Petrispark

Instead, nature has continued to be the main focus. Among the gardens to have remained are those of Trier’s eight twin cities: Weimar, Metz (France), Ascoli Piceno (Italy), Gloucester (England), s´Herzogenbosch (Netherlands), Pula (Croatia), Nagaoka (Japan) and Fort Worth (Texas, USA). A Luxembourgish garden, Roman garden, volcano garden, regional garden and Chinese landscaped garden by twin city Xiamen have now also been added. In summer, there is a very popular water playground for children, with adjacent oversize sandpit, climbing frame and giant slide, while plays are held for children in the covered ‘Lottoforum’, a small, semi-circular auditorium. And for adult Petrispark visitors, there’s a beach-volleyball court and football field, a half pipe, a joint-friendly woodchip trail for joggers, and hiking trails. Picnic facilities and dining establishments make for a perfect family excursion.

A must for: Families and friends. Water-waders. Beach-volleyballers, joggers and students.

Lawn: 50%
Mud: 20%
Good vibes: 80%


PSSSST! THE INSIDER TIP:
We have to admit that the name ‘Tower of dreams and desires’ initially conjures up images of something other than a rust-red steel construction, all corners and edges, that soars towards the sky. But you just need to give your dreams a chance. And the same is true for the Luxembourg Tower, where a climb up to the viewing platform sheds light on its many associations and messages. It was for the 2004 State Garden Show that Luxembourg City gifted its German neighbour the three-storey, 16+-metre-high tower, the top of which naturally points towards nearby Luxembourg, whose architect François Valentny wanted it to be seen as a ‘pathway to pleasure’, ‘a kind of staircase that conveys feelings and sensations as it is climbed’. Feelings, for instance, that arise as a result of the staircase’s constant changes of direction, or evoked by city names such as Paris, Belfast or Athens, which feature on the tower’s various lines of sight. But you mustn’t tell anyone about these dreams. Otherwise they won’t come true.