© Communes de Witz

Gierwerei – Leather industry

Where? L-9540 Wiltz

Wiltz: Where Leather Found a Global Market

**For centuries, the town of Wiltz was synonymous with one thing: leather. From its humble beginnings, Wiltz blossomed into an internationally renowned leatherworking hub. Skilled tanners transformed hides into supple materials that found their way across continents. This is a story of craftsmanship, economic might, and a community that dared to defy tyranny.**

**The Roots of an Industry**

Wiltz's leather legacy stretches back to the 16th century. Its location likely played a key role, with abundant oak forests providing essential tanning bark. Tanners relied on the bark's natural tannins – acidic compounds that transform animal hides into durable leather. Clean rivers offered the perfect water source for the labour-intensive tanning process. As the industry grew, so did the town's reputation for quality.

**Life as a Tanner**

Tanning was hard, physical work. From soaking hides to the final treatments, it required both strength and expertise. This trade shaped the town's character. Generations of families relied on tanneries for their livelihoods, creating a tight-knit community bound by a shared craft.

**World-Renowned Leather**

By the late 19th century, Wiltz leather was in high demand. Tanneries like Lambert and Ideal produced a vast array of products: sturdy sole leather, fine upper leather, straps, and more. Exports reached markets across Europe and as far as South America. Wiltz wasn't just crafting leather goods; it was supplying the world.

**Challenges and Change**

Early 20th-century shifts brought uncertainty. Economic downturns and changing trade agreements threatened stability. This hardship set the stage for what was to come, revealing tensions beneath the surface of Wiltz's prosperous industry.

**The 1942 Strike**

When Nazi Germany imposed forced military conscription on Luxembourg, it violated the country's neutrality and ignited a firestorm of resistance. Workers at the Ideal tannery in Wiltz were the first to act, initiating a defiant strike on August 31st, 1942. News spread rapidly through the town and beyond, sparking a wave of strikes and protests across Luxembourg. Though met with brutal repression – including summary executions, deportations, and forced labour – the Wiltz strike became a symbol of national defiance against the occupiers.

The consequences of the strike were severe for both Wiltz and the whole of Luxembourg. It demonstrated the Nazi regime's ruthlessness but also galvanized further resistance.  The strike is a pivotal moment in Luxembourg's history.

**Decline and Legacy**

Post-war, Wiltz's leather industry faced new obstacles. Changing technologies and global competition took their toll. The Lambert tannery closed in 1953, and Ideal in 1961. However, the memory of the strike lives on as a testament to Luxembourg's unyielding spirit.

**Wiltz Today**

Though the large tanneries are gone, their legacy lingers. Visitors can find remnants of this once-thriving industry: office buildings, the Ideal porter's lodge, and the Tannery Museum at Wiltz Castle. Memorials honour the strike – a reminder that the leatherworkers of Wiltz were not only artisans, but heroes who stood for their community and their nation.

Opening hours

Contact

Address: Office Régional du Tourisme Éislek
L-9540 Wiltz
Show on map

More sites

Anti-tank gun 43
At the Houfëls viewpoint, the imposing presence of two World War II relics awaits visitors.
Find out more
© Visit Éislek
Vianden Dam
The Vianden Dam is currently being transformed into an oversized artwork.
Find out more
© © Giulio Groebert
Esch-sur-Sûre dam
The impressive dam in Esch-Sauer was built between 1955 and 1958 and blends harmoniously into nature. Its arched design makes it a popular photo spot for photographers and nature enthusiasts.
Find out more
The Chapel of St Mark
St Mark's Chapel in Longsdorf attracts visitors as a popular place of pilgrimage, especially on 25 April, the feast day of the holy patron saint. The chapel with its two-nave design, geometric paintings and a baroque altar is certainly worth a visit.
Find out more
Saint-Hubert Church
Discover the fascinating architecture of the church, built on the ruins of a pagan site!
Find out more
© Visit Éislek
Kalborn Mill
The mill in Kalborn, which is over 200 years old, has developed into a nature conservation centre. Endangered river pearl and brook mussels are bred here. Information boards in front of the mill show how gardens can provide habitats for wildlife and insects.
Find out more
© Joachim Köhler
Notre-Dame de Lorette Chapel
A Gem of Clervaux's Spiritual Heritage
Find out more
© Gaul’s Legacy Tours
US Memorial Diekirch
The US Memorial located in the municipal parc of Diekirch river remembers a number of US units that were present in and around the city, September 1944 – February 1945.
Find out more
© Visit Luxembourg
Thematic paths
Bunker Circular Walk
Distance: 13,84 km
Duration: 4:30 h
Difficulty: difficult
Find out more

Take a journey into the past

Schleif Winsler
© Visit Éislek

Rediscovering past heritage in the Éislek

The LEADER project ‘Time Travel’ brings the history of Éislek to life in a special way.

Read all time travel stories