A Statue for Liberty: Bartholdi’s Dream Realized in a Virtual Reality Experience at the Musée d’Orsay

Alongside the exhibition on Auguste Bartholdi and his defining work, the Musée d'Orsay is offering visitors an immersive virtual-reality experience that traces the story of the Statue of Liberty—from its construction to the debates surrounding it.

From September 15, 2026, to January 31, 2027, the Orsay Museum is hosting the exhibition "Auguste Bartholdi: Lighting the World with Liberty," complemented by a groundbreaking virtual reality experience centered around the iconic Statue of Liberty. After exploring the artworks on display, visitors can immerse themselves in the history, retracing Bartholdi’s journey from Paris to New York step by step.

Auguste Bartholdi, Liberty Enlightening the World: the secrets of the statue revealed at the Musée d'Orsay
From September 15, 2026 to January 31, 2027, the Musée d’Orsay will spotlight the Statue of Liberty, a true icon, and its creator, Auguste Bartholdi, a renowned 19th-century sculptor who collaborated with Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Gustave Eiffel. [Read more]

Descending a level into the museum's Galerie Amont, visitors are immersed in nearly 700 square meters at the heart of one of the 19th century’s most ambitious artistic and technical undertakings. You become witnesses to the birth of this project, which has grown into a monument and today remains a universal symbol of freedom, equipped with a virtual reality headset.

From Versailles in 1865, where the republican thinker Édouard Laboulaye sparks the idea of a monument to Franco-American friendship, to Paris, in the bustle of the atelier Gaget, Gauthier & Cie a decade later, and finally to New York Harbor in 1886, where the statue rises at last, discover the more human story behind the dream of this Alsatian sculptor. Sources of inspiration, technical, political and financial hurdles, decisive alliances—these are the elements that let you see this legendary monument and the man behind it in a new light.

You’ll be able to observe Gustave Eiffel, the journalist Joseph Pulitzer, or even the workshop workers, in a meticulously reconstructed building that has since disappeared, through this immersive and scientific experience. An experience that beautifully complements the exhibition, and that we were able to test, letting what the placards had told us come to life.

For 35 minutes, players are treated to visually stunning graphics, with an atmosphere drawn like watercolor, a rarity for VR experiences and giving it a highly expressive feel. Available in French, English, Spanish and Chinese, the adventure is recommended for ages 13 and up and tells the dream of a man who wanted to make his mother proud—and he achieved it, never giving up on his project.

We are invited to peel back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes story of this statue, which endured plenty of setbacks before, even today, standing as a symbol of freedom that Auguste Bartholdi cared so deeply about. Knowing how the tale unfolds after this moment, certain lines from the characters, like Eiffel, spark a amusement in the viewer, and a sense of closeness.

As with virtual reality experiences, if you’re particularly sensitive to dizziness, some scenes might unsettle you, since you rise to get a better view of the remarkable work, but don’t worry—your feet stay planted on the ground! It’s also a prime chance to see the Statue of Liberty without crossing the ocean, if you’ve never been to New York. Expect €32 for a combined ticket with the exhibit.