an immersive Egyptian expedition, without leaving Lyon
Visiting the pyramid of Cheops, without paying any plane ticket, is now possible! Thanks to the magic of virtual reality, Lyonnais can marvel at the treasures of Egypt. A unique experience in the world at La Confluence shopping center that the France 3 Rhône-Alpes team has tested for you.
It all starts with the equipment box. Players must bring a three-kilo backpack containing a computer and batteries, a virtual reality headset and off they go for 45 minutes, immersed in the history of the Cheops pyramid.
video length: 02min 12
An immersive exhibition in the time of the pharaohs in Lyon
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©France Televisions
Once the game is created, there is no doubt that we are in Egypt, where we directly discover the pyramid of Cheops, 146 meters high.
A breathtaking show, accompanied by oriental music, Egyptian settings with sand, desert, torches, etc. After a few seconds of wonder, Mona, the guide, intervenes to show us the path to take in the pyramid. The beginning of a visit, more than realistic.
The fact of perceiving others, allows you to avoid yourself, to be able to enjoy the experience in a group with friends or family
Julien Badon, Emissive agency
Around you, you see the avatars of the other participants appear. Therefore, we are part of a group of tourists, as it might be the case in reality. But these avatars aren’t just there to decorate. “The fact of perceiving the others, makes it possible to avoid oneself, in order to be able to benefit from the experience in a group with friends or family” explains Julien Badon, exploration manager for the Emissive agency.
The entire interior of the venue and the exterior have been scanned
Julien Badon, Emissive agency
And since nothing is left to chance during the trip, even one of the seven wonders of the world, the pyramid of Cheops, is reproduced identically. “The entire interior of the venue and the exterior have been scanned”, says Julien Badon, exploration manager for the Emissive agency. In total, it took three years of research and development by Emissive (a flagship and award-winning French creator in the field of virtual and augmented reality) in partnership with Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian and his team from the Giza Archives Project (University of Harvard) to be faithful to reality.
Historical re-enactments are also applied to the rule. For example, one can attend the embalming ceremony of Pharaoh Cheops (second king of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom)as it unfolded, 4 years ago 500 years back. The opportunity for tourists on this virtual trip to learn more about this historic moment and more particularly about the relationship of Egyptians to death.
An experience rich in discoveries and emotions, present in Lyon, until March 2023.