Westminster Abbey has unveiled Notre Dame de Paris, The Augmented Exhibition, the world-touring immersive exhibition that has officially opened to the public this month, just in time for half term. Westminster Abbey Augmented Exhibition
Revealing the story of the French gothic masterpiece, Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris), from its earliest origins in the 12th century and its illustrious 850-year history to its painstaking restoration following the devastating fire of 2019, it has been created by digital heritage specialists, Histovery, in collaboration with Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris and supported by L’Oréal Groupe.
Already seen by 300,000 exhibition-goers worldwide, including in Paris, Washington, Montreal, and Dubai, the UK location is the 13th-century Chapter House at Westminster Abbey, another famous and iconic church that is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
The exhibition takes visitors on an interactive journey through Notre Dame’s past. Children of all ages will enjoy immersing themselves in the glittering coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, the lavish wedding of King Henri IV, and the 19th-century construction of Notre Dame’s iconic spire of Viollet-le-Duc, which was tragically destroyed by the fire. The skill, artistry, and vision over the ages of its architects, craftsmen, and builders, and the 21st-century experts who are bringing it back to its former glory, will be brought to life in the show.
Visitors to the exhibition are issued a HistoPad™—a portable, touch-screen tablet developed by Histovery that will serve as their portal to key moments in Notre Dame‘s history and restoration. The intuitive device’s technology is accessible to visitors of all ages and levels of technological savvy. The tour is available in 13 languages, and there are special features for families: a virtual treasure hunt to collect stained glass window fragments to win a diploma, and a fun selfie studio that superimposes faces onto the cathedral’s fantastical beasts.
The HistoPad™ tour through Notre Dame’s history is designed to envelop the visitor in a multisensory experience—including audio of the cathedral’s organ and tolling bells, a full-size replica of one of the structure’s famed chimera statues, and a projection of one of Notre-Dame’s iconic rose windows, which survived the fire.
The exhibition is supported by L’Oréal Groupe, who, as a century-old French company, participated in the saving and reconstruction of the cathedral, and, since 2021, has supported this innovative experience to travel the world, allowing as many people as possible to access and discover the beauty of Notre Dame and its heritage.
Notre Dame de Paris is due to reopen again after restoration work on December 8, 2024.
Notre Dame de Paris, The Augmented Exhibition is part of Fraternité, a spring season of events at Westminster Abbey celebrating the links between the UK and France with music, talks, and events.
Exhibition dates: Wednesday 7th February to 1st June 2024 Admission: Included with full-price Abbey entry:
Adults: £29.00 Concessions: £26.00
Timed booking slots are available via www.westminster-abbey.org Location: Westminster Abbey, Chapter House, London, SW1P 3PA
Bruno de Sa Moreira, Co-founder & CEO, Histovery “This augmented exhibition is a celebration of the extraordinary history and splendor of our beloved Notre Dame de Paris. Through Histovery’s unique innovative format, individuals of all ages can immerse themselves in the cathedral’s 850-year history, reliving pivotal historical moments, and interacting with the ongoing reconstruction efforts. We are very grateful to the L’Oréal Groupe for making this exhibition a reality and are honored to be presenting it at Westminster Abbey. We are particularly thrilled that Westminster Abbey will host this exhibition in 2024, a year that coincides with the much-anticipated reopening of Notre Dame after a five-year reconstruction period.”
Thierry Cheval, Managing Director & Chairman, L’Oréal UK & Ireland “L’Oréal Groupe is incredibly proud to support this special exhibition and bring it to life at the historic Westminster Abbey. As a century-old French company, we are proud to participate in the saving and reconstruction of Notre Dame, a true symbol of French craftsmanship, heritage, and culture. Through the power of technology and innovation, this exhibition has been traveling the world to allow as many people as possible to access and discover this repository of knowledge and common history through a uniquely immersive experience.”