Preparations underway Drachenburg Castle Lights opens Friday

KÖNIGSWINTER · The Drachenburg Castle Lights will be on display again this year, beginning on Friday. Wolfgang Flammersfeld and his team are hard at work, getting ready for the fourth year of beautiful and dramatic illumination.

Time is precious in these days because starting at 5pm on Friday, the Drachenburg Castle will be fully illuminated once again. Wolfgang Flammersfeld is the man behind the spectacular light scenes. He and his team are working around the clock to get ready for the opening. Somewhere in the park there is hammering. White wooden chairs are packed in plastic along the way. In the foyer, just behind the entrance, there are fluorescent tubes in red, orange, blue and green, along with boxes of adhesive tape, spotlights and equipment cables, which, according to the inscription, may only be used for the "Magic Square". Sounds like Harry Potter. "The first part of the equipment was already brought on Saturday by truck from Frankfurt," says Flammersfeld.

Some equipment for the lighting display arrived from Dortmund and Erfurt, where some events had come to an end. But does the artist know what lights go to what part of the castle? “Of course,” says the 65-year-old and smiles indulgently. For the fourth time Flammersfeld is designing the castle lights and one can see how much he enjoys it. "There is hardly a nicer setting," he says, pointing to the castle and the Rhine Valley at its feet. "The art of this is to perfectly harmonize this particular building and the light. And every time in a new way. "

"The first time it was exhausting. But now I know every nook here,” he says. "At night, when I'm in bed, I can mentally go through every corridor, every room. Of course, this makes planning a lot easier." Fittingly, he has the whole concept for the fourth edition of his light installations in his head. "And recorded somewhere," he believes. "But, let's be honest, somewhere it's written, but does it really happen that way?"

Orange, red, purple and yellow are the dominant colors

The moment of the first light test, when the switch is flipped, is exciting, he admits. "One has something in mind, but whether it actually works that way, is only apparent in this moment." "Dragons", "colors and shapes" were the themes of his light artistry in the past years. And this year? "Making the impossible possible." Flammersfeld does not want to reveal too much. Only this: orange, red, purple and yellow are the dominant colors. In the park there is a red water crane and flying chairs. Flames play an important role and a fish, which is actually only a half. Video display and dynamic light are his aids. There is a projection screen in the lobby. And footprints on the wall.

The lighting designers have already been through the process of building up the castle lights several times so they have some experience. "It's still relaxed," says Achim Dietel. The last two workdays before the start, however, ended well before midnight. Are there special challenges? "The stairs," says Ingo Brune without hesitation. Everybody laughs.

"We put 20 mirrored balls into the big hall," says Flammersfeld. Dietel and Brune attach fluorescent tubes with cable ties to the iron frame in the foyer. "Only red and orange," directs the boss. "And a green one."

Castle lights runs from 26 January to 25 February, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 10pm. Adults pay nine euros, children over six pay four euros. Combination tickets include a trip with the Drachenfelsbahn: 15 / nine euros. Further information in English:

Orig. text: Heike Hamann, Translation: ck

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