Mont-Saint-Michel
Showcasing Cultural Heritage with Mixed Reality
France is home to a unique heritage: the collection of Plans-Reliefs, historical scale models of fortified cities created in the 17th and 18th centuries. Mostly preserved at the Musée des Plans-Reliefs at the Invalides in Paris, the collection includes the famous model of Mont-Saint-Michel, a masterpiece presented to Louis XIV in 1709. In 2018, this treasure of French cultural heritage came to life through mixed reality.
For four months, visitors equipped with a HoloLens headset were able to discover the history of Mont-Saint-Michel directly on the original model, enriched with 3D holographic animations. This unique approach preserved the authenticity of the model while placing it back into its historical and architectural context.
In 2019, the experience crossed the Atlantic to be presented at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle, offering an international audience a new kind of immersive encounter blending tradition and innovation.
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In partnership with Microsoft and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, HoloForge Interactive created Mont-Saint-Michel, Digital Perspectives on the Model, one of the very first mixed reality experiences deployed in a French museum.
Thanks to photorealistic digitization by Iconem, using hundreds of thousands of drone and ground-based photographs, both the historical model and the Mont-Saint-Michel site were recreated in 3D with exceptional precision.
Equipped with HoloLens, visitors are immersed in a narrative where the original work comes to life before their eyes, while still being able to admire it in its authenticity.
Presented at the Musée des Plans-Reliefs in Paris and later at Seattle’s MOHAI, the experience captivated several thousand visitors worldwide. To extend the immersion, a standalone tablet version was installed beside the model: in two years, it recorded nearly 6,000 users and more than 2,000 hours of real use.
These figures demonstrate the impact and relevance of this approach to cultural heritage enhancement and innovative mediation, opening the way to new methods of attracting and engaging museum audiences.
Selected by an international jury of experts in the category AR/VR For A Cause, the Mont-Saint-Michel project won an award at Laval Virtual, Europe’s largest immersive technologies event.
Mixed reality adds a narrative and visual layer directly onto the original work, without masking or replacing it. Visitors can observe the Mont-Saint-Michel model while seeing it animated and restored to its historical context through augmented holograms. The experience also includes a virtual reality sequence, offering full immersion inside the abbey church. This enriches visitors’ understanding and engagement, while preserving the authenticity and heritage value of the original object.
Visitors praised the immersive and interactive aspect, which allowed them to discover the history of Mont-Saint-Michel in a new and memorable way. Museum staff especially appreciated the ease of operation and user-friendliness of the device, which requires no advanced technical skills. Both groups emphasized the educational value and emotional impact of the experience.
Yes. The installation attracted a broader audience, including younger visitors and those familiar with new technologies, while also retaining heritage enthusiasts. The originality and interactive nature of the experience also extended the average visit duration within the exhibition space.
Relief maps were technological marvels in the era of Louis XIV and Napoleon. It's exciting to see how we can combine old and new technologies to reveal the hidden treasures of history, especially for younger generations.
We often talk about lived experience, and I have just experienced a real one, both virtual and digital, but also, I would say, aesthetic and historical.
The aim of this exhibition was to go down in history, to get to the heart of art, to help the public understand and see the work in a new light.
The Museum of History and Industry is honored to share this icon of global history, reinforced by cutting-edge technology, to create a unique experience born of past and present innovations.
