The 24 large stainless steel pillars and the slanted pole glitter and sparkle in the sunlight. Its shadow leans far over the green heap ground. What time is it in Castrop-Rauxel? Visitors can read this with its help when they climb the summit and bring some time along. The oversized sundial by sculptor Jan Bormann was installed in 1993 as part of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Emscher Park.
It displays the local time with a brief conversion and also warns not to stand still for too long. The exploration tour continues over the popular landmark in the Castrop-Rauxel district of Schwerin.
Around the artwork, four staircases lead down from the plateau to the plain. They are oriented to the cardinal directions and form a geo-cross. Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that they can be divided into two axes - a nature axis and an industrial axis. For their construction, pit wood (south) and railway sleepers (north) as well as steel slabs (west) and railway tracks made from them (east) were used. The world of mining greets you.
Before descending, travelers should take a moment. The view from the highest elevation of Castrop-Rauxel at 151 meters above sea level is wonderful. From here, the Dortmund television tower giant Florian appears like a tiny figure in the southeast. At many points, other energy sources have long dominated the horizon, wind turbines spin against the blue sky and the green landscape of the central Ruhr area. From the coal era, the overburden pile of the mines Graf Schwerin and Erin remains, which between 1875 and 1967 took in everything that came to the surface but wasn't coal. From 1988 onward, grass grew over this era, and the pile surface was recultivated.
To make a visit complete, it's worth taking a look at the surrounding sculptures that are somewhat hidden at the edges of the paths. Award-winning in the overall ensemble, but still somewhat inconspicuous. However, the Sinus Pergola by Peter Corzilius and the Water Temple by Peter Strege stand out from the (art) landscape. The former consists of several wooden rods of varying lengths arranged in a wave-like manner. The temple comprises several columns and a domed roof, entirely made from mining materials. And, what time is it? Time to descend.
