Deep Dive into History: An Augmented Reality Exhibition at the Museum of Brittany

Starting on May 12, 2025, the Museum of Brittany, in collaboration with the Digital Humanities Master’s program at Rennes 2 University and BavartApp, is offering an interactive augmented reality trail. The project is centered on the Zouave uniform of Amand Quelain, a Breton soldier who served during World War I.

This project aims to give a human voice back to museum collections. By combining photogrammetry, geolocation, and augmented reality, we invite visitors to follow the life story of this soldier through his personal belongings, which have been digitized in 3D. This approach is designed to evoke emotion and reflection by tracing the journey of one man and highlighting the role of the Zouaves in military history.

The trail unfolds across several sites:

• Rennes City and Metropolis: The military districts (Lyautey, Colombier) and Les Champs Libres.

• Corps-Nuds: The hometown of Amand Quelain.

• Paris: The Army Museum and the Pont de l’Alma.

To participate, simply download the BavAR[t] application and follow the trail points to discover interactive augmented reality content, such as digitized objects, audio archives, and quizzes.

This project is a unique collaboration where Rennes 2 University provided pedagogical supervision, the Museum of Brittany offered its collections and expertise, and BavAR[t] handled the digital design and creation of the immersive experience.

It’s a beautiful example of how technology and history can intertwine to bring memory to life in a new way.