What to see at the ‘Virtually Versailles’ exhibition in Macau: after stops in Singapore and Shanghai, the immersive show has arrived at Grand Lisboa Palace, with a Karl Lagerfeld-themed room

Aug 7 , 2023

The “Virtually Versailles” exhibition is currently on show at Macau’s Grand Lisboa Palace. Photo: Handout

Running from July 30 to October 15, ‘Virtually Versailles’ is an immersive exhibition at Macau’s Grand Lisboa Palace in celebration of Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2023

Visitors can expect 360-degree digital projections and 3D reconstructions of the palace, with historical references to King Louis XIV, Marie-Antoinette and late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld

The “Virtually Versailles” immersive exhibition has landed in Macau this summer as part of Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2023.

“Virtually Versailles” in Macau. Photo: Handout

The exhibition, previously shown in Singapore in 2018 and Shanghai in 2021, brings the Palace of Versailles to life at the Grand Lisboa Palace. It officially opened on July 30 and will run until October 15.

Visitors can expect to be enthralled by the creative use of sound, smell and groundbreaking technology bringing forth some of Versailles’ most iconic rooms thanks to 360-degree digital projections and 3D reconstruction to the palace.

“Versailles is known all over the world thanks to its very famous history and very famous arts in every domain. I think this exhibition is a way to discover Versailles and give you the desire of coming,” Catherine Pégard, president of the Palace of Versailles, tells us in an exclusive interview.

Visitors can expect an immersive experience at the “Virtually Versailles” exhibition. Photo: Handout

Before beginning their immersive experience, visitors can download the Virtually Versailles app on their phone that introduces the tour and acts as a guide. It features a treasure hunt game, an augmented reality camera and a playlist of Baroque music.

Visitors are in for a treat as they start off the tour, greeted by the “voice” of King Louis XIV, recreated through the analysis of his health records. To further immerse visitors, the air is fragrant with the scent of King Louis XIV’s favourite flowers, the orange blossom. Created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the exclusive fragrance is called Royal Delight.

This immersive experience combines technology with historical facts. Photo: Handout

As they wander through the spaces, visitors can learn about the history of the palace and how it started off as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII during the 17th century and evolved to its current splendour. At “Virtually Versailles”, visitors are invited to explore the vast palace grounds by hopping on a connected bike that takes them through the gardens and past some of the most impressive outdoor sculpture museums.