Inclusive tour: Easy-to-read and understand visitor brochure (Facile à lire et à comprendre) at Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France

Cité de la Mer is a science and maritime discovery centre located in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Normandy. Housed in a former transatlantic maritime station, it brings together exhibitions on the ocean, deep-sea exploration, passenger ships and submarines. The site includes aquariums, immersive exhibition spaces and the historic nuclear submarine Le Redoutable. It welcomes families, school groups, tourists and science enthusiasts.

Cité de la Mer identified a need to improve access to visit information and orientation for visitors who may have difficulties understanding standard museum communication. This includes people with intellectual disabilities, people with reading difficulties, neurodiverse visitors, and families with children.

Despite holding the Tourisme & Handicap label, internal reviews showed that written explanations of the visit path, visit options and immersive experiences could remain complex for some visitors.

The objectives were:

• To create an easy-to-read and understand visitor brochure (Facile à lire et à comprendre) in French
• To clarify the structure and options of a large and complex visit
• To reassure visitors before and during the visit, especially in immersive spaces

The brochure was designed as an orientation and reassurance tool.

The output is a multi-page easy-to-read and understand visitor brochure, written in French. It presents the identity of Cité de la Mer, the main exhibition spaces (Grande Galerie des Engins et des Hommes, Le Redoutable, L’Océan du Futur, Titanic, retour à Cherbourg, etc.), what visitors can see and do, and practical information.

The brochure follows the actual visit path and clearly distinguishes optional visits.

The brochure was written in French, using an easy-to-read and understand method (Facile à lire et à comprendre).

Editorial principles included:

• Short sentences and concrete vocabulary
• Explanation of complex terms such as sous-marin (submarine), paquebot (ocean liner), naufrage (shipwreck) and immersion (immersive experience)
• Reassuring formulations presenting choices clearly (for example vous pouvez choisir (you can choose), visite optionnelle (optional visit))
• Consistent terminology throughout

Particular attention was paid to explaining immersive and sensory experiences.

• Clear page structure and limited information per page
• Visual separation of main content and alerts
• Simplified maps and orientation cues

Layout adjustments were made during the process to improve readability.

Cité de la Mer already provided physical accessibility in many areas, a digital audio guide (Poisson-Pilote / “Pilot Fish”), and interactive exhibition elements. However, no global easy-to-read written guide covering the full visit existed.

Main difficulties included the size and complexity of the site, the explanation of immersive spaces, and clarification of visit duration with a single ticket.

Solutions included iterative rewriting, harmonisation of vocabulary, clarification of visit choices, and reorganisation of alerts and additional information.

To promote:

• Easy-to-read and understand tools as core orientation supports
• Clear explanation of visit choices and structure
• Simple language for technical and immersive content

To avoid:

• Assuming certifications alone ensure accessibility
• Overloading accessible content with detail

For Les Apprimeurs, this project confirmed that accessibility relies on clarity and anticipation as much as on physical access. The main challenge was the complexity of the site; the main benefit was creating a tool that helps visitors feel oriented and reassured.