Google Maps Introduces Immersive New AR Features

Google Maps has today introduced innovative new AR features, transforming how users explore cities. These immersive experiences, currently spotlighted in Paris, allow users to engage with landmarks in unprecedented ways.

When searching for a location in Google Maps that includes AR content, users can simply tap the “AR Experience” icon and raise their device to view the augmented reality content through Lens in Maps. Even if you’re not physically at the landmark, you can still experience these AR features from anywhere in the world using Street View.

One of the standout features allows users to journey back to the early 1900s, exploring architectural concepts of the Eiffel Tower that were never realized and viewing the Exposition Universelle pavilions built along the Seine for the 1900 World Fair.

Interactive info cards provide deeper insights into the history and culture of these landmarks, enhancing the educational aspect of the AR experience. Later this summer, Google Maps will extend these capabilities to offer historically accurate AR reimaginings of 18th-century Paris.

Users will be able to visit a detailed recreation of Notre-Dame Cathedral as it appeared in 1789, explore the Bastille Saint-Antoine before the French Revolution, and tour the magnificent Palais des Tuileries prior to its demolition.

These rich AR experiences are made possible through collaborations with Google Arts & Culture and Ubisoft. This partnership ensures that the historical representations are not only accurate but also engaging and informative.

The integration of AR in Google Maps marks a significant advancement in digital navigation and historical exploration. It allows users to experience the past vividly and interactively, offering a unique blend of technology and education.

These new AR features are accessible to all Google Maps users, making it easier than ever to explore and interact with iconic landmarks and historical sites.