google creates super detailed VR tour of versailles using photogrammetry

google arts and culture has partnered with the château de versailles to take virtual reality users on a private tour of louis xiv’s royal residence. using photogrammetry — the science of making measurements from photographs — google was able to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the french palace.

images courtesy of google arts and culture

header image © thomas garnier

google collected over 4TB of data and textured 15 billion pixels to create the new versaillesVR app. the project is the largest of its kind at the castle to use photogrammetry, with 21 rooms and 387,500 square feet of internal surfaces captured.

the super detailed experience takes visitors on a tour of the royal grand apartments, chapel, and opera. users of the HTC vive and oculus rift can handle and inspect over 100 sculptures, paintings and other works of art.

video by google arts & culture

alongside the new virtual reality tour, google has unveiled an online exhibition that features over 398 assets, including objects, artefacts and paintings. it includes 3d models of objects like marie antoinette’s jewelry cabinet and the king’s bed, and a plethora of ultra-high-resolution portraits of the royal family and archival photos of versailles.

‘climb onto the stage in the royal opera house, draw up close to the high altar in the royal chapel sculpted by corneil van clève in the 18th century, and discover the hall of mirrors, one of the most iconic places,’ reads the description on steam.

‘tapestries, paintings, ceilings, sculptures and furniture, everything is within reach of your controller to grant you unlimited and privileged access to the treasures of versailles. for a more intimate experience, switch to night mode and explore the palace by the light of chimney fires.’

project info

company: google arts and culture

partner: château de versailles