Essen 1887 – A Mixed Reality journey through time

The time travel is suitable for people with a certain affinity for smartphones or electronic devices. Depending on the weather and time of day, there may be sound or image interruptions during the tour, which each guest does independently, making it necessary to disconnect the glasses from the mobile phone and pair them up again. To do this, simply pull out a plug and plug it back in again after a short waiting period so that the application can reload itself. If you are not able to do this, it is better not to make a booking! You should also be good on your feet to cover the two-kilometre route without any problems. Please note that the tour is only offered in German at this time.

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, Kettwiger Str. 2-10, 45127 Essen, you will then receive the Nreal glasses, a mobile phone as a player and Bluetooth headphones upon presentation of your ticket and ID card/passport. The devices will be checked for damage when they are returned. You will be responsible for any costs incurred in the event of damage or even loss. 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. When you arrive at the location, the glasses tell you whether a person, building or scene needs 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.

In the 2023 season, you can book the time travel from the end of January to the end of March every Saturday and Sunday in a time slot from 10 am to 4:15 pm. From April to the end of October, the tours take place on Wednesdays to Sundays, during the week in a time slot between 1 and 4 p.m. and on weekends between 10 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

You will soon be able to book your journey back in time to 1887 online again or at the Tourist Info, Kettwiger Str. 2-10, 45127 Essen, where you can choose a fixed time slot. This also guarantees a 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! There are two options for people who wear glasses. Firstly, you can keep your normal glasses on and wear the MR glasses in front of them. However, it is somewhat more comfortable for you if we insert additional lenses into the MR glasses. These are available from -1 to -8 dioptres, if available. Please bring your glasses passport and a glasses case with you to your time travel, so that we can fit you with the best possible glasses.

No, you do not need to bring your own headphones. Each guest will be provided with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.

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

A total of six pairs of glasses are available every 15 to 30 minutes, which you can book as a group. For a group of more than six people, you would have to book two consecutive time slots. It is important to note: You can start as a group, yet the glasses are not synchronous, the experience is staggered in time and place depending on how, where and when you position scenes and characters. Therefore, during the course of the tour, the group may be at different stations along the route and everyone will experience the tour individually. For larger groups, however, you can reserve the desired number in advance by contacting us at touristinfo@essen.de or by phone at +49 201 8872333. At least as long as the glasses are available on that day.

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.

"Essen 1887 - A Mixed Reality Time Travel" can currently be experienced in German and English. In the near future you will also be able to go on a journey through time in Dutch. When booking a ticket or purchasing a voucher, you do not have to specify which language is desired. This will be requested on site at the Tourist Info when the technical equipment is handed over.

Like any new high-tech product, "Essen 1887" is primarily suitable for technically experienced people. In isolated cases, there are temporary sound and picture failures on some days. Then immediately pull the glasses plug out of the mobile phone, wait about ten seconds and plug it in again. The software of the glasses then reloads and the scene starts again so that you don't miss anything. In rare cases there are also GPS problems at the start of the tour. In this case we are happy to change the device. It is always important to have a little patience when the software has to load. Depending on the weather, the sensors react sensitively. So you should not look into the sun and the glasses must not get wet.