Digital history for 300th birthday

Vaduz. – The Liechtenstein Trail winds its way through the principality, connecting all eleven municipalities that make up this small country. Measuring a total of 75 kilometres in length, it takes visitors through old villages and past forests and idyllic landscapes. The special thing about the Liechtenstein Trail is that it gives users the chance to visit buildings and places of historical importance as well as to learn about some of the key events in the history of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Analogue trail, digital history

“The LIstory app transports the history of our country into the present day and brings it to life via 147 interactive stations,” explains Martin Knöpfel, head of the project at Liechtenstein Marketing. The app features more than 1000 photos, film clips, audio files and 360° visualisations to provide a new, digital approach to Liechtenstein’s history. “By delving deep into its history and culture, visitors get the chance to learn about our country,” adds Knöpfel. Users can either read the texts themselves or have them read out loud.

Highlights in the app include a number of Augmented Reality experiences. Using the camera on a mobile phone, these AR elements conjure up a model on the ground in front of the user. The AR experience for Vaduz Castle, for example, provides a unique opportunity to take a look behind the castle walls and inside certain rooms closed to the public. All in all there are ten such Augmented Reality experiences included in the app.

Technical challenge

The app took around one and a half years to develop. Equal focus was placed on the content and the technical implementation. “State-of-the-art Augmented Reality technology enables users to learn about Liechtenstein’s history in a modern and interactive way. With plenty of creativity and an application-driven approach, we have managed to develop an app together which stands out from the crowd in both design and content,” says Robin Waibel, a partner at the Zurich-based agency Bitforge, which was commissioned by Liechtenstein Marketing to develop the technical implementation of the app.

“The app can also be used offline,” says Knöpfel, adding: “And if your mobile phone battery runs out, there are still plenty of traditional signs to guide you.” In the past few weeks around 500 such signs have been installed along the Liechtenstein Trail.

Facts about the LIstory app:

• The LIstory app is available free from 22 May 2019 via the App Store or Google Play
• 147 interactive stations which can be unlocked on-site
• 10 Augmented Reality (AR) experiences
• The app is available in German and English

Facts about the Liechtenstein Trail:

• The Liechtenstein Trail will be officially launched on 26 May 2019
• Connects all eleven municipalities in Liechtenstein
• Total length: 75 kilometres
• Vertical ascent/descent: 2000m / 2000m, min./max. altitude : 429m / 1103m
• Total walking time: around 21 hours
• Sections of the trail are accessible for people with limited mobility