Eternelle Notre-Dame: our verdict on the immersive historical experience in virtual reality

Notre-Dame de Paris as you've never seen it before: discover the immersive virtual reality experience "Eternelle Notre-Dame", an astonishing show that plunges you into the heart of history. First offered at La Défense, it is now also available on the cathedral's forecourt.

Are you ready for an 850-year journey? In January 2022, a new immersive virtual reality experience arrived in Paris, giving us the opportunity to visit Notre-Dame de Paris, from its construction to the present day, through a 360° immersive expedition. After a huge success, the experience has been extended to the parvis de la Défense and the Cité de l' Histoire, as well as to the foot of Notre-Dame Cathedral!

Witness the laying of the foundation stone of France's most famous cathedral. Find out how it has shaped history from the Middle Ages to the present day. A journey through time and space, thanks to a technology that will revolutionize our vision of this symbol of our heritage.

The immersive Eternelle Notre-Dame experience takes place in a 500 m² space; a 45-minute visit that transforms visitors into true players in the cathedral's history. Whether you're on your own or in a group, immerse yourself in this expedition, led by a "compagnon du devoir" who reveals all the architectural secrets of this monument, which has undergone numerous restorations and evolutions!

Notre-Dame and its surroundings have been entirely recreated digitally. So you can freely explore this space in the heart of the capital, which has changed a great deal over 850 years... For each era, the settings have been faithfully reproduced, based on precise scientific and historical research.

This visit through time and space gives us a better understanding of the history of Notre-Dame, a history profoundly linked to that of France. A place of faith and power, a witness to the passage of men, the monument gradually reveals itself through this experience. From the first sketches on a plan to the reconstruction work after thefire in 2019, from the stained glass windows to the cathedral's framework and the monumentalorgan, Notre-Dame will no longer hold any secrets for you.

Our opinion:

We were able to try out the Eternelle Notre-Dame experience under the cathedral's forecourt. It's a fascinating journey in virtual reality. We came away amazed to have been able to "visit" secret corners of the monument, to have climbed as close as possible to the bells, into the building's framework... One memory remains with us: that of being able to admire the roofs of 13th-century Paris from the heights of the construction site.

The experience is somewhat spoiled by the quality of the images: they are a little blurred, and often jump between two scene changes. But that's not enough to break the immersion. And for those of you who are afraid of heights, be warned: some passages can be quite disturbing for your senses!

If you love the history of Paris and its cathedral, and if you're looking for a great family outing, Eternelle Notre-Dame is for you. However, we advise you to choose a visit slot outside peak hours: the tour route can be more difficult to follow when there are too many visitors at the same time.

To extend the experience, get out your smartphone! Snapchat and Orange are offering an augmented reality view of the cathedral, via the Snapchat app. This fun and educational digital experience lets you learn more about some of the monument's architectural features, and even take a selfie with a gargoyle!

Last but not least, one third of the ticket price is donated to Orange, to the public establishment for the cathedral's restoration work, and to the Fondation Notre Dame to finance the cathedral'sinterior ref urbishment program. An incredible experience and a gesture for our heritage: how can you refuse to take part in this event?

History and heritage enthusiasts, believers or not, Paris lovers: this experience is for you!