The initiative was unveiled by Microsoft President Brad Smith on Monday, underscoring the project's potential to serve both historical preservation and public engagement goals.
Preserving a National Treasure in Digital Form
The 862-year-old Gothic cathedral, France's most visited monument, reopened in December 2024 after a five-year restoration following the devastating fire in 2019 that destroyed its spire and roof. The fire triggered a global outpouring of support and marked a turning point in the conversation around preserving world heritage.
Microsoft said the digital twin will serve as a comprehensive architectural archive and enable virtual access for global audiences—especially those unable to visit in person.
“The ability to create a digital twin right now I think will provide an enormously valuable digital record that I believe people are going to be using 100 years from now,” Smith told Reuters.
Learning from St Peter’s Basilica
Microsoft will draw on its recent work with Iconem, a French company that specialises in digitising heritage sites. The two collaborated last year to create a digital replica of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, using advanced 3D scanning and imaging technology.
Smith explained that these digital archives do more than recreate appearances—they aid long-term maintenance by capturing precise measurements and original design features.
“You capture a digital record of every centimetre and what is there and what it's supposed to look like,” he said.
A Broader Mission to Digitally Preserve History
The Notre-Dame project is part of Microsoft’s growing commitment to digitally preserve historical and cultural landmarks. Since 2019, the tech giant has helped create digital models of:
- Ancient Olympia in Greece
- Mont Saint-Michel in France
- The 80th Anniversary of the Allied Beach Landings in Normandy
These projects combine immersive technology with conservation goals, allowing present and future generations to experience world heritage in new ways.
Notre-Dame’s Enduring Legacy
Notre-Dame’s cultural resonance extends beyond architecture. Immortalised by Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the cathedral became a symbol of Paris and French identity. The character Quasimodo has since appeared in countless adaptations—from Hollywood films to Disney animations and stage musicals.
With Microsoft’s involvement, Notre-Dame is now poised to enter the digital age, ensuring that its grandeur and historical significance are not only rebuilt in stone, but also preserved in pixels for centuries to come.