make the spa popular again. He encouraged visitors from Belgium to come. In the early 1900s, the government invested a lot of money in the resort. They added a new building for the original water source, a large hall for events, and a reading room. They also built the Orangerie and Luxembourg's first indoor swimming pool. The park around the spa was made much bigger.
A railway line to Thionville opened in 1903, making it easier for people to visit. In 1913, another water source was found after drilling 464 meters deep. It was named the Marie-Adélaïde Source, after the Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde.
Mondorf in the 20th Century
After a quiet time during the First World War, a new spa center opened in 1926. It was designed by architect Paul Wigreux. In the 1930s, the hotels were not filled with spa visitors, but with people escaping from Nazi Germany. The famous Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein also visited during this time.
During the Second World War, the spa was used by high-ranking German officials. In 1945, Mondorf's Palace Hotel became Camp Ashcan. This was a special camp where important Nazi officials were held after the war. They stayed there while waiting for their trials in Nuremberg.
After the war, the spa continued to do well. An outdoor swimming pool was added in 1953, a new thermal center in 1988, and the Casino 2000 opened in 1983.
Spa Facilities
The spa in Mondorf-les-Bains welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Its waters are rich in minerals and are about 24°C (75°F). The spa is located in a large park that covers 36 hectares (about 89 acres). It has many different facilities for health and relaxation.
St Michael's Church
St Michael's Church is one of the most beautiful Rococo buildings in Luxembourg. Inside, you can see interesting things like a fresco (a painting on a wall or ceiling), a pieta (a sculpture of Mary holding Jesus), and a special pulpit.
The church was built between 1764 and 1766. The furniture inside, in the Louis XV style, was made by a local sculptor named Jean-Pierre Decker. The organ, confessionals, and altars all fit together perfectly with the frescos painted by Jean-Georges Weiser. The original St Michael's Church was built in 1065, but it was rebuilt several times over the years.
Population Growth
This chart shows how the population of Mondorf-les-Bains has grown over many years. You can see that the number of people living in the commune has steadily increased, especially in recent decades.
Economy of Mondorf-les-Bains
The biggest part of Mondorf's economy is Casino 2000. It is not just a place for games, but also a hotel, restaurant, and a place for business events.
Other important parts of the economy include the town's many restaurants and the visitors who come for tourism. Local arts and crafts also contribute. Farming and viticulture (growing grapes for wine) are also important. The Domaine Thermal, which includes the spa, its hotel, restaurants, and conference rooms, also brings many visitors and supports the local economy.
Twin Towns — Sister Cities
Mondorf-les-Bains has special partnerships with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They work together to share culture and ideas.
Mondorf-les-Bains is twinned with:
Notable People
Some famous people have come from Mondorf-les-Bains:
- John Grün (1868–1912), known as the "strongest man in the world"
- Fränk Schleck (born 1980), a professional road racing cyclist
