Russia Brings Tourist Sites to Life with Augmented Reality
From Perm to Kudymkar, Russian cities are deploying AR to turn landmarks into interactive stories, offering visitors a digital guide that blends history and folklore.
In seven municipalities of the Perm region, tourist attractions are being “brought to life” using augmented reality. The technology overlays digital content—images, 3D models, text, and video—onto real-world locations in real time.
On the Kama River embankment in Perm, virtual steamships from different eras float by. In Kudymkar, the legendary warrior Kudym-Osh greets visitors before transforming into a bear. Krasnovishersk brings to life the legend of Polyud, Vetlan, and the Vishera River. In Cherdyn, travelers can see a digital reconstruction of a Kremlin built more than 500 years ago but long since lost. And in Solikamsk, folkloric spirits like the “shishiga” and a water sprite inhabit the banks of the Usolka River. At the Usolye Stroganovskoye Museum, visitors can explore a visualization of the 17th-century Chapel of the Holy Mandylion.
The key advantage of the project is accessibility. AR experiences are triggered by scanning QR codes—no apps required. Each attraction comes with a simple interface providing descriptions and user tips.
