Sculpture Road Stones at the Border

description

brief description:

it was the expanse of the Franco-German landscape, extending from Büdingen and Wellingen (belonging to the German district of Merzig) to the French villages of Launstroff and Waldwisse, which deeply impressed a regional sculptor by the name of Paul Schneider. This Saarland native was so inspired by the exceptional backdrop of the Saargau mountain range that he decided to initiate an International Sculptors Symposium which would attract artists from around the world. Between 1986 and 1992, 26 artworks were created for the Steine an der Grenze open-air gallery: in very different ways, these Stones at the Border deal with the themes of borders and overcoming borders. The sculptures, which have been positioned on both sides of the road along the Franco-German border, band both countries together symbolically. Not only are they meant to bear witness to present-day art, but they should also encourage a dialogue between man, art and nature across the borders. The project is dedicated to Otto Freundlich, the Jewish sculptor who, in the 1930s, had already envisioned a sculpture road that would unite two peoples. In 1943, Otto Freundlich was killed by the Nazis at Majdanek concentration camp

relevant filming facts

opening times:

open to the public all year round

usage:

tourism, recreation

Background noise:

very quiet

surroundings:

passing along the Franco-German border, the sculpture road meanders through the Saargau mountain range. It is primarily the ever-surprising great diversity which gives this swathe of land its charming appeal.

Catering:

not available - however, on August 15th of each year, the traditional Borderland Festival, which takes place on the fairground right by the Stones at the Border, offers a variety of regional culinary specialties

accessibility

car:

coming from Saarbrücken, take the A620 motorway and the A8 motorway going in the direction of Merzig. Leave the A8 by taking the Merzig-Wellingen exit (4). Turn left onto highway L170 and continue on this road until you reach the town of Wellingen. Follow the signs indicating Internationales Bildhauersymposium, which will lead you uphill, and proceed to the parking lot, where the symposium Steine an der Grenze begins.