Jena-Cospeda audio walk

The Battle of Jena and Auerstedt in 1806 has a firm place in the history books. Napoleon’s triumph over the Prussian army is presented in an authentic, almost tangible way in this multimedia audio walk. Shouted orders, screams, horses whinnying as they gallop past, shots and explosions – equipped with an MP3 player and headphones, visitors embark on an acoustic journey across the 1806 battlefield.

This interactive walk was created by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, winners of the City of Jena’s 2004 Botho Graef Art Prize. Visitors can immerse themselves in the battle, which saw the Prussian army suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of the French troops under Napoleon. They are guided along a specific route by a multi-layered soundtrack featuring a ghostly voice, a range of instructions and a rich texture of sounds and voices.