Still reeds and sunlight glare: To be found by in the Bürgerpark next to the red-brick ruins.
2009-03-31
Still reeds and sunlight glare: To be found by in the Bürgerpark next to the red-brick ruins.
2009-03-30
Did they forget to knock this down? No, it has light tubes in the old window frames! I guess it must be a monument to something.
After a bit internet research, I discover this area is the Bürgerpark, built between 1986 and 1989 on the site of the old port of Saarbrücken. The landscape architects Latz and Partner actually had the ruins built there.
2009-03-29
More rust, more art: this time graffiti enhanced. I did not check if the sundial was accurate.
2009-03-28
Stark geometry: one of several rusty works of art in the park area in front of the Kongresshalle.
2009-03-26
Grass tufts on the Saar: to be found in front of the Kongresshalle, a few metres away from the main shopping street.
2009-03-25
Endless nails and blue disks: this board is to be found at the entrance to a street of artisans buildings in the Völklinger Hütte. I have no idea of what its function is. If I ever do the guided tour again, I will ask.
2009-03-24
Altes Rathaus - old town hall: the first components of the building were started in 1874. It was later extended and now contains elements of classical, baroque und Jungendstil forms.
2009-03-23
World heritage rust: the ironworks in the background are known as the Völklinger Hütte. They were first used in 1873 and continued producing coal until 1986. Thereafter, they were declared a UNESCO world heritage site and regularly host exhibitions and concerts. The site is highly photogenic and on the day of this photo there were several serious looking photographers hunting for shots. Unfortunately, some rather modern and non-rusty scaffolding is currently spoiling the photographers' fun.
2009-03-21
Endless graffiti: More from the graffiti wall opposite the Staden park area on the Saar (2009-03-21, 2009-03-11, 2009-01-04).
2009-03-19
Gaping gargoyle: This one is to be found in a well frequented location before the stairs leading up to the Schloss. Yesterday's stony face is in a backstreet nearby.
Update: I later found out this figure is part of Saarbrücken folklore. It was originally to be found as part of the old bridge across the Saar, and is thus several hundred years old. The legend is that this figure is a mean baker, who refused to give the poor and starving bread. In some versions of the story, he even extracted sexual favours in return for bread. The wife of the then reigning prince is supposed to have begged him for bread incognito and thus discovered his evil ways. Part of his punishment was to have this image of him used for drainage.
2009-03-17
2009-03-16
Baying blue deer: This deer has been stranded on a wall in front of the castle after Luxembourg and the surrounding area were European Capital of Culture in 2007.
2009-03-15
Framed theatre: A shot taken from the castle on the South bank of the Saar, looking towards the theatre on the North side. This chunky yellow creation was inaugurated in 1938 by Goebbels, after the people of the Saarland had voted to go back to Germany. Hitler described it as Geschenk des Führers an seine Getreuen im Westen, a gift of the Führer to his faithful in the West, although Saarland itself had to pick up most of the cost.
2009-03-13
Cherub Silhouette: This charming, chubby figure spends his days in the garden behind the Schloss. The main entrance to the Schloss is on the other side, and it was not apparent to me until the day of this photo that such a garden even existed.
2009-03-12
Atom in the Sky: These metallic orbits are located on the pavement outside one of the adminsitrative buildings on the South bank of the Saar.
2009-03-11
Apocalypse on the Saar: There is a stretch of concrete underneath the autobahn next to the River Saar that is free game for graffiti writers. It happens to be opposite the most popular park area in Saarbrücken, so the artists are guaranteed a public with time to gaze. The grafiti spraying is done quite openly. It must be officially sanctioned. In fact, the scene above looks so good, I wonder if it was even officially sponsored.
2009-03-10
This bridge is at the end of pleasant park area along the River Saar. It is usually full of joggers and cyclists. I must have caught it in one of its quieter moments.
2009-03-09
Fastnacht (carnival) is over, the last ice has disappeared from the woods, and Spring is on its way. It must be time for the obligatory flower photos.
2009-03-07
Another view of Saarbrücken's imposing red Rathaus (2009-02-24, 2008-12-06), designed by Georg von Hauberrisser and built between 1897 and 1900. It shares elements with von Haubrisser's most famous work, the New Rathaus in Munich, built at roughly the same time.
2009-03-06
Located in a car park before the main railway startion in Saarbrücken. I guess the rest of the train must have rusted away.
2009-03-04
One of three or four turrets overlooking the Staden park area on the River Saar. Two of the others are used as a kiosk to sell beer and coffee (2009-01-05) and are really popular in summer. This one is unused, perhaps waiting for an entrepreneur with a good idea for turret exploitation.
2009-03-03
The spire of Sankt Jakobskirche, which, according to the Wikipedia entry for Saarbrücken, is a starting point for the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago). Google maps tells me that is 1,938 km by car. Maybe, you can take a few shortcuts if you go by foot.
2009-03-02
The north side of the square in front of the Ludwigskirche, designed by Friedrich-Joachim Stengel (1694-1787), as was the church itself, the Saarkran, the old Rathaus and the Basilika. Obviously a busy man!
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