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All Germany Chemnitz 'Lulatsch'

'Lulatsch'

This giant glowing "beanpole" adds much-needed pops of color to an otherwise drab power plant.

Chemnitz, Germany

Added By
Dewi Hughes
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Nighttime glow.   Oxensepp/cc by-sa 4.0
Daytime, no glow.   Fototro/cc by-sa 3.0
Lulatsch after the artist Daniel Buren got his paint brush out.   Sandro Schmalfuß/cc by-sa 3.0
The chemnitz chimney illuminated at night.   Kolossos/cc by-sa 3.0
Lulatsch   derWaliser / Atlas Obscura User
Nighttime glow.   Kolossos/cc by-sa 3.0
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About

An enormous rainbow structure towers above a German city. In the day, it looks kind of like a giant multicolored popsicle, and at night, it transforms into a massive, glowing beacon.

Chemnitz, a city in the eastern part of Germany, sits at the foothills of the Ore Mountains. Formerly known as Karl-Marx-Stadt until the country’s reunification, it has over the years struggled in terms of stature, growth, and reputation in comparison to the larger Saxonian cities of Dresden and Leipzig.

However, in the past decade, the city has begun to emerge from its post-reunification blues. In 2013, one of its largest eyesores received a facelift to help brighten up the local scenery. French artist Daniel Buren painted the 990-foot-tall (302-meter) chimney that’s been part of a local power station and transformed it into a multicolored "beanpole," or Lulatsch as it’s locally known.

Now painted in seven pastel colors, the formerly gray and drab chimney is, as the power plant operators claim, the tallest complete work of art in the world. In 2017, the chimney received another update: new lighting that allows it to glow in the dark, illuminating the surrounding air and clouds with its rainbow hues.

Related Tags

Art Cities Industrial Power Stations

Know Before You Go

The chimney is visible from the motorways and smaller roads approaching the city. A public pathway (popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists) goes right past the power station. Entry to the power station grounds is not necessary to see it up close.

Community Contributors

Added By

derWaliser

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

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January 21, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.wochenendspiegel.de/schoenheitskur-fuer-chemnitzer-lulatsch-neuer-himmelblauer-anstrich/
  • https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heizkraftwerk_Chemnitz-Nord
  • https://www.blick.de/chemnitz/chemnitzer-lulatsch-erhaelt-einen-neuen-anstrich-artikel10245465
'Lulatsch'
10 Dammweg
Chemnitz
Germany
50.857743, 12.923801
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Nearby Places

Karl-Marx-Monument

Chemnitz, Germany

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chemnitz

Chemnitz

Germany

Places 2

Nearby Places

Karl-Marx-Monument

Chemnitz, Germany

miles away

Naturalienkabinett Waldenburg

Waldenburg, Germany

miles away

Terra Mineralia

Freiberg, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Chemnitz

Chemnitz

Germany

Places 2

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