We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our AR skyline scanning experience at Dresden Frauenkirche, one of Europe’s most iconic cultural landmarks and a symbol of hope and reconstruction.

Standing 67 metres above the city, the Frauenkirche’s viewing platform offers a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Dresden’s Old Town, the Elbe River and the surrounding Saxony region. On a clear day, the view stretches from the Dresdner Heide in the north to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the east, the Ore Mountains in the south, and as far as Meißen to the west. The Semperoper, the Royal Palace and other historic landmarks unfold beneath you in every direction.

Now, with Smartify’s skyline scanner, visitors can truly understand exactly what they’re looking at.

Using their own smartphone, visitors simply point their device at the skyline and watch as buildings, monuments and points of interest are identified and labelled in real time through augmented reality. Each landmark links to rich audio content, helping visitors appreciate the history and significance of what they see. It’s available in multiple languages, too – improving access to interpretation for foreign visitors.

The experience runs entirely in the browser, so there’s nothing to download. And it works in all weather conditions, day or night – a reliable solution for a year-round visitor attraction.

Building on a strong partnership

This launch builds on our existing collaboration with the team at Dresden Frauenkirche. Smartify already powers an audio guide to the church itself, available in full or as a shorter 20-minute version. There’s also a unique soundscape that invites visitors to spend time beneath the magnificent domed ceiling and experience the space through music.

The climb to the viewing platform is already a memorable experience, taking visitors through the interior of the reconstructed Baroque dome. With the skyline scanner, the view at the top becomes something more. Now it’s not just a panorama but a guided, open-air exhibition.

How the technology works

Smartify's skyline scanning feature combines geolocation, compass technology and AR overlays to identify landmarks in real time. Once a point of interest is loaded, visitors can play audio tracks and access rich interpretive content, including images, stories and expert commentary, straight from their own device.

The feature is already live at Horizon 22 in London and is designed for a wide range of venues, from city viewpoints and towers to heritage sites, outdoor museums and waterfronts. It’s a powerful way to interpret places that can’t be labelled physically – for example because of conservation restrictions.

For Dresden Frauenkirche, it transforms an already unforgettable visit into something deeper. Visitors stay longer, explore more and leave understanding the city in a way a view alone can’t achieve.