Napoléon, l'épopée immersive: the historical experience in virtual reality - our opinion

To mark the 220th anniversary of Napoleon's coronation, an immersive virtual reality experience will plunge the general public into the life of this major figure in French history, until June 30, 2025.

To mark the 220th anniversary of Napoleon's coronation, Sandora VR offers an immersive virtual reality experience at the heart of the emperor's life, from the key battlefields of his career to his exile on the island of St. Helena. In a sort of fictional museum dedicated to the emperor, you'll be welcomed by Napoleon himself, who retreated into solitude for the last few years of his life, where he takes a chronological look back at his great epics and recounts his memoirs.

For almosthalf an hour, you'll have the chance to relive the great moments that enabled this famous but complex figure to create his legend, whether disembarking at Austerlitz or at a staff meeting in the early 19th century, at the height of the First Empire. Unique objects from Bruno Ledoux's collection that belonged to Napoleon himself, animated sets and a digital twin allow visitors tointeract with history in a complete cultural journey, evoking his legacy (Civil Code, Prefect, Lycées, Legion of Honor, Banque de France).

After opening on February 13, 2025 at the Cinquantenaire Army Museum in Brussels, then on March 14 in Lille at Kinepolis, the experience lands at Galeries Montparnasse from March 27 to June 30, 2025. Expect to pay between 17 and 22 euros to enjoy this historical and educational immersion, on your own, with friends or family, from the age of 8.

Our opinion:

If you've never tried virtual reality before, you're in for a surprise! For 28 minutes, you'll be able to see Napoleon right before your eyes and follow his story. Before that, the visit begins with a mini-museum that introduces you to the characters you'll meet during the experience, as well as some key dates in history. As the exhibition is designed to be educational, Napoleon's career and the speeches made about him are presented in a nuanced way, which is much appreciated.

Once you've visited the mini-museum, it's time for 28 minutes of virtual reality. After a few safety instructions, you slip on your helmet and find yourself immersed in Napoleon's salon. We won't tell you what happens next, but the 28 minutes are impressive. Although we follow Napoleon's story, it's true that we concentrate a little more on the images than on the historical elements. We advise you to tighten your headphones to get the sharpest possible image and avoid eye strain.

The immersive exhibition ends with a mini souvenir store, as well as Napoleon's digital twin, with whom you can interact! If you'd like to leave with a souvenir, you can take a paid photo that transforms you into Napoleon or Josephine. The exhibition is designed to appeal to young and old alike, and makes a great family outing. Don't miss it!

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