Virtual Reality time travel across 80 years of industrial history

The new Time Travel Belval project takes you on a journey through the different eras of Luxembourg's industrial history in Belval on a bus that is equipped with virtual reality glasses.

Places where the past, present and future are so strongly intertwined as in the example of today's Belval are very rare. Besides visiting the Esch2022 exhibitions, people now have the opportunity to travel across the different eras of Luxembourg's industrial history in a minibus equipped with virtual reality glasses. Thanks to VR technology and GPS tracking, guests can witness and experience the transformation of the Belval site and its industrial heritage from the beginnings of industrialisation all the way to the 1970s/1980s.

A VR journey into the past

Up to 19 visitors can take part at the same time in this unique experience on board the VR bus. As soon as they put on the VR goggles, they are transported back in time, or more precisely, to the back seat of a carriage in the early 20th century. The journey begins at the former Bel-Val spring in Sanem and is accompanied by the coachman Pier, who is a relative of the virtual companion of the VR tour taking place in the Pfaffenthal in Luxembourg City.

During the 15-minute tour, the time travellers will be meeting various virtual personalities. At the beginning, for example, they are introduced to Joseph Steichen, the owner of the Bel-Val spring, and they discover that the Belval district used to be known as the Claire-Chaîne forest, which was famous for its recreational qualities. Another exciting story revolves around the heyday of Luxembourg's steel industry. During this time, they started modernising the large blast furnaces, but at the same time they gradually had to close down various industrial sites due to the consequences of the steel crisis.

The tour starts in front of Blast Furnace A at the bus stop opposite the Rockhal. The next stop is at car park of the Lycée Bel-Val, which is the starting point of the VR tour. After two time jumps along the Boulevard de la Recherche, the Boulevard des Lumières and the Porte de France, the tour ends in front of the terrace of the blast furnace near the starting point.

From idea to implementation

The European Capital of Culture programme aims to promote cultural activities, tourism and mobility in a sustainable way. In order to develop the existing structures, but also to create new things, Esch2022 has developed new analogue products, such as the Zoom Minettguide, the Minett Trail, the new Minett Cycle route, along with two digital products.

For this project, Esch2022 drew inspiration from the digital travel guide “discovARminett” for smartphones as well as from the Urban Time Travel project implemented by the City of Luxembourg in Pfaffenthal. Time Travel Belval was created around the rich history of the Belval area, the complementarity of the tourism offer with that of the capital, the potential for development, as well as the educational aspect, revolving around history and innovative technologies.

In cooperation with Urban Timetravel S.A. and under the guidance of the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History(C²DH), we developed a 1.77-kilometre-long VR route. Thanks to original archival documents, such as old building plans, historical photographs and postcards, we were able to reconstruct the history of the Belval area digitally and in 3D. Via geo-tracking supported technology, the time travellers can actually experience the past through the VR goggles at the very spot they are in. Thanks to the VR equipment and the outstanding design and storytelling skills, it was possible to model individual buildings, nature as well as people of past decades and generations. To start the experience, visitors enter an equipped minibus and put on their VR goggles. During the VR journey, the present reality starts blending with the past. This brings the past to life, while the visitor is actually cruising around on a bus.

Innovative technologies combined with local expertise

The company Urban Timetravel S.A. from Luxembourg has a creative way of telling stories using innovative technology. Further, Urban Timetravel S.A. was the first company in the world to combine a virtual reality experience with GPS tracking.

Useful information

The tour lasts 25 minutes including the 15-minute VR experience. The VR tours can be booked at www.sightseeing.lu and are always available during the weekend. On request, schools and groups can book tours during the week at a special price at www.sightseeing.lu. The price of 22 euros also includes 2 vouchers for the Esch2022 exhibitions at the Möllerei and the Massenoire for every participant. The vouchers are redeemable until the end of the last exhibition on 26.02.2023. After the end of the exhibitions, the project will continue under the management of the town of Esch-Alzette and the municipality of Sanem.

The project was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Economy - Directorate General for Tourism, the City of Esch-Alzette, the Municipality of Sanem, Urban Timetravel S.A. and Sightseeing.lu.

Time Travel Belval

• Saturdays and Sundays: 11.30 am; 12.30 pm; 2 pm; 3 pm and 4 pm.
• Price: 22 euros per person, incl. two vouchers for the Esch2022 exhibitions at the Möllerei and the Massenoire
• Duration: 25 minutes (VR tour 15 minutes)
• Languages: French, German and English.
• Not recommended for guests under 8 years of age
• Not recommended for guests suffering from epilepsy