The Luxembourg Time Traveller

On Monday, 16 May 2022, Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer and Serge Wilmes, Chief Alderman responsible for trade, proudly presented the new smartphone app, "The Luxembourg Time Traveller" (VdL-AR). The app takes users on a trip back through time, allowing them to discover the city from the turn of the 20th century. At that time, the City’s economic and commercial development were proceeding apace, and small artisanal businesses were gradually being supplanted by large stores.

The application was developed by the Economic and Commercial Development Unit and the City of Luxembourg’s Service Technologies de l’information et de la communication (ICT Department), in collaboration with UNESCO, and makes use of augmented-reality (AR) technology. AR uses a digital interface to enrich real-time, real-world images by superimposing additional digital information on them. Thus, through their smartphone or tablet screen, users can step into a reality that is different to the one they see with the naked eye: in this case, Luxembourg City of yesteryear.

Chief Alderman Serge Wilmes is delighted: "Curious residents and visitors to the capital now have a fabulous tool at their disposal, which will allow them to discover and rediscover the city from a range of perspectives. The city centre is full to bursting with streets, buildings and monuments with a story to tell. Not only do users have a wealth of information at their fingertips, but they can also see the capital's shops as they have changed, from the Golden Age to today. This project is an ideal fit for our "Smart City" strategy, which is aimed at using new technologies to provide innovative tools in areas such as transport, education and tourism."

With its geolocation features, the app is able to detect when the user is near to one of the 31 points of interest, and can provide guidance if needed. Thirteen (13) of these points of interest are AR compatible. When one of the points of interest appears in the camera field, the app overlays the historic imagery on the real-world image. Users can adjust the transparency of the overlaid images. For each of the 31 points of interest, users can read an informative text about the site, written by Robert L. Philippart, UNESCO Site Manager. They can also use the "Before/After" feature, which uses a slider to switch between the images. They can test their knowledge with a fun quiz, or view photos from the archives of the Luxembourg Photothèque. In addition, prints of users' favourite photos can be ordered from the Photothèque, directly through the app.

It will offer residents and visitors alike a unique experience, allowing them to discover the history of Luxembourg City through commerce at their own pace. The app (VdL-AR) is compatible with iOS and Android and is available for free in English, French and German.