Esch-sur-Alzette, town, southern Luxembourg, on the upper Alzette River, southwest of Luxembourg city, near the French border. A small village until 1870, it eventually became the second largest town in Luxembourg, largely because of the local phosphoric iron ore, and the centre of the country’s iron and steel industry. Although this industry declined in the second half of the 20th century, steel and iron remain important products. The town also has produced slag fertilizer and foodstuffs. Pop. (2005 est.) 28,000.