Take the 45-minute immersive tour to travel back in time and explore the historical glory of Notre Dame Cathedral at its peak.
When we talk about the architectural wonders around the globe. Notre Dame Cathedral in France takes up a prominent spot on the list. This incredible medieval catholic cathedral, located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, serves as a crucial landmark in European history. But more than its historical importance, this cathedral, dedicated to Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic Architecture. Millions of tourists flocked to Paris to see this ethereal beauty in person. But disaster struck when a massive fire broke out under the roof of the cathedral on April 15th, 2019. It caused massive damage to the historic structure. By the time the fire was fully extinguished, there was almost no trace of the upper walls and the roof, with the spire collapsing entirely.
While it is impossible to restore the original structure, virtual reality has made it possible to enjoy the pristine glory of architecture. Two VR companies named Orange and Emissive, in association with the Mayor of Paris, have created an incredible interactive VR experience that takes you 850 years back and enjoys the edifice in its pristine glory through immersive technology.
In this unique VR experience, audiences will use HTC VIVE Focus 3 VR headsets to view a historically accurate recreation of Notre Dame Cathedral. The VR experience has been painstakingly created using high-resolution scans of the Cathedral interior and old pictures as reference. This captivating experience allows viewers to walk along the halls of the historic structure, explore its alleys and roofs, and marvel at the intricate designs on its interior. You can also discover the untold secrets of the Cathedral as you watch the craftsmen painting the stunning frescos, glazers installing the marvelous stained-glass windows, and even listen to the stories of building this glorious edifice.
Eternal Notre Dame- as the experience is titled, is a unique attempt to recreate history with the help of virtual reality. The VR experience also includes several presentations covering different aspects of the architecture and the timeframe, including Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris (presentation of different trades), Notre Dame hors les murs (Notre Dame history and art), a detailed reproduction of the arrow (the masterpiece produced by the Compagnons du Tour de France), two additional exhibits of the Cathedral’s model (provided by the Diocese of Paris), along with a 12-minute film showcasing the Notre Dame restoration site (produced by the public establishment responsible for conservation and restoration).
Fabien Barati, CEO of Emissive, stated in an official press release that the interactive VR experience highlights the unique potential of VR technology to the public. On the other hand, HTC’s Co-founder and Chairwoman Cher Wang remarked that this is proof of how virtual reality can serve an instrumental role in preserving history and culture for future generations.
Eternal Notre-Dame will be open for public viewing at the Escape Grande Arche in la Défense, Paris from January 15th, 2022. In September 2022, it will move to Parvis de Notre Dame.
