On November 15, 2024, New York is set to experience an extraordinary union of history and technology as Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition opens at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
From November 15, 2024, through January 31, 2025, visitors will embark on a vivid journey through 850 years of Notre-Dame’s remarkable history, brought to life through cutting-edge augmented reality. The innovative exhibition is designed and produced by Histovery, a French educational technology startup, in collaboration with the Public Institution in charge of the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. L’Oréal Groupe is the sponsor of the exhibit.
Part of a global tour, the New York exhibition takes place during the official reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris in Paris on December 8, 2024, following 5 years of reconstruction and restoration.
Guided by illuminated photo panels and 3-D models of Notre-Dame—including a full-size chimera—visitors use a HistoPad™, an interactive touch-screen tablet developed by Histovery, to step back in time to medieval Paris where they will meet stonemasons, craftsmen, and builders. From there they move forward through time where they will see the construction of the Gothic Choir in 1180, the arrival of the Holy Crown carried by Saint Louis in 1241, the coronation of Emperor Napoleon I in 1804, and the addition of the iconic Viollet-le-Duc spire in 1859, and witness Notre-Dame’s miraculous survival from the 2019 fire that shocked the world as the exhibit shows history unfold in real-time. Throughout the exhibition visitors can scroll through a timeline of Notre-Dame’s construction history and select options on each screen for more detail. Current restoration is a major focus of the exhibition and using the HistoPad visitors will see modern-day experts and master craftspeople in action to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame.
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is made possible by L’Oréal Groupe.
As Philippe Jost, President of the public institution Rebuilding Notre-Dame, declared, “I warmly thank the L’Oréal group for making this remarkable augmented exhibition possible through its sponsorship, and the Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine for kindly hosting it. The cutting-edge technologies of Histovery enable us to bridge Notre-Dame’s nearly millennium-old history with the current restoration project. Through a partnership with the public institution, this exhibition allows visitors from around the world to discover the extent of the ongoing restoration work and the exceptional quality of the craftsmanship and expertise at work throughout France contributing to its restoration. We are successfully meeting the challenge of preparing Notre-Dame for reopening on December 8, 2024, for worship and visits, as we are currently on schedule and staying within budget.”
“This augmented exhibition is a celebration of the extraordinary history and splendor of our beloved Notre-Dame de Paris. We are very grateful to the L’Oréal Groupe for making this exhibition a reality, and are honored to be presenting it at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. We are particularly thrilled that St. John the Divine will host this exhibition in December 2024, a month that coincides with the much-anticipated reopening of Notre Dame after a five-year reconstruction period” said Bruno de Sa Moreira, CEO Histovery.
This groundbreaking approach to storytelling merges centuries-old architecture with compelling multimedia—a cultural experience uniquely suited for a diverse audience, from art lovers, history nerds, to tech enthusiasts. Ideal for New Yorkers looking to rediscover culture in a dynamic way, it’s an innovative marriage of past and present.
“With HistoPad, you’re no longer a spectator—you’re an active part of history,” said Asia Laird, Managing Director of Histovery U.S. “It’s a new era where the past unfolds before you and you can explore every corner of one of the world’s greatest cathedral. It’s like time travel—except it’s real.”
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, provides an ideal stage for this ambitious exhibition. “Notre-Dame and St. John the Divine are both symbols of resilience. Hosting this extraordinary exhibition connects two of the world’s most monumental cathedrals and invites our visitors to rediscover the past in a vibrant, new way.” said The Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. “New Yorkers and visitors alike are in for a truly transformative experience.”
In a city where art and culture never stop evolving, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is poised to be a must-see. Whether for the history buff, tech aficionado, or someone simply looking for an unforgettable experience, this exhibition will make everyone see both Notre-Dame and St. John the Divine in a new light.
Running from November 15, 2024, to January 31, 2025, this exhibit promises to be an unmissable highlight of the season—bringing Paris to New York, one legendary stone at a time.
Histovery
Histovery specializes in augmented reality solutions that bring history to life. With its innovative HistoPad technology, the company creates immersive experiences for cultural sites and museums, offering a dynamic way for visitors to engage with the past. Histovery creates all content including historical and scientific validation, IT development, equipment installation and maintenance, and post-visit data analysis. Histovery exhibitions help museums and cultural heritage sites succeed by attracting new, engaged audiences.
Created in 2013 and enjoyed by more than 2 million visitors each year, the multi-international award-winning HistoPad is currently available at the Alamo in the United States, fifteen institutions in France, including the Château de Chambord, the Palais des Papes in Avignon and the Conciergerie in Paris, as well as two sites in Germany. Histovery.com
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
As the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world founded in 1892, the trustees of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine conceived its mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light and leading in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Today, as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of its bishop, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine serves the many diverse people of our diocese, city, nation and world through the worship of God; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; cultural and civic events; international ecumenical initiatives; and the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.
For more information, visit www.stjohndivine.org
The Public Institution
The Public Institution is responsible for the preservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris
Established on 1 December 2019 and placed under the direct supervision of the French Ministry of Culture, the Public Institution is responsible for conducting, coordinating and implementing studies and operations instrumental in the conservation and restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral. Furthermore, it is tasked with promoting and highlighting the re-construction project, as well as those trades and professional know-hows that have contributed to restoration work, notably through the implementation of cultural programs both in France and abroad.
More information on: www.rebatirnotredamedeparis.fr and follow every step of the restoration work on Facebook and Instagram
L’Oréal
L’Oréal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 35 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 27.99 billion euros in 2020 and employs 85,400 people worldwide. As the world’s leading beauty company, L’Oréal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce.
Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 4,000 people, are at the core of L’Oréal’s strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L’Oréal sets out ambitious sustainable development goals across the Group for 2030 and aims to empower its ecosystem for a more inclusive and sustainable society.
L’Oréal is a donor to the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and the exclusive sponsor of the exhibition.
EXHIBITION HOURS: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday 12pm-4pm. The exhibition is located in St. James Chapel in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
The Cathedral’s website where visitors can purchase tickets: https://www.stjohndivine.org/visit/notre-dame-de-paris-the-augmented-exhibition
Photo credit: Histovery.
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