Plans for sustainable tourist accommodation in Lultzhausen, on the shores of the Upper Sûre Lake, are back on the agenda.
Three years after the presentation of an extensive feasibility study, Culture Minister Eric Thill has revived the project by publicly inviting interested operators to come forward. In a video posted on social media, he stressed the need for "sustainable, locally rooted ideas connected to nature, sport, well-being, and seminars".
The move comes as the region faces an influx of visitors during the summer months, while local residents continue to call for a national plan to improve the management of traffic, parking areas, and environmental pressures. The government now wants to turn its plans into a new hotel just a few metres from the lake.
The 2023 study, commissioned by the General Directorate for Tourism, had already outlined an ambitious project comprising a 12-room hotel for up to 32 guests, along with 24 lodges of different sizes offering a further 88 beds. The site would therefore have a maximum capacity of 120 visitors.
The plot covers more than one hectare and lies east of the N27, offering panoramic views of the lake and close contact with the surrounding natural landscape. Although the sloping terrain was initially regarded as a constraint, the study ultimately identified it as an advantage that could create distinctive views.
The proposed concept is based on architecture designed to blend into the landscape, using local materials such as wood and stone, green roofs, and an extensive water-management system. Plans include rainwater collection, natural drainage, grey-water treatment, and the possible creation of natural pools or recreational water features.
The lodges would be designed specifically for the site, offering guests an independent experience while retaining access to the hotel's services, with an emphasis on well-being and escaping from everyday life.
The project also includes 50 partially underground parking spaces, a 50-square-metre bicycle storage facility, and a pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting the site to the village without requiring visitors to cross the main road.
Shared areas would be aimed at families, groups of friends, and guests attending sporting or relaxation retreats. Proposed facilities include a sensory trail, picnic area, campfire space, and vegetable garden.
The government now wants to take the project to the next stage. Thill has invited tourism operators to submit proposals for running the site, stressing that they must meet high sustainability standards and aim for recognised environmental certification.
"Now is the time for operators to put forward their ideas", he said, adding that the site should become an example of responsible tourism connected to the region and its natural resources.
With the official call for proposals, plans for a new sustainable hotel at the Upper Sûre Lake appear closer than ever to becoming reality.
However, reactions on social media have been mixed. Many users argued that the authorities should prioritise housing rather than hotels, while others raised concerns about the potential impact of the development on the lake and its surroundings.
