Essen 1887 – A Mixed Reality journey through time

You should definitely have a certain affinity for new technology. Using a smartphone should not be a problem for you. If you do, the tour might be too much for you.

With the latest generation of mixed reality glasses, you never lose sight of your surroundings. The mixed reality glasses are slightly larger than normal glasses and permanently scan the surroundings by means of sensors. Digital markers are set at certain locations in Essen's city centre, to which the glasses react. Virtual reality appears before your eyes, which only you can see. Old houses appear, people appear and involve you in the story. Nevertheless, you continue to register what is happening around you. That is the biggest difference to virtual reality.

Essen 1887 is a pioneer project, as mixed reality glasses for leisure use are new to the market. For the first time, they are used in public spaces at Essen 1887 and GPS is used to control the tour. The interaction of the characters in the tour with the visitors is also currently unique. The main characters appear as volumetric holograms that speak to you and that you can view from all sides. In addition, walk-through virtual rooms appear in which you can move around. There is no other experience like this in the world, with top-class actors and artists.

You book a two-hour time slot online for 25 euros per person. At the Tourist Info, you will then receive the Nreal glasses, a mobile phone as a player and headphones upon presentation of your ticket and identity card/passport. The devices will be checked for damage when they are returned. You will be responsible for the costs of any damage to or loss of the equipment. You are welcome to bring your own headphones with a mini-jack. Then it's time to go. The mobile phone dials into the GPS and the glasses show you the way, just like a car journey with the sat nav. Once you arrive at the respective play location, the glasses tell you whether a person, building or scene is to be positioned and where this should best happen. Follow the instructions. Then look calmly at the illuminated circle and wait for the application to load. Before the 120 minutes are up, simply return the glasses and the mobile phone to the Tourist Info.

We are there for you seven days a week. You can book a time slot for your journey through time to the year 1887 between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. However, we recommend booking online early, as we cannot guarantee that an on-site booking will be possible due to high occupancy.

You can book your time travel to the year 1887 online or at the Tourist Info, Kettwiger Str. 2-10, 45127 Essen, where you decide on a fixed time slot. This also guarantees speedy processing on site.

Our mixed reality journey through time is the perfect experience at any time. The tour can be taken alone or with friends or family. You are always in the fresh air in downtown Essen. Distance restrictions and even contact restrictions do not prevent you from being inspired by this city tour of a different kind.

No, the performers of the mixed reality journey through time will not be live on site. They were digitized in the studio and will appear in the tour as three-dimensional life-size holograms.

The tour is recommended for children from the age of 8. As the tour confronts visitors with a great many and real-looking impressions, parents must decide for themselves how media-savvy and experienced their child is. Children under 16 must always be accompanied by an adult.

Yes! In the fewest cases there are problems here. As a rule, you do not need your glasses at all, so please bring a glasses case with you. Additional lenses can be inserted into the glasses in the case of major visual impairments. Only in absolute exceptions do both pairs of glasses have to be worn.

In order to perceive the characters, music and sounds optimally, it is advisable to bring headphones, as there is always background noise in a city centre. Headphones brought along must have a plug (small jack). You can get free disposable earplugs at the Tourist Info if you need them.

ATTENTION: Hearing aid users, please bring your own headphones!

Yes, the journey through time can also be done by wheelchair users.

A group size of 6 people per 15 minutes cannot be exceeded as this is technically impossible.

ATTENTION: Essen 1887 is not a group experience, but each guest walks the same route and sees the same experiences, but individually staggered in time and place. The glasses cannot be synchronised.

The total distance of the time travel is 1.84 km. This has to be covered by the participants on foot.

The mixed reality time travel is weather-independent. We recommend that you wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather and use an umbrella to protect your glasses in case of rain. In summer, a cap or peaked hat is helpful.

Like any new high-tech product, "Essen 1887" is primarily suitable for technically experienced people. At present, the mobile phones can only manage the tour with an additional power bank. You have to make sure that this remains switched on during the tour. Especially in the last few days, there are GPS problems over which we unfortunately have no control and which can lead to time delays. Sometimes you just need a little patience. Depending on the weather, the sensors react sensitively. For example, you should not look at the sun. Rain can also irritate the glasses and in some cases cause the phones to crash. As a rule, our staff are on the route and provide assistance on the spot. Otherwise, please call the Tourist Info at +49 201 8872333.