The Our Dam in Vianden is central to the pumped-storage power plant operated by the Société Électrique de l’Our (SEO). As one of Europe’s most powerful facilities, it employs two reservoirs—one on the Our River and an upper one on Mount Saint Nicholas—to
store and generate electricity. Water is pumped to the upper reservoir during low-demand periods and released to produce energy during peak times.
Constructed between 1959 and 1964, the plant was officially inaugurated in 1964. It was upgraded with an eleventh turbine in 2014, increasing its total capacity to approximately 1,296 MW. The site welcomes visitors with a renovated exhibition gallery and guided tours that showcase this technical marvel.
In May 2023, a monumental artwork was created on the dam wall by German artist Klaus Dauven, in collaboration with Kärcher, SEO, and the ViArt association. Using the
“reverse graffiti” technique, the artist selectively cleaned the dam’s surface with a high-pressure washer to reveal portraits of five workers who contributed to the dam’s construction. This mural pays tribute to the laborers and seamlessly integrates into the landscape, adding an artistic dimension to the site.
