Dansez Versailles: when the Château de Versailles enters the era of augmented reality with Snap

Snap and the Château de Versailles have joined forces to offer “Dansez Versailles”, an augmented reality experience that brings Baroque dances back to life in the gardens of the estate.

In recent years, cultural institutions have been seeking to renew their approach to heritage. By teaming up with Snap, the Château de Versailles has taken a new step forward. With “Dansez Versailles“, visitors are invited to enjoy a unique immersive experience combining technology, history and movement. Thanks to augmented reality, the emblematic gardens of Versailles become the stage for a lively return to the splendors of the Court of Louis XIV.

Dance, a tool of power in the time of Louis XIV

In the 17th century, Baroque dance was more than just entertainment. It was an integral part of the political order of the court. Louis XIV, himself a dancer, founded the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661. He codified the art of choreography to make it a tool of social distinction. Through ballets, comedy-ballets and masquerades, dance embodied order, hierarchy and monarchical prestige.

It’s this historical dimension that Snap and the château aim to restore. And they’re doing it in a fun, innovative way, especially designed for young people and families.

A technological immersion in the gardens of Versailles

Accessible via the official Château de Versailles mobile app, the “Dansez Versailles” experience is part of a four-stage tour of the gardens. At each point (located on an interactive map), visitors can trigger an augmented reality animation directly from their smartphone.

The process is simple and fluid: the front camera places a period accessory on the visitor’s head, then the rear camera transforms him or her into a Baroque dancer in costume, moving to a choreography recreated in 3D. The effect is immediate and spectacular, and makes the experience particularly shareable on social networks, notably partner platform Snapchat.

Four Baroque stages to discover

Each iconic location hosts an iconic dance:

• The King’s Ball, around the Bassin de Latone: a majestic, codified scene.
• Masked ball on the Orangerie lawn: elegance and mystery.
• Ballet, in the bosquet of the Théâtre d’Eau: a joyful dance of popular inspiration.
• Comédie-ballet, in the ballroom grove: theater, dance and music come together.

Each of these lenses can be accessed remotely via Snapchat, but it’s in real gardens that the experience really comes into its own.

A reactivated intangible heritage

The real interest of the project lies in the restitution of an intangible choreographic heritage, often difficult to represent. Thanks to the work of choreographer Pierre-François Dollé and the use of motion capture, the movements are precise and historical, without being frozen. Everything is animated with remarkable care to respect postures, gestures and Baroque style.

The project is also part of a broader strategy at the château, which for several years has been exploring the uses of digital technology in cultural mediation: virtual exhibitions, immersive tours, artificial intelligence.

Paris, epicenter of augmented cultural mediation

Although the experience takes place in Versailles, it resonates with the work being carried out in Paris. The Snap AR Studio, based in the capital, is at the heart of this collaboration. Opening in 2021, it aims to stimulate the French augmented reality ecosystem in the fields of culture and education.

In Paris, other institutions such as the Grand Palais and the BnF are experimenting with similar systems. We’re witnessing a transformation of the museum experience, which is no longer content to simply pass on information, but invites visitors to experience its contents.

A project that questions the place of the body and digital technology

Behind the playfulness, a real question emerges: can tradition and innovation be reconciled without betraying substance? “Dansez Versailles” avoids the trap of gimmickry. It’s not an isolated animation, but a structured, educational and well-documented journey, designed with the château’s curators in mind. Digital technology becomes a tool at the service of heritage, rather than the other way round.

Practical information

📍 Location: Gardens of the Château de Versailles (Orangerie, Bassin de Latone, Théâtre d’eau, Salle de bal)
📅 Dates: experience accessible from July 2025
📱 Access: via the “Château de Versailles” mobile app or directly on Snapchat
🕒 Timetable: during garden opening hours
💶 Rate: free with entrance ticket to the estate
🔗 Direct link to Lenses on Snapchat