PHI Studio invites audiences to travel through time with two immersive virtual reality experiences that bring world heritage and art history vividly to life, from the grandeur of Notre-Dame de Paris to the birth of Impressionism.
Éternelle Notre-Dame
Montreal audiences are invited to experience one of Europe’s most iconic landmarks like never before with Éternelle Notre-Dame, a spectacular immersive virtual reality expedition co-created by Excurio, Bruno Seillier and produced by Le Groupe Orange. The show is presented by PHI Studio in collaboration with Infinity Experiences.
Now open at L’Arsenal , 2020 William Street, this Canadian premiere offers a rare and deeply moving journey through more than 805 years of history of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Designed as a true voyage through time, Éternelle Notre-Dame allows visitors to explore virtually the cathedral’s most defining eras, from its medieval origins to its architectural transformations and recent restoration.
Back in 2019, fire severely damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, destroying its medieval wooden roof structure, known as `the forest,` and causing the collapse of the cathedral’s iconic spire. Remarkably, the stone vaults withstood the blaze, preventing total collapse. Restoration efforts have since focused on faithfully rebuilding the roof and spire using traditional materials and techniques, returning the cathedral to its historic silhouette.
Equipped with cutting-edge VR technology, participants are transported inside the monument, witnessing its grandeur, craftsmanship, and resilience from perspectives that would otherwise be impossible. The experience unfolds over approximately 45 minutes to one hour, ( wheelchair and accessibility friendly ) offering a rich, immersive narrative that blends history, emotion, and visual wonder.
This new production further reinforces PHI Studio’s position as a leading force in immersive storytelling and cultural innovation. Based in Montreal, PHI Studio is internationally recognized for producing and presenting groundbreaking experiences that sit at the intersection of art, technology, and human connection.
Its collaborations with Infinity Experiences have already captivated audiences around the world with large-scale virtual reality journeys that redefine how culture and heritage can be experienced.
Among these acclaimed productions is Horizon of Khufu: Journey in Ancient Egypt, an award-winning VR expedition that transports visitors to the heart of the Old Kingdom, allowing them to explore the Great Pyramid of Giza and the funerary complex of Pharaoh Khufu. Another standout experience, Tonight with the Impressionists: Paris 1874, ( also running at Arsenal and reviewed below ) that invites audiences into the very first Impressionist exhibition, offering an intimate encounter with artists such as Monet, Degas, and Renoir at a pivotal moment in art history.
With Éternelle Notre-Dame, PHI Studio continues this tradition of excellence, using immersive technology not as a spectacle, but as a powerful storytelling tool that brings history and culture vividly to life. The experience is accessible on regular visiting days and is open to the general public, with no special event programming required to enjoy the full journey.
Éternelle Notre-Dame delivers a powerful immersive experience that reconnects audiences with one of the world’s most treasured monuments, offering a contemporary and emotionally resonant perspective.
- Éternelle Notre-Dame may not be suitable for everyone. People who experience severe motion sickness, vertigo, epilepsy, or sensitivity to flashing visuals should approach with caution, as the immersive VR environment involves virtual movement and intense imagery. The experience may also feel uncomfortable for those who dislike enclosed or fully immersive settings, and it requires wearing a headset for an extended period. Designed mainly for teens and adults, it may be less appropriate for young children or visitors with limited tolerance for standing during the experience. ( Canes are available on site).
For more information and to reserve a time slot please visit :
https://www.arsenalcontemporary.com/mtl/exhib/detail/eternalnotredame-2026
Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874
Since June 20, 2025, PHI Studio is happy to present Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874, a new immersive virtual reality expedition making its Canadian premiere at Arsenal Contemporary Art.
Following the success of Horizon of Khufu and Life Chronicles, which together welcomed over 300,000 visitors in Montréal, PHI Studio turned its attention to one of the most defining moments in art history: the birth of Impressionism.
Developed and produced jointly by Excurio, GEDEON Experiences, and the musée d’Orsay, with scientific and curatorial guidance from renowned experts Sylvie Patry and Anne Robbins, the experience transports visitors to Paris on April 15, 1874, the night the first Impressionist exhibition opened.
As with the Notre Dame experience, participants wearing a VR headset are immersed in the vibrant Madeleine district before being guided to the studio of photographer Nadar on Boulevard des Capucines, where works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Cézanne, and Pissarro were shown together for the very first time.
Inside the recreated exhibition, visitors move freely from room to room , led by a charismatic young female French model who guides our encounters with these artists as young, still-unknown painters on the brink of revolutionizing the art world. The journey extends beyond the gallery walls, transporting participants to key locations that shaped the movement, from Monet’s hotel room in Le Havre where his beloved Impression, Sunrise was painted, to Grenouillère Island on the Seine, and to the studios where the radical idea for the exhibition first emerged.
Rooted in more than two years of meticulous historical research, Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874 stands out for its scholarly rigor as much as its emotional impact. Archival documents, artists’ correspondence, exhibition catalogues, architectural records, and period critiques were carefully analyzed to recreate this pivotal moment with exceptional accuracy. The experience is further enriched by two mediation spaces that contextualize the social, artistic, and geographic legacy of Impressionism beyond 1874.
Presented in French, English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and accessible to visitors aged eight and up, Tonight with the Impressionists, Paris 1874 continues PHI Studio’s mission to bring history, art, and culture vividly to life through immersive storytelling, offering audiences a rare opportunity to step inside a turning point in cultural history.
For more information and to reserve a time slot please visit :