Montreal’s March Break build-up is now underway. And if you want somewhere to take your kids that is educational, entertaining and fun, here are two suggestions to consider.
Eternal Notre-Dame – 850 Years of History!
Eternal Notre-Dame is a marvelous 45-minute time machine-style immersive experience that takes you back through 850 years of history, as you explore the evolution of one of civilization’s greatest architectural marvels: the majestic cathedral that is Notre-Dame-de-Paris. Using the technology of 360-degree virtual reality (VR), you are taken on a special guided tour of how Notre-Dame was built — and rebuilt — through architectural knowledge and skilled craftsmanship to create not only a revered place of worship, but also a highly regarded work of art, which has been immortalized in Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame and its four movie adaptations, especially those that starred Lon Chaney (1923) and Charles Laughton (1939).
The flawless VR presentation certainly immerses you in the work and care that went into building Notre-Dame, from its bell tower to its stunning chapel to its massive stained-glass windows. It also touches on the destructive 2019 fire that led to the collapse of its landmark tower, and the painstaking restoration work that followed, culminating in its much-anticipated reopening. Visitors also get to witness the evolution of Paris as a great European city, from the days before the Eiffel Tower dominated its skyline to the present. It’s a fascinating tribute to a major landmark that represents faith, artistic and civic pride, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Eternal Notre-Dame is now showing at the Arsenal Contemporary Art facility at 2020 William Street. Throughout the March Break period, all tickets for this immersive experience will be available at a special, limited-time 20% discount. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to eternelle-notre-dame.ca.
Bubble Planet Experience
When you set foot inside the family-friendly Bubble Planet Experience at Place Bonaventure (800 De La Gauchetiere West), the 1918 popular American song “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” would automatically come to mind. And it certainly would be a fitting tune; there are plenty of bubbles to have fun with during this 60-minute interactive exploration.
Visitors get a hands-on look into the science of bubbles and how they are formed. But it doesn’t rely solely on scientific facts (which are provided by the detailed informational placards at the beginning of each exhibition segment). They are vividly explained with the life-sized interactive segments that visitors of all ages can literally immerse themselves into that make bubbles so much fun to discover, whether it be bubbles in champagne, soap bubbles (which are recreated in the world’s largest bathtub), or even how bubbles played a part in the development of hot air balloon travel in France during the 1780s.
Don’t forget to cap off your visit by checking out the VR presentation “Bubble Planet”, which beautifully puts you through a colorful journey that summarizes every aspect of bubbles that is explored in every exhibition space, as you see its world through state of the art VR goggles, while seated in one of the suspended bubble-shaped chairs (which allows for a constant 360-degree view).
Tickets for the Bubble Planet Experience are now available for purchase by going to bubble-planet.com.
by Stuart Nulman
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