Time Travel through Traunstein – Tours, Exhibitions & Workshops on Historical Photos

Introduction: Rediscovering Historical Photos – Traunstein Then and Now

In the coming months, several formats could be implemented in Traunstein that systematically juxtapose historical photographs and current city views. Such “Then–Now” comparisons are more than nostalgia: they sharpen the eye for building culture, public spaces, and the city’s history – and help to document changes in a comprehensible way.

The focus is on easily accessible places where change is particularly evident – from Maxplatz to Jacklturm to the railway viaduct. In addition, workshop and online elements are useful so that participants not only create comparison images but also label them correctly and publish them responsibly.

Program Overview: Possible Formats for the Time Travel through Traunstein

• Guided “Time Jump” Tours: City walks with image pairs (historical/current), brief methodological notes, and time to compare on site – for example at Maxplatz, Jacklturm, or under the viaduct.
• Photo Exhibitions in Public Spaces: Outdoor displays at busy locations (e.g., Maxplatz or around the station) as well as supplementary presentations with large-format juxtapositions and clear image credits.
• Hands-on Workshops: Practice on perspective, focal length, image comparison, metadata, and source information; suitable for smartphone and camera.
• Digital Activities: Submissions of comparison images, curated online galleries, and themed photo challenges (e.g., “Maxplatz then/now,” “Jacklturm and tower views,” “Railway viaduct & railway”).
• Lectures & Discussion Rounds: Inputs from experts (e.g., archives, local history, photography, monument preservation) with moderated discussion on sources, image ethics, and urban development.

To ensure that participants create not just “nice pictures” but verifiable comparisons, all formats should communicate clear standards on sources, licenses, and image captions.

Possible Stops for Future Tours: Motifs & Questions

For planned city tours in Traunstein, striking points are suitable where urban development can be particularly well observed:

• Maxplatz: Sequences of facades, sightlines, market and traffic space in transition. How does the use of the square change through events, commerce, and mobility?
• Jacklturm: Silhouette, sightlines, typical postcard perspectives, and changes in the surroundings. What functions and meanings does the city symbol bundle in the cityscape?
• St. Oswald Parish Church: Church square situations, tower and roof shapes, cityscape-defining perspectives. Which sightlines shape the old town and its surroundings?
• Scheibenstraße & Bahnhofstraße: Everyday photography, shop fronts, mobility, and street space around the station. How do quality of stay and traffic routing change?
• Railway Viaduct: Technical and panoramic motif with distant references; ideal for understanding image sections, viewing directions, and the role of the railway for Traunstein.
• Salinenpark and Surroundings: Green spaces, recreation, and references to saltworks history. How does the use change between tranquility, leisure, and urban development?

Good tours explain not only what has changed, but also why photos sometimes “look different”: eye level, focal length, cropping, retouching, earlier postcard conventions, and the question of whether a location is (or was) accessible at all.

Get Involved: How to Prepare for Tours, Workshops, and Online Activities

1. Select a Motif: Choose a specific motif (e.g., Maxplatz, Jacklturm, St. Oswald, Scheibenstraße, Bahnhofstraße, railway viaduct, or Salinenpark) that you can safely reach.
2. Fully Record the Source: Save the permalink to the image source and note all available information: dating, photographer/publisher, institution, signature/collection, license notes, and required attributions.
3. Find the Standpoint Responsibly: Look for the historical camera position or a safe, nearby alternative. Safety comes before accuracy – especially on streets, near the station, or around the viaduct.
4. Document the New Photo: Note the date and time of the new photo, rough location, viewing direction, device model, and (if possible) focal length or smartphone focal length equivalent.
5. Label the Comparison Clearly: Create a caption that transparently shows the source of the historical photo, key data of your new photo, and relevant deviations (e.g., shifted location, blocked sightlines, new buildings).

This creates a comparison that remains comprehensible in the long term – and thus serves as a “source image of tomorrow.”

Practical Guide for Re-Photos: Quality, Traceability, Fair Use

Recommended Equipment

• Smartphone or camera (compact camera is sufficient), optionally a small tripod
• Historical motif as printout or offline screenshot (including source information)
• Note app for metadata (location, viewing direction, date, special features)

Technical Tips for Meaningful Juxtapositions

• Keep Eye Level Stable: Even a few meters of distance or a different eye level significantly change facade lines and proportions – for example at Maxplatz or Jacklturm.
• Control Verticals: Align the camera as straight as possible; moderate perspective correction is useful as long as the comparison remains fair and does not “beautify.”
• Prefer a Bit More Context: A slightly larger image section makes assignment easier and explains changes in the surroundings (e.g., new buildings, changed street spaces, new greenery).
• Make Deviations Transparent: If a location is not accessible, describe the alternative (e.g., “standpoint shifted for safety” or “sightline partially blocked by new building”).

Rights, Licenses & Responsible Publication

Even historical images may be protected by copyright or usage rights. Before publishing (e.g., exhibition, website, social media), check whether and how you may use the historical photo, which license conditions apply, and which source information is required.

For your own new photos, personal rights (recognizable persons) and property rights on private land may also be relevant. If you are unsure, use collections with clear licenses or clarify usage conditions directly with the respective institution.

Accessibility, Safety, and Practical Notes

• Accessibility: When registering, pay attention to information on route lengths, surface, inclines, seating breaks, and barrier-free alternative routes.
• Safety in Street Areas: Only take photos from safe positions. Do not enter roadways, track areas, or unsecured areas for “the perfect angle.”
• Weather & Planning: Outdoor formats depend on the weather; suitable clothing and rain protection for devices increase the chance of good comparison shots.
• Respectful Use of Places: Especially at churches, monuments, and quiet areas: observe local instructions, keep passageways clear, no disruptive setups.

Why Such Formats Make Sense: Benefits for Traunstein

• Understanding the City: Image comparisons at places like Maxplatz, Jacklturm, Salinenpark, and the railway viaduct show development lines and make building culture visible in everyday life.
• Participation: Citizens can contribute their own images, memories, and local knowledge; with proper documentation, it remains usable in the long term.
• Networking: Cooperation between archives, museums, schools, and associations strengthens local history work and media literacy.
• Documentation: New comparison photos become a future source that captures today’s perspectives on Traunstein.

Digital Accompaniment: How Submissions Remain Findable and Verifiable

If future activities are digitally accompanied, a uniform structure improves quality: consistent image titles, clear source information, permalinks to archives, and short explanatory texts on the location and shooting situation. This reduces confusion (e.g., with similar viewing directions at Jacklturm or the viaduct) and makes contributions usable in the long term – even outside short-term social media campaigns.

Clear minimum requirements for submissions have also proven effective: (1) source and license of the historical image, (2) date of the new photo, (3) location description, (4) brief description of the most important visible changes.

Transparency: What This Preview Is Based On

This preview focuses on proven methods for “re-photography” (then–now comparisons) and generally accessible research paths to historical collections. Specific dates, routes, permits, and exhibition locations can only be definitively set and published by the respective organizers.

For historical motifs and dating, the object pages of the respective archives, libraries, and portals are authoritative. If information (e.g., dating, photographer, license) varies there, the current object page of the owning institution should always be cited for publications.

Research Sources for Historical Photos and Data on Traunstein

1. bavarikon – Search “Traunstein” — Bavaria’s cultural portal, historical photos and postcards (accessed 2026-08-03)
2. Bavarian State Library – Digital Collections — Image and map collections, online research (accessed 2026-08-03)
3. German Digital Library — Meta-search across museums and archives, permalinks and object pages (accessed 2026-08-03)
4. Archivportal‑D — cross-archive research on collections and finding aids (accessed 2026-08-03)
5. Monument Atlas Bavaria (BLfD) — Monument data and classification on building and usage history (accessed 2026-08-03)
6. German National Library – Catalog entry: ISBN 978‑3‑95400‑040‑1 (“Zeitsprünge Traunstein”) — bibliographic reference as a starting point for further literature (accessed 2026-08-03)

Please note: Each historical image is subject to the license and usage conditions of the respective institution. Observe required copyright and source attributions.