VAARHeT project - Voice-Activated Augmented Reality Heritage Tours in Āraiši, Latvia

By the end of 2025, Āraiši Archaeological Park will unveil a permanent, multi-lingual interactive installation, allowing visitors to explore how lake settlement houses were built and how Latgalians lived during the Iron Age. This summer, Āraiši and XR Ireland concluded final user evaluation of three innovative voice-activated XR pilots under the EU VOXReality project, with 39 on-site participants. Visitors responded positively to the immersive experiences, which included a VR reconstruction of a 10th-century Latgalian lakeside dwelling, an AR welcome guide, and live translation tools. Feedback highlighted the educational value, accessibility, and appeal for audiences of all ages.