Visitors will be able to experience Norwich Castle like never before at an upcoming 'digital takeover' event.

Eastern Daily Press: A youngster explores Norwich Castle's keep with a virtual reality headset. Picture: Courtesy Norfolk Museums ServiceA youngster explores Norwich Castle's keep with a virtual reality headset. Picture: Courtesy Norfolk Museums Service (Image: Archant)

The Saturday, October 28 event will include a digital treasure trail, augmented reality to show how the castle keep's magnificent Great Hall might have looked in Norman times, the chance to experience a recreated siege of the castle using virtual reality headsets, and a Minecraft competition to build the best castle.

Angela Riley, project manager of Gateway to Medieval England, said: 'Our vision for the keep is to bring the experience of a Norman castle alive, using a mix of different techniques, including digital technology, to really immerse visitors in the sights and sounds of a medieval royal palace.

'It's amazing what can be done now in the field of digital interpretation and augmented reality.

'Saturday's digital takeover is an important way of testing how we can best use technology in a museum setting and asking visitors how they would like to experience the Castle as we develop our plans.'

MORE: Your chance to adopt Snap the dragon, medieval armour and more to support Norwich Castle keep campaignThe free event which runs 5pm-10pm is part of an international 'Museums at Night' autumn celebration and funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is the primary funder of the Norwich Castle: Gateway to Medieval England project. 'A great opportunity'John Ward, chairman of Norfolk County Council and Chairman of the Norfolk Museums Development Foundation, said: 'The Gateway to Medieval England project will use today's cutting edge technology to reveal new aspects of Norwich Castle's wonderful past and enrich visitors' experience and understanding of this great building. 'Saturday's digital takeover is a great opportunity for local people to get a taste of what the future holds for the castle, and to help shape that future.' The Digital Takeover event comes half way through Norwich Castle's public fundraising campaign, Keep Giving, which aims to raise £50,000 by the end of the year to help transform the Castle Keep back to its original form – the Great Hall and palatial residence of Norman kings.