The Key

In 1989, as part of the pedestrianization of Mulhouse city center, local artist Louis Perrin installed a monumental work: a four-meter-long bronze key, planted in the ground like King Arthur's sword. Although the Bollwerk tower was not a historic city gate, Perrin saw it as the perfect symbol of Mulhouse, calling it the "key to the city." He explained his choice: "I see the Bollwerk tower as a unique object. I know it wasn't an entrance to Mulhouse, but since it's the only visible part of the old ramparts... For me, it's the key to the city, so it has to be a big key, and it's as if it was just thrown there."

Over time, the artwork has grown in popularity among residents. Today, it has become a lively meeting point: children climb on it to play, and the first graffiti have appeared. For the artist, these spontaneous marks confirm that the key has now "become part of the walls," fully integrating into the urban landscape and daily life of the people of Mulhouse.