Travelogue of An Armchair Traveller: Tower of Dreams and Desires

Tower of Dreams and Desires (German: Turm der Träume und Sehnsüchte) in Trier, Germany, is a strange looking huge artwork, shaped like a covered open ended stairway, which leads to viewing platforms at three different elevations in three different directions.

The rust coloured slanted tower, popularly known as the Luxembourg Tower is a friendship gift from the city of Luxembourg to their neighbouring city of Trier. Designed by the renowned architect François Valentiny it was installed on the occasion of the 2004 National Garden Festival and is made of rust coloured Corten Steel.

The 19 metres high tower stands on a 5 metres high man made mound. The stairs are 2.5 metres wide and 51 steps lead to the uppermost cantilevered platform which opens in the direction of Luxembourg, while the other two lower platforms have in their line of sight, major European cities like Paris, Lisbon, Belfast, Warsaw and Athens etc.

It is difficult for me to truly explain the nature of the art work, however in the words of Web site of Hermann & Valentiny;

"A landmark, more sculpture than architecture, more artwork than building. And an audacious thing, a contemporary version of the towers built by families in San Gimignano. ...... It is not just a symbol without a specific function; one can climb it and it offers views far into the distance. .......Those who climb it engage in a kind of pilgrimage, a procession to the gods. And become him or herself a god, who lets his gaze roam across a work that is both: well made and wayward."