Preserving Notre-Dame Through VR - How 500,000 People Stepped Inside a Cathedral Under Restoration
5 minutes read
Six years ago, on 15 April, 2019, the world watched in disbelief as flames tore through the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The images of the fire, smoke billowing from the spire, and the efforts to save the beloved landmark gripped millions around the globe. Notre-Dame, a symbol of cultural heritage, faith, and history, had suffered immense damage.
In the immediate aftermath, while restoration teams began the painstaking process of rebuilding the Cathedral stone by stone, a different kind of project was also taking shape - one that would bring Notre-Dame back to life not physically, but virtually.
Reimagining Access Through Immersive Technology
Our partners, Excurio and Amaclio Productions, brought the cathedral back to life through immersive technology. ‘Eternal Notre-Dame’ is a location-based virtual reality experience designed to transport visitors through the history of the Cathedral in stunning detail.
Using VIVE Focus 3 headsets and powered by our Location-Based Software Suite (LBSS), the experience allows dozens of people at a time to travel back in time and see the construction of the Cathedral, before stepping inside a 1:1 scale faithfully recreated version of the Cathedral.
From soaring Gothic arches to intricate stained-glass windows and sacred relics, visitors are immersed in a richly detailed and emotional journey through Notre-Dame’s long and storied past.
Over 500,000 Virtual Visitors (and Counting)
Since its launch, more than 500,000 people have experienced Eternal Notre-Dame. For many, it offered a rare opportunity to witness the beauty and spiritual power of the Cathedral.
It’s a powerful example of how immersive technology can bridge the gap between people and places - and keep cultural landmarks accessible, and even went on tour to Shanghai and Taiwan.
A Cathedral Restored — And A Virtual Experience That Continues
Now, six years on, the restoration of Notre-Dame is complete. The Cathedral reopened its doors in April 2024, standing once more as a monument to resilience and craftsmanship.
But the virtual experience lives on.
Eternal Notre-Dame continues to tour internationally and remains available at the Cathedral itself until September 2025. For those who can’t travel, or who want to deepen their connection to the site, it’s a chance to explore the soul of Notre-Dame in an entirely new way.
A Shared Legacy
At HTC VIVE, we’re proud to have played a role in helping preserve and share this global icon through technology. This project is also a testament to the power of collaboration -with Excurio, Amaclio Productions, and the cultural institutions that made it possible.
