What if the history of Paris came back to life before your eyes, right where it was written? Time Travel Kiosk is the new innovative device designed by the start-up Timescope, in partnership with JCDecaux, which will offer visitors a unique digital film in virtual reality from March 2026, allowing them to relive major episodes in the history of Paris, such as the return of Napoleon I's ashes or the Liberation of Paris. Installed directly on the avenue, four interactive kiosks will offer a sensory experience accessible to all, right in the heart of the public space.
Strolling along the Champs-Élysées will never be just a walk again. Thanks to these four virtual reality kiosks, you will have the opportunity to find yourself at the heart of significant episodes in the history of our beautiful capital. A new, lively, and accessible way to experience history as if you were there, at the very foot of the places where it was written.
The project draws on the technological expertise of Timescope, a French start-up pioneering VR historical reconstruction devices in public spaces. The Time Travel Kiosk is part of a cultural initiative on the Champs-Élysées, driven by a desire to reconnect passers-by, both tourists and Parisians, with the rich history of the neighborhood.
Are you curious about history, passionate about new technologies, or simply looking for an original experience in Paris? This virtual reality experience has been designed for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest. With your family, it's an opportunity to introduce your children to a piece of the past in a way other than through books. With friends, it's an unusual way to rediscover Paris. And on your own, it's an invitation to escape without leaving the city.
However, if you are resistant to new technologies or prone to motion sickness in VR, this experience may not be for you. The goal here is to experience history in a sensory way, and that requires complete immersion in a precisely recreated visual environment.
This project is a continuation of the work of Timescope, already known for its installations in several iconic locations in France, such as the Bastille and Notre-Dame. For several years, this start-up has been using virtual reality for cultural mediation, reconstructing historical scenes in real size and making history accessible to as many people as possible. The Time Travel Kiosk is their first major deployment on the Champs-Élysées, in collaboration with JCDecaux, a major player in street furniture.
This self-guided tour format is becoming increasingly popular in large cities, as it allows public spaces to be brought to life without the constraints of opening hours or staff. It is also a modern response to the desire to discover the city in a different way, outside of museums or traditional tours.
The Time Travel Kiosk offers a unique form of urban escape, in the open air, just a stone's throw fromthe Arc de Triomphe. If you're looking for an easily accessible cultural activity in Paris that combines history, innovation, and emotion, you'll be delighted. It's also an ideal break during a stroll, between shopping and a coffee on a terrace.
And if you think you know everything about the Champs-Élysées, wait until you see it as it was a hundred years ago, vibrant with another era, recreated with care and precision. This kiosk doesn't just tell you the story, it transports you there. A rendezvous with the past not to be missed, at the corner of the avenue.
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