See with all your senses

How do you find your way around a city when you cannot see? How does your perception change? Which senses become more important—and what barriers do you encounter?
The city walk “Seeing with all your senses” was conceived by Julieta Jacobi as part of her dissertation project in collaboration with the Salzburg Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (BSVS) and took place for the first time on October 22, 2025. Students and external interested parties explored the old town together with blind and visually impaired people. They shared their perceptions, pointed out obstacles, but also pleasant places and paths. Participants had the opportunity to experience their surroundings in a new way with dark glasses – through touch, smell, and hearing. The meeting point was the tactile model of Salzburg’s old town next to the Franciscan Church, where participants could already try out their sense of touch in detail. The sighted participants were able to sharpen their senses and question their usual visual perspective by walking over different surface materials with a white cane or trying to feel sculptures in churches.

Fotos: Ute Brandhuber-Schmelzinger, Doris Posch, Elke Zobl