Westminster Abbey is to host a touring exhibition, “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition”, which seeks to bring the French cathedral to life through a multi-sensory, immersive experience.

HistoveryProcession of the relics in 1241

The exhibition, from 7 February to 1 June 2024, tells the story of Notre-Dame from its 12th-century origins until the present day, including the catastrophic fire in 2019 (News, 18 April 2019). The show has been created by the digital-heritage specialist Histovery, in collaboration with Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris. It has already been shown in Paris, Washington, DC, Montreal, and Dubai, where it was seen by 300,000 people.

Visitors to the exhibition can take an interactive journey through Notre-Dame’s past, including the wedding of King Henri IV, the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the construction of the 19th-century Viollet-le-Duc spire, which was destroyed in the 2019 fire. The experience also includes audio recordings of the cathedral’s organ and tolling bells, and a projection of one of Notre-Dame’s famous rose windows, which survived the fire.

“Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” is part of Fraternité, a spring season of events at Westminster Abbey, celebrating the links between the UK and France. Entry to the exhibition is free with a full-price entry ticket to the Abbey. Bookings for timed slots open today.

westminster-abbey.org

“Is that the fire brigade? I wish to report a multi-sensory experience”