First things first; this is going to be a big report. It’s me, and bits a big site. But I really think those who haven’t seen this site before (it has been around some time mind), they will enjoy it. I particularly liked the much older part with the tiled floors.
The Explore
Well; this summer I have been quite off the radar, putting a lot of urbex efforts into car repairs; amongst other things, and sadly due to the decidedly shit summer that we’ve had this year, those plans haven’t really gone to fruition either I’m afraid! Still I’ve sat on these for a few months now but finally; here is my report. I absolutely loved this place both inside and out. The whole place is 100% me and it had it all; Industrial Decay, Heights, Machinery, long expanses of space, Modern Equipment and Vintage, Railway and Old Office, huge hooks, dust, rust THE LOT.
This was visited with three non-members during a French Trip in Spring. I had decided this trip to not do any driving as I am almost always the driver on road trips and thought I deserved a rest. The other three at the time didn’t drive; and it turned out that taxis and ubers are expensive in France, but I did get to feel what its like to not be the DD. Quite nice!!
The place has been closed about 12 years now and has decayed wonderfully. We bumped into some other explorers whilst here too. It was a great day out
I have borrowed some history from @Exploring with Andy for this.
The History
During the late 19th century; Iron Development saw rapid developments. Areas where Iron Ore was in abundance benefited from the expanding industry and large plants were constructed. These Blast Furnaces and Steel Works in Florange are one example; with massive expansion taking place in the early 20th century. The first blast furnaces were built at Florange in 1906, and later a huge steel works to convert the iron into steel.
Eventually, six Blast Furnaces were built at the site. During the 1970s three of these were refurbished, and their capacities increased. The other three furnaces were decommissioned and later demolished. One of the oldest remaining parts of Florange; is a huge hall with 1919 emblazoned above the main entrance. This now contains a set of Turbo-Blowers for injecting highly pressurised air into the Blast Furnaces.
This hall would have originally contained an array of classic industrial machinery including Mechanical Blowers and Alternators similar to those seen at Power Plant X in Luxembourg. In the 1950s; Electricity Generation ceased when Richemont Power Station took over, running on the Blast Gurnace gasses produced by a number of Steel Works in the region.
Finally; production of iron and steel ceased in 2012 at Florange; when the last remaining Blast Furnaces at the site were mothballed. It was later announced the two Blast Furnaces would be maintained so they could be restarted if market conditions improved in the future, but were permanently shut down the following year.
11 years on; the site is completely derelict and being quickly reclaimed by nature. A site that would once have been a complete hive of noise and activity is now completely silent and ready to offer its absolutely beautiful sights for those who wish to see them. The site is huge and takes all day to cover. I was absolutely smashed, and owing to a lot of work which has been done to cut stairways to certain buildings; it can be incredibly hard work to do some; which meant I opted out of climbing all the way up a Blast Furnace and instead did the air house part.
The chimneys were incredible. The people who I was with did not like the idea of climbing it; one came with me. Aside from moving with the wind; it wasn’t all that bad, but was probably a good 400ft up!
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To be continued!
The Explore
Well; this summer I have been quite off the radar, putting a lot of urbex efforts into car repairs; amongst other things, and sadly due to the decidedly shit summer that we’ve had this year, those plans haven’t really gone to fruition either I’m afraid! Still I’ve sat on these for a few months now but finally; here is my report. I absolutely loved this place both inside and out. The whole place is 100% me and it had it all; Industrial Decay, Heights, Machinery, long expanses of space, Modern Equipment and Vintage, Railway and Old Office, huge hooks, dust, rust THE LOT.
This was visited with three non-members during a French Trip in Spring. I had decided this trip to not do any driving as I am almost always the driver on road trips and thought I deserved a rest. The other three at the time didn’t drive; and it turned out that taxis and ubers are expensive in France, but I did get to feel what its like to not be the DD. Quite nice!!
The place has been closed about 12 years now and has decayed wonderfully. We bumped into some other explorers whilst here too. It was a great day out
I have borrowed some history from @Exploring with Andy for this.
The History
During the late 19th century; Iron Development saw rapid developments. Areas where Iron Ore was in abundance benefited from the expanding industry and large plants were constructed. These Blast Furnaces and Steel Works in Florange are one example; with massive expansion taking place in the early 20th century. The first blast furnaces were built at Florange in 1906, and later a huge steel works to convert the iron into steel.
Eventually, six Blast Furnaces were built at the site. During the 1970s three of these were refurbished, and their capacities increased. The other three furnaces were decommissioned and later demolished. One of the oldest remaining parts of Florange; is a huge hall with 1919 emblazoned above the main entrance. This now contains a set of Turbo-Blowers for injecting highly pressurised air into the Blast Furnaces.
This hall would have originally contained an array of classic industrial machinery including Mechanical Blowers and Alternators similar to those seen at Power Plant X in Luxembourg. In the 1950s; Electricity Generation ceased when Richemont Power Station took over, running on the Blast Gurnace gasses produced by a number of Steel Works in the region.
Finally; production of iron and steel ceased in 2012 at Florange; when the last remaining Blast Furnaces at the site were mothballed. It was later announced the two Blast Furnaces would be maintained so they could be restarted if market conditions improved in the future, but were permanently shut down the following year.
11 years on; the site is completely derelict and being quickly reclaimed by nature. A site that would once have been a complete hive of noise and activity is now completely silent and ready to offer its absolutely beautiful sights for those who wish to see them. The site is huge and takes all day to cover. I was absolutely smashed, and owing to a lot of work which has been done to cut stairways to certain buildings; it can be incredibly hard work to do some; which meant I opted out of climbing all the way up a Blast Furnace and instead did the air house part.
The chimneys were incredible. The people who I was with did not like the idea of climbing it; one came with me. Aside from moving with the wind; it wasn’t all that bad, but was probably a good 400ft up!
#1
#2
#3
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To be continued!
