Abvent's 3D rendering technology opens Palace doors to millions

Google's World Wonders Project allows visitors to explore many ancient and modern World Heritage sites thanks to Street View, 3D modeling and other Google technologies. As of June 14, visitors can now explore the Palace of Versailles, the gardens, the King and Queen's State Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors in Street View. Modeled in SketchUp Pro and rendered in Abvent's Artlantis and iVisit 3D, the 3D models of Versailles on Google Earth offer nearly 200 hectares of views.

To mark the opening of the Palace history gallery, the Palace of Versailles and the Cultural Institute chose Google's SketchUp Pro and Abvent's Artlantis to create a trip back in time using alternative presentations of the collections, physical models and 3D reconstructions.

"We are pleased and proud to participate in such a monumental project," said Xavier Soule, CEO of Abvent. "The Versailles 3D Projects have opened the Palace doors to millions of people in ways that only 3D rendering technology could have made possible," he added.

Thanks to SketchUp Pro and Artlantis, visitors to the site can now learn about the Palace of Versailles in a fun and educational way. For example, the Versailles 3D Project videos transport visitors to the Palace 'From Louis XIII to the French Revolution', 'After the French Revolution', and 'From gardens to Trianon palaces'.

Visitors will also appreciate the interactive aspect of the site using Abvent's iVisit 3D Panoramas. These 360° panoramas display the Palace and gardens at different stages of development from 1624 to 2012.

Coming soon: 3D scale models for mobiles

Versailles and Google will soon make it possible for visitors to the Palace to immerse themselves in its history using their mobile phones and tablets. Developed in partnership with Abvent, this application will be available through the Google Play Store and the iTunes store. In addition, tablets will be provided to tour guides who wish to illustrate their group tours.

Visitors will be able to view the Palace in the period of their choice by facing the Royal Courtyard, the Chapel or the gardens with their mobile phone or tablet. The phone/tablet opens a window on the past by superimposing on the Palace of today the construction from the reign of Louis XIV.

For more information about the exciting Versailles 3D Projects, click here!