Visit the Titanic at Paris and Bordeaux exhibitions

Two new exhibitions in France let you experience the iconic-but-doomed ship RMS Titanic as it really was, including a visit to a first class passenger cabin, and a walk around the massive engine room.

This is possible through virtual reality (VR) technology, a key part of both exhibitions, one of which is taking place in Paris, and the other in Bordeaux. 

In Paris, La Légende du Titanic exhibition has been taking place at the Grande Halle at Parc de la Villette in Paris since March 31 (scheduled to last until August 31). The organisers recommend allowing around 90 minutes to view.

In Bordeaux, the Un Voyage dans le Temps show is taking place at the Musée Mer Marine until June 28. The organisers recommend allowing around 45 minutes to view.

The Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, was once considered the jewel in the crown of its ship operator, The White Star Line. Its tragic sinking after it collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic led to the death of 1,500 people. 

The story was dramatised in the award-winning 1997 film by James Cameron, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

A ‘sensory, historical and emotional experience’

Visitors to the exhibitions are invited to wear VR headsets, which enable them to ‘see’ the interior of the glamorous ocean liner.

The VR walkthrough enables visitors to explore the ship, firstly by walking its third-class corridors, then entering a first-class cabin, and even having a look around the splendid ballroom and sweeping central staircase.

In Paris, the exhibition also displays real objects from the time (mainly from the Titanic’s contemporary-era sister ships, also built by The White Star Line). Some objects come from the 1997 film, which are part of a collection owned by Titanic expert Juan Cruz Ercoreca, the exhibition’s curator.

These include a portable wooden desk and several hairbrushes, all of which were created to be faithful to the design of the time.

“Normally, these objects are little trophies that you never see again once they’ve entered a private collection,” said Mr Cruz Ercoreca, an Argentine-born curator based in Barcelona, who has spent 15 years collecting artefacts from the Titanic.

Visitors to the exhibition also have the chance to be immersed in 360-degree image projections on eight-metre-high screens, which tell the story of the ill-fated vessel, from its construction in Belfast, to its sinking.

Some objects have been carefully made as replicas of original pieces, including a lifeboat.

The Paris show also features an original soundtrack composed by René Merkelbach, recorded with a 52-piece orchestra, interspersed with background sounds, such as the harbour and waves.

Visitors can also see immersive imagery of the current Titanic wreck, and there are also activities for children to encourage them to learn about the ship’s history.

“It’s a journey through time, but also a sensory, historical and emotional experience that respects the past,” said Jordi Sellas, the producer of the exhibition, with his team at the Madrid-based studio Artes Digitales, which helped to create the shows, to AFP.

Show success

The La Légende du Titanic exhibition is coming to France after seeing success - and more than one million visitors - in Madrid, Vienna, Zurich, and London.

Tickets to the Paris show are available to buy online, and cost €26.25 for a standard entry (aged 16 and over), or €18.50 for children over the age of four (although the VR elements are recommended for people aged eight and over only).

There are special prices for older people, students, family groups, and those wishing for a VIP experience. Under-4s and carers go free.

Tickets to the Bordeaux show are also available online, and currently cost €14.88 for adults aged 18 or over. There are also reduced-priced tickets for children aged 8-17, students, and older people.