A peacock in the center of Neuwied? What sounds unusual is now made possible thanks to modern technology. Those walking through the city center can now actually encounter the colorful heraldic animal of the city – virtually, but so lifelike. Recently, there have been special stickers on the marketplace as well as on Luisenplatz that can be brought to life with the help of a smartphone or tablet.

Discovering is very simple: By scanning the QR code on one of the stickers, a small digital world opens up. The free app "3DQR Plus" generates a so-called Augmented Reality (AR) – an "extended reality" that combines the real environment with virtual elements. This is how a lifelike peacock appears, elegantly strolling through the surroundings. With the push of a button, different variants can be chosen – such as a wandering peacock and an impressive peacock fan, which is great for creative photos. Conveniently, free SWN city center Wi-Fi is available at Luisenplatz – between the Mini-ZOB and the SWN service center. This allows the app to be easily downloaded, and the fun snapshots can be shared immediately.

Some residents of Neuwied may find the City Management's project familiar. In 2024, both dinosaurs and Christmas scenes populated the city center. Unlike these temporary actions, the peacocks will remain a permanent part of the cityscape. They were specially created for the dyke city and can thus be experienced exclusively in Neuwied.

The initiative is funded as part of the "Restart Neuwied" project through the federal funding program "Future-proof Town Centers and Urban Areas." "With the AR peacocks, we are bringing our heraldic animal right into the city center," explains City Manager Michaela Ullrich. "The peacocks invite young and old to rediscover Neuwied – while simultaneously creating a real eye-catcher that further enlivens our city center."