Meta’s XR Glasses Revolutionize Tourism with Interactive Versailles Experience
The launch of new XR (extended reality) glasses often generates excitement but usually leads to disappointment, as the technology has primarily been used for gaming, medical training, and limited tourism applications. However, the tourism sector is now emerging as a key adopter of XR technology, offering immersive experiences that blend virtual elements with real-world environments. The recent release of Meta’s Quest 3 glasses, featuring advanced mixed reality (MR) capabilities and passthrough technology, promises to transform how visitors engage with historical sites.
Jerusalem-based tech and media company Yaturu has been pioneering XR experiences at various tourist sites and is now leveraging Meta’s Quest 3 to create interactive, immersive narratives. One notable project is the Lumière de la Liberté exhibit at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. The exhibit allows visitors to experience historical events firsthand, such as meeting Benjamin Franklin and witnessing diplomatic negotiations that shaped U.S. independence.
Versailles attracts over 10 million visitors annually, making it an ideal venue for this cutting-edge technology. Yaturu, part of the Yalla.Digital group, was selected to produce and operate this flagship digital project due to its extensive experience. CEO Udi Regonis explained that the XR experience enables visitors to remain physically present at the palace while interacting with virtual layers that bring history to life. Unlike traditional VR, this mixed reality experience is interactive and spatial, allowing users to explore and engage actively with the story.
The passthrough technology from Meta detects the visitor’s location and physical surroundings, integrating virtual elements seamlessly into the real environment. This creates a dynamic storytelling space where visitors walk alongside historical figures and participate in key moments. Yaturu’s production VP and director Shlomo Bales highlighted the creative challenge of spatial storytelling, which requires designing narratives that unfold around the visitor’s movements and choices.
The global XR market is booming, projected to grow from $29 billion today to $789 billion by 2035, with tourism as a major driver. Competitors like Samsung, RayNeo, Lumus, Rokid, and XREAL are also advancing XR hardware. Yet, Yaturu’s rapid six-month development of the Versailles content and its operational management of millions of visitors position it well for further expansion. The company has recently signed contracts with four Israeli tourist sites and expects to reach 15 by year-end, while also negotiating with European sites. This project could serve as a major sales catalyst for XR tourism experiences across Europe.
