Explore the Pader river with the "Paderborn To Go App"

1 March 2024

App and application publication offer exciting augmented reality functions

"City. People. River. - The Pader for Europe" is the title of the application for the European Heritage Label, which the city of Paderborn submitted to the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia in October. The application is currently being reviewed at a national level by the Conference of Ministers of Culture. The aim is to be certified in 2025.

An accompanying publication to the application has now been presented, which supports the application in the long term with basic knowledge, many images and maps of the 1,200-year-old cultural and natural heritage of the Pader as well as guest contributions from meteorologist Karsten Schwanke and Prof Dr Matthias Wemhoff, Director of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History at the National Museums in Berlin.

In collaboration with the city's Department of Surveying and Geoinformation and the University of Paderborn (Institute of History), a lot of content on Paderborn's water history has been added to the existing, free "Paderborn To Go App". An interactive map shows the most significant places for European water history along the Pader. In addition to traditional knowledge, it also contains interesting videos, historical photos and 360° images that allow users to interactively explore the Pader from home.

Thanks to the financial support of "Paderborn überzeugt", an innovative new feature has been added to the app: both photos from the accompanying application publication, which can also be purchased at the Tourist Information Centre from March at a cost of 15 euros, and photos from the free leaflet on the Paderquell area have been provided with so-called AR markers (comparable to an "invisible" QR code). When the selected photos are scanned, further exciting augmented reality content is displayed: 3D models, videos or historical photos. With the help of AR navigation, users can be guided to the historical locations in the real environment via the app. Sights such as the spring cellar in the Imperial Palace can thus be experienced in a fascinating way.

The digital functions currently enable the decision-makers for the award of the European Heritage Label in particular to experience Paderborn's unique selling point from afar - in future, thanks to financial support from the association "Paderborn überzeugt e. V." association, the digital experience and attractiveness of the Paderborn city will not only be strengthened regionally, but also nationally. The app is available free of charge in the App Store and Google Play Store.


Image information:
Technical Councillor Claudia Warnecke (Project Manager for the European Heritage Label application), Bernd Schäfers-Maiwald, Deputy Chairman of Paderborn überzeugt e. V., Verena Koch from the Office for Surveying and Geoinformation, Brigitte Zacharias from the Office for Environmental Protection and Green Spaces (coordinator of the application) and Benedikt Heitmar from Paderborn University (Department of History).