The Hôtel des Invalides is famous for housing the tomb of Napoleon 1st, and its golden dome has towered over Parisian rooftops since the 17th century. But have you ever been inside? A new opportunity to enter this historic monument has been on offer since September 22: a breathtaking nocturnal digital experience not to be missed.
Considered one of the masterpieces of French architecture, the Dôme des Invalides has already lived several lives: Royal church under the reign of its initiator Louis XIV, pagan temple during the French Revolution, pantheon dedicated to military glories since the 19th century (and where, logically, the ashes of the most famous of them all, Napoleon 1st, were repatriated in 1840) or refuge during the Second World War, this historic site is now revealed in a new light thanks to a grandiose architectural illumination.
The work of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Sun King's 1st architect and the creator of the Château de Versailles, is adorned with a tailor-made multimedia system, inviting visitors to (re)discover it through a series of light effects and video mapping sequences, all set to an emotionally-charged musical backdrop.
An original experience of "connection" with this building which, until the advent of the Eiffel Tower, was the tallest in Paris for 2 centuries.
For almost an hour after dark, visitors can stroll beneath the 80 m-high dome and the 3 adjacent chapels, discovering various visual effects in a 3-phase scenography (the construction, the memories and the elevation of the monument), such as the appearance of relief sculptures right next to real statues, or a - fortunately fake - gradual blazing of the columns: bluffing!
Conceived over more than a year by the Moment Factory multimedia studio, with scientific support from the Musée de l'Armée housed in the Hôtel des Invalides, the experience combines a wide range of expertise: video projection, lighting, special effects, sound design... The fruit of the work of several teams specialized in heritage enhancement, this total digital creation offers an unforgettable visit to this internationally renowned architectural jewel.
Cultival, the cultural outings agency already behind the Assassin's Creed operation at the Invalides (and the Arsène Lupin investigation at the Opéra Garnier), is behind this impressive sound & light show.
To book your family, duo or solo exploration, click here.
Enjoy your discovery!
Valérie from Comme des Français
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