Archaeological Crypt of the île de la Cité

Beneath the immense forecourt of Notre-Dame lies this remarkable archaeological site that allows visitors to relive life on the Île de la Cité, the historic heart of Paris, as it was 2,000 years ago. The largest crypt in Europe, the site presents discoveries made during digs that took place between 1965 and 1972, when preparations were underway to construct an underground car park on the site. While the focus is on Paris’s past, the technology on offer is resolutely modern: interactive maps, touch screens and 3-D animations aim to make history enjoyable for all the family.

Journey through the ages

Along the 200-metre-long crypt, you pass from Gallo-Roman antiquity to the 19th century via the Middle Ages, thanks to a suite of exceptional archaeological remains. You will discover the docking port of the Gallo-Roman city of Lutetia – the precursor to modern Paris, Gallo-Roman public baths, and a portion of the city wall dating from the early 4th century. Moving forward in time, you can see the basement of the former Hôtel Dieu Chapel, the remains of the Rue Neuve-Notre-Dame – dug in the 12th century to transport construction materials to the Cathedral, the foundations of the **Hospice des Enfants-Trouvés, or Hospice of Found Children, as well as traces ofHaussmannian sewers**. A veritable journey through time, the site gives a new perspective on Paris’s urban and architectural evolution.

A virtual reality tour of Notre-Dame

In 2014, Ubisoft launched the video game Assassin's Creed: Unity and immersed its players in the Paris of the French Revolution. The Notre-Dame cathedral was then meticulously recreated: you can explore it in detail, climb its roof and even its famous spire… Today, based on this data, Ubisoft is creating a virtual tour of Notre-Dame that offers the possibility to (re)discover the cathedral from different points of view, some of which were inaccessible to the public (the roof, the buttresses…), in the heart of a living Paris of the late 18th century.

Accompanied by the unique sound of the famous Cavaillé-Coll organ of Notre-Dame, the visitor wearing a virtual reality helmet is invited to look around to better appreciate the perspectives. This immersive visit is accessible to users of all ages (from 7 years old).
Duration of the experience: 5 minutes

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