Celebrate the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris following five years of reconstruction all without ever having to leave Manhattan! Now through January 31, 2025, embark on a vivid journey through 850 years of Notre-Dame’s remarkable history, brought to life through cutting-edge augmented reality.
Guided by illuminated photo panels and 3-D models of Notre-Dame—including a full-size chimera—visitors use an interactive touch-screen tablet to step back in time to medieval Paris where they meet stonemasons, craftsmen, and builders. From there they move forward through time where they 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. They also 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 visitors will see modern-day experts and master craftspeople in action to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame.
This groundbreaking approach to storytelling merges centuries-old architecture with compelling multimedia—a cultural experience uniquely suited for people of all ages. Ideal for New Yorkers looking to rediscover culture in a dynamic way, it is an innovative marriage of past and present.
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.”
And the two great Cathedrals are tied together in another way – by fire. On Palm Sunday, 2019, the great space of St. John the Divine filled with smoke from a fire in an art storage space in the crypt. This was one day before the devastating fire that destroyed so much of Notre-Dame. Seeing the rebirth of Notre-Dame in this exhibition goes hand-in-hand with the final piece of St. John the Divine’s own recovery – the return of the Great Organ. After extensive work and cleaning, the Great Organ will sound again for the first time in five and a half years throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons and be celebrated further with a series of free performances starting in February.
In a city where art and culture never stop evolving, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is not to be missed. Whether for the history buff, tech aficionado, or someone simply looking for an unforgettable experience, this exhibition makes everyone see both Notre-Dame and St. John the Divine in a new light.
Open until January 31, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street). The exhibition is open daily, Monday – Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, 1pm-5pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit stjohndivine.org.
Isn’t Seville Cathedral the largest?
I know this is sponsored content, but I’m taking this opportunity to give an unsolicited testimonial to the show. I bought tickets for my husband and self, as it sounded interesting and it was an opportunity to walk around St John the Divine, as well. We heard a choir rehearsal, saw fascinating contemporary and centuries old art in the chapels, and were enchanted with the exhibition.
We’re seniors, fully conversant in using ipads, so the technology took but a little practice to “get”. You use essentially a QR code at each of 22 stations, and then, on your screen, you tap small dots on the images to expand imagery and info for that area of your screen. You pivot the image around so you see each scene in 360, offering more opps to see expanded images and explanation
Some of the imagery is photographic, some AI generated, and all extremely well done.
I’ve a cranky back, so the benches and pews, were useful, to sit as I took in the expanded view of each of the stations.
I’ve written a number of friends to extol the wonders of the history brought to lively imagery. I do think anyone with curiosity about the extent of the damage to Notre Dame and how it could have been restored in such an expeditious manner would enjoy this show.
A side note, it takes you back to the original construction of the cathedral, and the way the artisans accomplished their work – picture this – paper was not something readily available, so PLANS were scrawled on a stone floor in charcoal. Rope was used to measure distance. Then, when the program shows you the artisans who convened to do the painstakingly detailed restoration, you’re able to compare their technique with the old – and realize that in some cases, the old were still what was used!