New visitor itineraries at national monuments

In Sèvres and Saint-Cloud, heritage is as much to be seen as heard, thanks to new audio tours throughout your visit.

Maison des Jardies

A new audio trail lets you explore the Maison des Jardies on your own. Room by room, the building tells its story and that of its two illustrious occupants: the writer Honoré de Balzac and the statesman Léon Gambetta. In the kitchen, we discover Balzac's strange plan to plant pineapples... And in the dining room, we learn about Gambetta's early career.

Domaine national de Saint-Cloud

The Domaine National de Saint-Cloud invites you to listen out for its remarkable trees. Download the free "Portraits of Trees" map and set off to meet the trees and listen to the stories behind them. Legends, poems, tales, portraits drawn up by landscapers and gardeners... The local residents - tulip-trees, silver maples and Atlas cedars - reveal themselves through a poetic audio tour.

New spaces, redesigned media, soundscapes... Several visitor routes have been reinvented.

Château de Châteaudun

The Château de Châteaudun pays tribute to the man who gave it the silhouette we can admire today: Jean de Dunois. On the ground floor, a new space is dedicated entirely to him, with an immersive scenography. Projections, tactile devices and digital content are all part of the programme to bring to life this figure from the Hundred Years' War, a comrade-in-arms of Joan of Arc. The rooms in the Longueville wing also feature new ways of immersing visitors in the art of tapestry.

Saint-Denis Cathedral Basilica

The dialogue between past and present is being strengthened at the basilique cathédrale Saint-Denis. A new interactive and educational tour invites visitors to (re)discover this major monument in French history, focusing on three themes: the royal necropolis, the architecture of the basilica and its history. Innovative features (multimedia tables, digital labels, etc.) guide the tour, with a special focus on young visitors and accessibility.

The towers and ramparts of Aigues-Mortes

The towers and ramparts of Aigues-Mortes have been given a facelift. The monument's signage has been completely redesigned to make the visitor experience smoother and richer. Easily identifiable with their white text on a black background, the welcome signs and maps guide visitors around the site. The towers, doors and terrace are adorned with pink panels on the history of the site and the city, recalling the hue of the reflections of the salt marshes in the sunlight.

The towers of Notre-Dame cathedral

The towers of Notre-Dame cathedral have been completely revamped. The ascent is punctuated by models, simplified plans and soundscapes that take visitors through the architectural history of this Gothic masterpiece and relive its major events. After a stop at the top of the south tower to take in the exceptional 360-degree panorama, the tour concludes with an artistic sound experience.

Webapps and digital tools are being added to the tour routes to help you discover the monument from your smartphone, without having to download anything.

Webapp Tours of Notre-Dame Cathedral

In addition to their new tour route, the towers of Notre-Dame cathedral are now equipped with a webapp designed as a visit companion. Available in 12 languages, it allows visitors to follow the tour at their own pace, room by room, and to supplement the information on offer. Features include a map to help you find the various points of interest in the towers, and a glossary to help you understand all about their architecture.

Arc de Triomphe Webapp

The Arc de Triomphe also has its own dedicated webapp. Designed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux in collaboration with Mazedia, Fleurs de Papier and Laurette Architecte, it offers three routes: "The essentials" and "The chronological frieze" to delve into the history of the Arc de Triomphe, and "The facades" to find out more about the monument's sculpted decorations.

The Cité internationale de la langue française online tour

The Cité internationale de la langue française is celebrating its second anniversary by offering visitors a dematerialised version of its permanent tour "Le français, l'aventure d'une langue-monde". Designed for Francophones and Francophiles, this tool provides an insight into the cultural, historical and social dimensions of French. Accessible from a computer or tablet, it offers around fifteen digital tools (videos, games, testimonials, etc.) to help you learn and discover the richness of the French language in a different way.

Consult the diary of the Centre des monuments nationaux