Can a city steeped in hard work become a magnet for visitors? 48 hours with steel, art – and a colossal backdrop.
On the way to a port elevation, take a deep breath: there is spice in the air, the aroma of heavy industry, a hint of fire and steel. The hill in front of us, the Heinrich-Hildebrand-Höhe, is made of slag; it is the green heap of a metal works. Above: a sculpture reminiscent of a giant’s untied shoelaces or a roller coaster caught in a violent storm. A walkable work of art called “Tiger & Turtle”, 20 meters high, 220 meters long, with 249 steps. The panoramic view is of the broad Rhine, of the Krupp Mannesmann iron and steel works, of stacked shipping containers and steaming chimneys.