In 2022, the municipality of Wattwil celebrates its 1125th anniversary Existence. A special augmented reality (AR) experience will take interested visitors on an exciting journey through time from 3 March as the first highlight.
Wattwil is proud of its origins and its long, successful history as a regional centre. The 1125th anniversary will therefore be celebrated in grand style throughout the year.
Alemannic settler named Watto
The place name "Wattinwilare" goes back to an Alemannic settler named Watto, who farmed land belonging to the monastery of St.Gallen. The figure of Watto will accompany the jubilee year and sporadically pay his respects to the population.
Village tour with virtual guidance
The first highlight is the opening of Switzerland's first AR village tour in March. The founding figure Watto leads his audience to nine stations around the village. There are information boards with QR codes. When these are activated on a mobile phone, Watto appears on the screen without having to install an app first. He narrates the appropriate episode in a short video sequence. The topics range from the founding of the hamlet of Wattinwilare to the monastery of St. Mary of the Angels, from the importance of farmers and trades and the textile industry to the educational location and the vision for the future. The start and finish of the interactive "Festschrift" are at Wattwil railway station.
The tour can be completed in three to four hours. The start and finish of the interactive "Festschrift" are at Wattwil railway station.
The route:
- Station 1: Start village tour (Wattwil railway station, kiosk)
- Station 2: Court of Watto, Foundation Site (Reformed Church)
- Station 3: Centre for schools (Risi old people's home, car park)
- Station 4: Agriculture & Trade (Kanti Wattwil, Thurweg)
- Station 5: St. Mary of the Angels Monastery (monastery meadow)
- Station 6: Iberg Castle (courtyard at the castle)
- Station 7: Textile Industry / Heberlein (Casablanca House)
- Station 8: Vision/Future, Badi & leisure and sports facility (Badi)
- Station 9: Thur correction & railway station (Wattwil railway station)
An indigenous production
The "1125 years of Wattinwilare" image is a local production. It was designed by the owner and creative director of the local agency Nordwand, Silvan Widmer. In addition to the signage measures, the proposed measures include public appearances by the historical founder figure Watto. Incidentally, this is embodied by Hemberg actor Simon Keller. Historian Dr Hans Büchler was consulted for the historically accurate content.
Source: tagblatt / wattinwilare
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