Esch-sur-Alzette is the second largest city (so-called despite its small size) in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with a population of about 25,000 people. It lies in the south-west of the country, close to the border with France. The town is usually referred to just as Esch, but there is also a village further north named Esch-sur-Sûre from which to disambiguate it.
Esch lies in the valley of the Alzette, which flows through the town. The capital, Luxembourg City, is roughly 15 km (10 miles) to the north-east, and can be reached by road (the A4) or by rail.
The city is the centre of the country's steel manufacture.
There is a museum, called the National Museum of the Resistance, which has material related to the resistance to Nazi occupation during the Second World War. Other tourist attractions include the large park, and the Berwart Tower, built in 1621.
There are two cinemas, called the "Ariston" and the "Kinosch". The main theatre is the Municipal Theatre. There is also the "Kulturfabrik", a "cultural centre" which hosts performances of various kinds.
One of the largest employers in the town is Arcelor, the world's largest steel producer, which formed from the merger of Aceralia, Arbed, and Usinor. Smaller businesses include NEOFACTO, a company founded in the year 2000 which promotes open source software.
Esch is twinned with Cologne, Liège, Rotterdam, and Turin.
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