A Colônia Luxemburguesa

Paulo Speller was born and raised in João Monlevade as the eldest son of the Luxembourgish engineer Guillaume Prosper Speller. Today, he is a university professor living in Belo Horizonte.

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

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

The Margarida hospital was inaugurated in 1952 and named after Louis Ensch's mother Marguerite on the occasion of his 25th anniversary at Belgo Mineira.

Marie Christiane Heuwert-Meyers was born in João Monlevade as only daughter of a Luxembourgish engineer and is currently the Honorary Consul of Luxembourg in Rio de Janeiro.

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.

Sálvio Penna was born in Sabará and has worked at Belgo Mineira, as well as his entire family.

Paulo Speller was born and raised in João Monlevade as the eldest son of the Luxembourgish engineer Guillaume Prosper Speller. Today, he is a university professor living in Belo Horizonte.

The São José Operário Church was designed by the Czech architect Yaro Burian in 1942 and inaugurated in the aftermath of the war in 1946. The church was entirely financed and managed by the Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo Mineira and even the priests were hired by the company. It is the only V-shaped church in the world, symbolizing Via, Veritas, Vita (path, truth, and life).

Marc André Meyers was born in Brazil as the eldest son of a Luxembourgish engineer. He is the author of "A Dama e o Luxemburguês" and university professor in San Diego.

Emile Demuth was a Luxembourgish engineer who joined Belgo Mineira in 1954. Torn apart from his family back home, he shared his experiences and intimate thoughts with his wife, son and mother-in-law in 68 letters.

Marie-Rose Steil-Blang lived in João Monlevade from 1951 to 1957. Her husband was a technician at Belgo Mineira. Today, Marie-Rose is living in her hometown Esch-sur-Alzette.

The Grupo Escolar was a primary school built and run by the Companhia Siderúrgica Belgo Mineira in the 1940s. It is the only building from the Aires Quaresma square which has not been demolished during the expansion works of the steel plant. Today, the former school building is occupied by ArcelorMittal's RH department of the Monlevade plant.