“Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” Goes Around the World With Samsung Tablets

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active series tablets are at the core of the success of “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition,” that dazzled at Westminster Abbey in London earlier this year before moving to the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul over the summer.

Created by French start-up Histovery through exclusive sponsorship by L’Oréal Groupe and in partnership with Samsung Electronics, “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” has become a global success, driven by the unique, immersive experience made possible by Samsung Galaxy Tab Active series¹ tablets. The exhibition has attracted nearly half a million visitors in cities such as Paris, Washington, Montreal and Dubai — and most recently at London’s Westminster Abbey. Starting July 2, the exhibition will move to Seoul, South Korea for a two-month run at the National Palace Museum of Korea, giving visitors the opportunity to discover more about one of France’s most beloved monuments.

An Exhibition Both Physical and Augmented

“Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” presents an exclusive dive into the cathedral’s heritage — from the laying of the first stone in 1163 to the ongoing restoration efforts, all through the eyes of today’s builders. The exhibit was designed and produced by Histovery in collaboration with public institution Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris, and thanks to the sponsorship of L’Oréal Groupe. In what will be a first in Korea, this unique experience combines physical scenography and augmented reality, presented on the all-new Galaxy Tab Active5 and HistoPad solution, alongside thousands of other Galaxy Tab Active series tablets supplied by Samsung and operated by Histovery for all its projects.

Hosted at the National Palace Museum of Korea, a former royal residence dating back to the 14th century, exhibition visitors will use the Galaxy tablets to scan the 21 “Doors of Time” and discover 3D reconstructions of the cathedral at several key moments in its history. Seoul visitors will also have exclusive access to a reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris in its current state amidst renovations, as the HistoPad solution has been updated to reflect the latest restoration effort of the building’s iconic spire.

Samsung Technology Meets History

This exclusive experience is made possible by Samsung’s versatile Galaxy Tab Active5 tablets, built upon Samsung’s rich heritage of creating premium ruggedized devices and equipped with an immersive display that fully enables the realism of the content.

Galaxy Tab Active5 is a ruggedized tablet designed for demanding environments and created to withstand extreme conditions, thanks to IP68² water and dust resistance and next-level durability with MIL-STD-810H³ military standard compliance. It offers an enhanced experience courtesy of its compact, ergonomic format, while simultaneously boasting robust design that ensures it can withstand harsh environments and accidental drops with its protective cover. Created to endure severe conditions thanks to its ruggedized design, the tablet offers an enhanced experience with its compact, ergonomic format.

Boasting the processor power⁴ and resolution⁵ required to render highly realistic details in 3D, Galaxy Tab Active5 tablet brings to life the meticulous research work carried out by Histovery’s committee of scientific experts, offering an experience that is both immersive and educational. Visitors can experience a smoother viewing experience with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz,⁶ further contributing to the images’ realism. The tablet’s long-lasting, removable battery ensures uninterrupted use throughout the day, supported by fast charging⁷ and enabling up to 16 hours of video playback⁸ — the equivalent of three to four visits.

The partnership not only enhances the visitor experience, but also exemplifies Samsung and Histovery’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Through cutting-edge mobile technology and sustainable initiatives, Samsung prioritizes safeguarding history for future generations, fostering a deeper connection to the past through meaningful innovations.

“We’re delighted to be part of this ambitious project, harnessing our innovative mobile technology at the service of history. By creating this truly immersive experience, our hope is to bring to life the renowned history of Notre-Dame de Paris at a global level, sustaining one of the greatest architectural stories out there,” said Frédéric Fauchère, Director & Head of B2B Mobility Division, MX Business at Samsung Electronics France.

“This augmented exhibition sponsored by L’Oréal Groupe celebrates the extraordinary history and splendor of Notre-Dame de Paris. Thanks to the innovative format of the HistoPad, visitors of all ages can delve into the cathedral’s 850-year history, reliving key historical moments from its construction in the Middle Ages to its ongoing reconstruction today. We are very grateful to Samsung for making this exhibition possible and we are honored to present it at the National Palace Museum of Korea, especially this year which will be marked by the reopening of Notre-Dame,” said Bruno de Sa Moreira, co-founder, CEO and executive producer of “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition.”

Visiting 15 cities across four continents, the exhibition will travel for the duration of the restoration project before the reopening of the cathedral to the public on December 8, 2024.

For more information on the exhibition, please visit https://vimeo.com/632719092

Exhibition Details:

• From July 2 to September 1, 2024. Free admission for all.
• Opening hours: open every day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last entry one hour before closing.
• To accommodate Korean and foreign visitors, all content is available in 13 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
• Inclusive versions are available for people with visual or mobility impairments.

About Histovery
A French Tech & French Touch start-up, Histovery is at the cutting edge of innovation, using augmented reality to enhance heritage. HistoPad, our evolving “Augmented Visit” service on tablet, revolutionizes the visitor experience in situ through immersive 360° reconstructions and interactive content manipulation, always carried out with rigorous respect for scientific knowledge. 

HistoPad is now available at over 20 of our heritage sites, serving nearly three million visitors a year. More information at www.histovery.com and www.notredamexpo.com.

About the National Palace Museum of Korea
The National Palace Museum of Korea, an affiliate of the Korea Heritage Service, opened its doors on August 15, 2005 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule. It houses and exhibits some 88,000 items related to the Joseon royal court and Korean imperial court. With the aim of conveying the historical and cultural significance of the Joseon royal and Korean imperial families, the museum scientifically and systematically conserves and restores its collection and organize diverse related exhibitions in a timely manner. It also operates a range of educational programs and is working to vitalize exchanges with other institutions both in Korea and abroad. More information at https://www.gogung.go.kr.

About L’Oréal
For 115 years, L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L’Oréal for the Future programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2023 the Group generated sales amounting to 41.18 billion euros. With 20 research centers across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 6,400 Digital talents, L’Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information at https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

¹ Galaxy Tab Active3 and Tab Active5.
² Water and dust-resistant with an IP68 rating. Water resistance based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Dust resistance based on lab test conditions where device is exposed to 2kg/m³ of active dust with a pressure under 2kPa for 2 hours in a vacuum chamber.
³ MIL-STD-810H: Testing against specific environmental conditions including altitude, humidity, immersion, salt fog, dust, vibration, drop, etc. MIL-STD-810H is a standardized form of testing designed by the US military to accurately assess device limitations. Real-world usage may vary by specific environmental conditions used in the testing. Extreme conditions not guaranteed.
⁴ 5nm Octa-Core Processor.
⁵ Display Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA).
⁶ Screen refresh rate varies depending on the app used and certain apps may not support up to 120Hz. Adaptive refresh rate supports up to 120Hz, which adjusts motion smoothness automatically as needed, while Standard refresh rate supports a 120Hz screen refresh rate.
⁷ Fast charging requires a power adapter or POGO charging dock providing electric power of 15W or above.
⁸ Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Based on Samsung’s internal test results for video playback time under controlled test conditions.