The location of the Nomadic Island 2022 residency is called Thillenberg in Differdange, in south-western Luxembourg. It is a large parking area at the edge of a protected nature zone, a natural reserve. Nearby, the rails of the former mine-train are still to be found. The mines were situated all around and there are still some abandoned buildings not far from the camp location that belong to the steel industrial company Arcelor Mittal.
The parking area is right next to the Stade du Thillenberg: a football stadium. The construction of the legendary stadium, which is located directly on the edge of the forest, started in 1921. Just outside of the town of Differdingen, it was literally built on the Thillenberg hill. In 1922 the original stadium was finalised and inaugurated. From 1922 up until 2003 it was home to the Differdingen Red Boys who used the Stade du Thillenberg as their main ground. After the merger, FC Differdingen 03 played its home games there. The last official appearance of the first team in the "Stade du Thillenberg" took place on May 18, 2012.
In 2018, the stadium was added to the protected monuments list and in 2020, the municipality of Differdingen decided to buy the site of the "Stade du Thillenberg" from owner ArcelorMittal for two million euros.
The parking area is right next to the Stade du Thillenberg: a football stadium. The construction of the legendary stadium, which is located directly on the edge of the forest, started in 1921. Just outside of the town of Differdingen, it was literally built on the Thillenberg hill. In 1922 the original stadium was finalised and inaugurated. From 1922 up until 2003 it was home to the Differdingen Red Boys who used the Stade du Thillenberg as their main ground. After the merger, FC Differdingen 03 played its home games there. The last official appearance of the first team in the "Stade du Thillenberg" took place on May 18, 2012.
In 2018, the stadium was added to the protected monuments list and in 2020, the municipality of Differdingen decided to buy the site of the "Stade du Thillenberg" from owner ArcelorMittal for two million euros.
The entrance portal and the main grandstand were planned and built according to the English model. The latter was built of wood and metal girders and kept in the colors red, white and black. Opposite, a large standing tribune was carved into the rock face. In the meantime, nature has reclaimed this grandstand. " - Armand Hoffmann for the Tageblatt 30.01.2020 |
Differdange (Luxembourgish: Déifferdeng // German: Differdingen) is a city in the southwestern part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the capital of the municipality with the same name. Located in the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, it has about 28,000 inhabitants, making it the 3rd largest city in Luxembourg.
The city is located in the valley of the Chiers, a tributary of the Meuse, which has its source in the Oberkorn section. The municipality is bordered to the south and west by the French border, especially in Saulnes in the Longwy basin. It was an industrial town that developed rapidly at the same time as the Luxembourg steel industry. |
© all photos by Gianfranco Celestino