Napoléon, l'épopée immersive: the historical experience in virtual reality - our opinion

To mark the 220th anniversary of Napoleon's coronation, Sandora VR offers an immersive virtual reality experience at the heart of the emperor's life, from the key battlefields of his career to his exile on the island of St. Helena. In a sort of fictional museum dedicated to the emperor, you'll be welcomed by Napoleon himself, who retreated into solitude for the last few years of his life, where he takes a chronological look back at his great epics and recounts his memoirs.

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For almosthalf an hour, we relive the great moments that helped this famous but complex figure build his legend, from landing at Austerlitz to a staff meeting in the early 19th century, at the height of the First Empire.

Unique objects from Bruno Ledoux's collection that belonged to Napoleon himself, animated sets and a digital twin allow everyone tointeract with history in a complete cultural journey, evoking in particular his legacy (Civil Code, prefect, Lycées, Legion of Honor, Banque de France).

Following its debut at Galeries Montparnasse, the immersive experience now makes its way to the Louvre Post Officein the 1st arrondissement, where it will be open until July 2026, from Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets cost roughly between 17 and 22 euros, offering visitors a unique historical and educational journey. Whether alone, with friends, or family, this experience is suitable for those aged 8 and up.

Our review:

If you’ve never tried virtual reality before, you’re in for a surprise! In just 28 minutes, you'll experience Napoleon firsthand and follow his story. Before the immersive part begins, there's a mini-museum that introduces the characters you'll meet during the experience, along with a few key dates from History. Since the exhibition aims to educate, Napoleon's career and related speeches are presented with nuance, which is very thoughtful.

After exploring the mini-museum, the virtual reality journey begins. After a quick safety briefing, you put on your headset and suddenly find yourself in Napoleon’s salon. We won’t spoil what happens next, but the adventure is truly impressive. While the focus is on following Napoleon’s story, the visuals tend to take center stage, slightly overshadowing the historical details. Make sure to tighten your headset well for the clearest picture and to avoid eye strain.

The immersive experience wraps up in a small souvenir shop, but also features a digital twin of Napoleon, with whom you can interact! If you want a memento, you can opt for a paid photo that transforms you into Napoleon or Josephine. The whole exhibit is designed to entertain both kids and adults, making it an excellent family outing. Don’t hesitate—go check it out!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.