Essen 1887 – A Mixed Reality Journey Through Time

Essen 1887 is not suitable for people with little or no experience using digital devices. It is NOT an audio guide, but an interactive experience. You need to be able to quickly work out how to move around in the virtual world and load the stations in the correct positions. This requires experience and a knack for using digital applications.

Essen 1887 is also not suitable for groups. A maximum of 8 people can set off at the same time every 30 minutes. Everyone walks alone; it is not a shared experience, and you will not return at the same time. You should also be able to walk 2 kilometres.

With the latest generation of mixed reality glasses, you never lose sight of your surroundings. The mixed reality glasses are slightly larger than regular glasses and continuously scan your surroundings using sensors. Digital markers are placed at specific locations in Essen city centre, which the glasses respond to. Virtual reality appears before your eyes, visible only to you. Old buildings take shape, people appear and draw you into the story. At the same time, you remain aware of what is happening around you. This is the biggest difference from virtual reality.

Essen 1887 is a pioneering project, as mixed reality glasses for leisure use are new to the market. For the first time, they are being used in a public space for Essen 1887, with the tour guided by GPS. The interactions between the characters on the tour and the visitors are also currently unique. The lead actors appear as volumetric holograms that speak to you and can be viewed from every angle. You will also encounter walk-through virtual spaces that you can move around in. There is no other experience like this in the world, featuring such a stellar cast of actors and artists.

You can book your ticket for the journey through time online or buy it directly at the Tourist Info, Kettwiger Str. 35, 45127 Essen. There you will also receive the Nreal glasses, a mobile phone to play the content and Bluetooth headphones. The equipment will be checked for damage when returned. You will be liable for the cost of any damage or loss. Then you’re ready to go. The phone connects to GPS, and the glasses show you the way, just like a car’s sat nav. When you reach each location, the glasses tell you whether to position a person, building or scene, and where best to do so. Follow the instructions. Then take a moment to look at the glowing circle and wait for the application to load. After the tour, which lasts around 60 minutes, simply return the glasses and phone to the Tourist Info.

The tours run from Wednesday to Sunday: on weekdays between 1 and 4 p.m., and at weekends between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, we recommend booking online in advance, as we cannot guarantee that you will be able to book on site if capacity is too high.

PLEASE NOTE: If the outside temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the tour operator will cancel the tours. The devices may overheat, causing technical problems and making it impossible to guarantee that the tour will run smoothly. The operator will inform you in advance and arrange a new date with you.

You can book your journey back to 1887 online or at the Tourist Info, Kettwiger Str. 35, 45127 Essen, where you can choose a specific time slot.

No, the performers in the Mixed Reality journey through time will not be there in person. They were digitally scanned in a studio and appear on the tour as life-size, three-dimensional holograms.

The tour is recommended for children aged 8 and over. Since visitors encounter many highly realistic impressions during the tour, parents should decide for themselves how comfortable their child is with media and how much experience they have. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Yes! You can keep your regular glasses on and wear the MR glasses over them.

No, you don’t need to bring your own headphones. Every guest is provided with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.

Yes, wheelchair users can also take the time travel tour.

You can start with up to 8 people every 30 minutes. However, Essen 1887 is not a traditional group experience. Each person is in their “own world,” which is not synchronised with anyone else’s. You decide for yourself where and when to experience the virtual worlds in designated areas of the city. Your communication is limited by the headphones. The tour should also be completed in just over 60 minutes, as unnecessary battery power may be used up afterwards—for example, while waiting for other group members—and the devices may then switch off. We recommend arriving together and meeting again at the Tourist Info afterwards to share your experiences.

The entire time travel route is 1.84 km long. Participants must cover this distance on foot.

The mixed-reality time travel tour is not affected by the weather. We recommend wearing clothing and shoes suitable for the weather, and using an umbrella in the rain to protect the glasses. In summer, or when the sun is very bright, scenes may be harder to see. A cap or sun hat can help. In most cases, simply holding your hands in front of the glasses to shield them from the sun is enough.

If the outside temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the organiser reserves the right to cancel the tours, as the devices may overheat and suffer technical problems. The tour may no longer be able to run smoothly at such high temperatures. In this case, the organiser will inform you in advance and your tickets will be cancelled. The ticket price will be refunded.

“Essen 1887 – A Mixed-Reality Time Travel Tour” is available in German, English and Dutch. You do not need to specify your preferred language when booking a ticket. You will be asked at the Tourist Info when the equipment is handed over.

Like any new high-tech product, “Essen 1887” is primarily suited to people who are comfortable with technology. On some days, occasional temporary sound or image failures may occur. If this happens, immediately unplug the glasses from your phone, wait about ten seconds, and plug them back in. The glasses’ software will then reload and the scene will restart, so you won’t miss anything. In rare cases, GPS problems can also occur when starting the tour. If this happens, we’ll be happy to replace the device. It’s always important to be a little patient while the software loads. The sensors are sensitive to weather conditions, so you should avoid looking at the sun, and the glasses must not get wet.