The virtual visualization of historical sites opens the door to a variety of new classroom teaching methods for students. Two of these methods are semi-guided tours around 3D immersive environments and the screening of videos rendered from 3D models. Both are compared in this research that integrates a 3D model, designed for off-line rendering, in a 3D immersive environment, operating on Oculus Rift. First, the hardware and the software associated with the immersive environment are described. Then, the suitability of the 3D teaching environment is assessed in relation to historical knowledge, urban layout, and the portrayal of everyday medieval life. The evaluation of undergraduate student experiences, by means of post-session surveys, points to the effectiveness of both methods: higher scores were awarded to video screenings with background narrative in relation to the acquisition of historical concepts, while the virtual tour was the best means of transferring visually acquired knowledge such as urban concepts.
