Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg VR
Experience an enchanting interactive story at the witching hour in virtual reality in the “Midnight Theatre” — with three historical characters, culminating in a performance at the palace theatre. Or explore the servants’ quarters in the virtual tour “Secret Passages”.
Witching hour at the Residential Palace
Behind the colourful wallpapers of the Residential Palace, secret doors hide in places — leading to the servants’ quarters. These usually remain hidden on guided tours, as does the world behind the stage of the palace theatre: one of Europe’s oldest surviving palace theatres, with its original stage machinery still in working order.
In “Ludwigsburg Residential Palace VR” we make the hidden rooms accessible to everyone — especially people with limited mobility. The app offers two interaction models for barrier-free access: classic controller input and innovative gaze control. This idea won over the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg in the pitch.
A palace immortalised in 3D
To recreate the rooms as faithfully as possible, state-of-the-art technology was used: over five days of shooting, thousands of photos were taken using photogrammetry and later transformed into true-to-original 3D models.
The result is not just a photorealistic look — even the centuries-old stage machinery can be set in motion virtually.
Three ghosts with history
After extensive research, the 3D characters were developed in close collaboration with historian Julia Rössler and modelled on contemporary paintings.
Real actors slipped into motion capture suits to play the frail valet, the tipsy cupbearer and the Italian singer — lending them voices and vivid character.
Midnight Theatre & Secret Passages
In the adventure game “Midnight Theatre”, players find themselves locked in the palace at night: they explore the servants’ secret rooms, make hot chocolate with the valet, survive the pranks of the wine-loving cupbearer in the cellar, and help the charming singer make her midnight aria — a piece by court composer Niccolò Jommelli — a resounding success.
In the virtual tour “Secret Passages”, the state rooms, servants’ staircase, warming kitchen, wine cellar and the palace theatre with its upper and lower stage can be explored at leisure. Both modes work standing as a full-body experience or seated using gaze control only — and thanks to audio visualisation and subtitles they are accessible to deaf visitors too.
Applause at the palace theatre
“This is a great day for visitor accessibility,” emphasised Michael Hörrmann, managing director of the State Palaces and Gardens, at the presentation after a year of concept and development.
State Secretary Gisela Splett, Simone Fischer (the state government’s commissioner for the interests of people with disabilities) and Hans-Peter Matt (mahp-barrierefrei) also praised the virtual reality application in the highest terms.
