A Colônia Luxemburguesa

Messias Guimarães started his career in the Brazilian Air Force and moved to João Monlevade in 1952 to work as a receptionist and waiter in the Belgo Mineira Casino.

The Fazenda Solar was built around 1818 as the new residence of the French engineer Jean Antoine Félix Dissandes de Monlevade. Today, the Fazenda belongs to ArcelorMittal and is occasionally used for special receptions.

Getúlio Vargas (1882-1954) was the president of Brazil from 1930 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1954. He installed a dictatorial regime, known as the Estado Novo from 1937 to 1945. Vargas died in 1954 in the presidential palace of Catete in Rio de Janeiro. His suicide has been repeatedly questioned.

Juscelino, also known by his initials JK, was born in Diamantina, Minas Gerais in 1902. Before becoming Brazilian President from 1956-1961, he was the Mayor of Belo Horizonte (1940-1945) and Governor of Minas Gerais (1951-1956). Juscelino Kubitschek is the father of Brasilia and famous for his ambitious programme "50 in 5", 50 years of progress in 5 years of presidency. Kubitschek died of a car accident in 1971. The reason of his death has been repeatedly questioned.

Jean de Luxembourg (1921-2019) was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 to 2004, and first visited Brazil as Crown Prince in 1942 and several times since then.

Joseph Hein (1902-1983) was born in 1902 in Belvaux and moved to Brazil in 1934. Hein was Belgo Mineira's general director from 1956 to 1974. He died tragically in 1983 while being attacked by bees in his fazenda.

Dona Neli moved to João Monlevade in the 1930s, where she fell in love with the son of a Polish engineer.

The Cine Monlevade was built by the Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo Mineira in the 1940s. It was located in the centre of the company's industrial town and attracted many residents with several international screenings. The Cinema was later demolished by the company for the expansion of the steel plant.

Ildeu Caldeira is a retired Belgo Mineira worker who moved to João Monlevade as a young boy in the 1930s.

The football stadium Louis Ensch was inaugurated in 1952 and named after Louis Ensch on the occasion of his 25th anniversary at Belgo Mineira.

The Social Club was built in the 1940s by the Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo Mineira as a gathering point where Luxembourgish engineers, foremen and their families would spend their freetime. Only Europeans and highly ranked Brazilian engineers were granted access to the Social Clube's facilities.

Dominique is a Luxembourg-Brazilian historian and filmmaker investigating the histories of the Colônia Luxemburguesa.

Discover the city of João Monlevade with the interactive map.

Meeting of the absent Monlevadenses, Social Club, 2018 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbJANzzmLZI