VENABLES, AT THE ORIGINS OF FEUDAL NORMANDY
Immersive Experience
This project is based on a 3D virtual reconstruction of the motte-and-bailey castle of Venables as it would have appeared in the 11th century, complemented by an interactive digital heritage trail accessible through a mobile application. The project will enhance the historical and tourism appeal of the site while making its heritage accessible to a wide audience.
Designed to be both engaging and educational, the visitor experience will follow a predefined route with seven points of interest, providing a coherent narrative and a logical sequence of discovery, with the option of gamified features.
Based on the latest historical and archaeological research, the experience will be informative, interactive, and accessible to visitors of all ages. It will highlight the medieval history of Venables and its motte-and-bailey castle, enabling visitors to discover this early form of fortification, the predecessor of the medieval stone castle.
The Right Media for the Right Experience
Each stage of the visitor trail is enhanced with digital content designed and validated by the Gilbert de Venables Cultural Centre (CCGVenables). Every medium is carefully selected to add genuine value to the interpretation and visitor experience.
This collaboration ensures both historical accuracy and engaging storytelling:
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Texts and images: Providing historical context and visual interpretation.
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Audio narration: Offering an immersive storytelling experience.
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Videos and quizzes: Bringing the visit to life through interactive learning.
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360° panoramic photography: Allowing visitors to explore places that are otherwise inaccessible.
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Educational mini-games: Interactive activities designed to engage younger audiences.
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Virtual Reality (VR): A three-dimensional reconstruction of the site as it appeared in the 11th century.
The contracting authority will retain full ownership of all digital content produced and will be free to use, adapt, modify, or update it without restriction or time limit.
An Accessible Visitor Experience for Everyone
To ensure an inclusive visitor experience, the heritage trail will be designed to meet the needs of all audiences, including visitors with disabilities.
All content will be available in French (both text and audio) and translated into five additional languages.
The experience will also comply with recognised accessibility standards, including Easy Read principles (the equivalent of the French FALC standard), using concise texts, clear language, and visual supports to facilitate understanding.
In addition, an accessible route for visitors with reduced mobility (PRM) can be provided at no additional cost.
By offering a variety of media formats and dynamic content, the project will ensure that every visitor can enjoy an engaging, informative, and rewarding experience tailored to their needs.
Scientific Accuracy and Methodology
The production of a 3D historical reconstruction follows a rigorous methodology designed to ensure the highest possible levels of historical and geographical accuracy.
High-Precision Data Collection:
The process begins with the analysis and integration of high-precision satellite data (NASA, SRTM Mission, and Copernicus) to create an accurate topographical model. Where necessary, these datasets are complemented by high-resolution photogrammetric surveys (using drones or ground-based photography) to refine terrain elevations and ensure seamless metric continuity with the 3D model.
3D Modelling and Photorealistic Texturing:
Each building is individually modelled by specialist 3D artists on the basis of the available historical, archaeological, and scientific evidence. Every structure is then enhanced with photorealistic textures to achieve an authentic and visually convincing representation.
Historical Interpretation and Storytelling:
The reconstruction is completed through the addition of contextual elements ranging from large-scale features, such as period furniture, carts, monuments, and statues, to smaller details including tools, household objects, and coins. Animated historical characters can also be incorporated to create compelling narrative sequences, helping visitors to understand the people, activities, and significance of each scene.
The methodology is iterative, evolving from an initial conceptual framework into an increasingly detailed and realistic reconstruction. Each stage—topography, 3D modelling, texturing, environmental design, and animation—is reviewed and validated by the contracting authority, ensuring that the final immersive experience remains as faithful as possible to the available archaeological, historical, and scientific evidence.
An Immersive Journey Through Time
Historical reconstructions are the highlight of this project. Designed as true time machines, they offer visitors a fully immersive 3D historical experience. Far more than a simple sequence of photographs or two-dimensional overlays within a three-dimensional environment, these experiences take the form of 360° virtual reality films, allowing visitors to explore the site as if they had travelled back in time.
Suitable for visitors of all ages and levels of interest, these immersive experiences create value at every stage of the visitor journey:
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Before the visit: They act as a powerful attraction, inspiring curiosity and encouraging people to visit the site.
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During the visit: They enrich the interpretation, strengthen visitor engagement, and improve understanding and retention of historical information.
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After the visit: They create lasting memories, encourage sharing, and extend the educational and cultural impact of the experience.
Core Features
The application has been designed to remove technical barriers and place immersion at the heart of the visitor experience.
Instant Accessibility:
Available free of charge on the App Store and Google Play, the application brings together a wide range of heritage destinations. The Venables visitor trail benefits from a dedicated showcase, ensuring greater visibility and easier access for users.
Smart Geolocation:
Thanks to a proximity-based detection system, the Venables destination automatically appears at the top of the list when visitors arrive nearby, allowing them to begin their experience immediately.
Seamless Offline Experience:
To overcome the limited mobile network coverage often encountered in rural areas, all visitor content—including videos, 3D reconstructions, and audio guides—is downloaded automatically when the tour begins. The entire experience can then be enjoyed offline, without interruptions.
Complete Visitor Independence:
A step-by-step guidance system, combining navigation instructions with visual cues, enables visitors to explore the site independently. It provides clear directions to each point of interest, ensuring a smooth, intuitive, and enjoyable visitor experienc
Studio:
Afin d’évaluer la satisfaction des visiteurs, il sera développé une plateforme simple et intuitive pour collecter les données d’utilisation de l’application :
Simple et intuitif, ce back-office collecte les données d’utilisation, entièrement anonymisées, et offre la capacité de comprendre et d’améliorer de manière proactive la satisfaction des visiteurs.
Concrètement, une fois le parcours de Venables en place, cette plateforme permettra :
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Le suivi des statistiques d’utilisation et retours d’utilisateurs (le nombre de lancements, la répartition des langues des utilisateurs, la durée moyenne d’utilisation de l’application, la note moyenne du parcours, le temps moyen passé sur chaque point de parcours, etc.).
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La mise à jour sélective et illimitée de l’ensemble des contenus et des langues.
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