Ghent Altarpiece Gets Immersive 3D Visitor Centre in St. Bavo's Cathedral

The Visitor Centre of St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, home to Jan van Eyck's 1432 Ghent Altarpiece (The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb), has opened to the Flemish public despite ongoing COVID-19 restrictions that limit access until April 18. Located in the Chapel of the Sacrament, the interactive centre uses augmented reality headsets to let visitors explore the restored panels and other treasures, and travel back in time to witness the history of the altarpiece and the cathedral in minute detail. The forty-minute tour covers the cathedral's construction phases, Jan van Eyck's life, and the painting's iconography. Peter De Wilde, CEO of Visit Flanders, which collaborated on the project, called the presentation "the extraordinary result of many years of work" and expressed hope that art lovers worldwide will eventually experience the altarpiece in its original cathedral setting. The project was originally slated for 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic.