Pays de Montfort: Promoting the medieval city of Montfort-sur-Meu

The Region

The Pays de Montfort is an administrative association of municipalities (Communauté de Communes), situated in the heart of the French region of Brittany, including 8 communes and is home to 20 000 inhabitants. The area has a variety of natural and historical places of interest, among which the medieval city of Montfort-sur-Meu, built in the 11th century.
The Tourist Office of the Pays de Montfort was created in 2006 to promote the development of tourist services in the area and its many sites of interest.

The Challenge

The mediaeval city of Montfort-sur-Meu has a significant historical value and touristic interest. Nevertheless, tourists were struggling to visit the place since its historical heritage is not always easy to reach or to recognise. Moreover, guided tours of the city were mainly offered to groups of tourists, while individuals or families could not always afford a professional guide.

The Satellite Solution

Tourists can rent a mobile device, equipped with GPS and a touch screen, which guides them along the touristic itinerary developed by the Tourist Office. The device allows users to enjoy a one-hour itinerary around the medieval battlements of Montfort-sur-Meu.
As visitors make their way along the ancient ramparts of the medieval city, the palm device provides details and interesting information in real time. Clips, quizzes, archive images and recorded texts are automatically programmed to appear at specific points, enabling the visitor to visualise the town during the Middle Ages and to engage in interactive games, such as treasure hunts, guided by GPS . The same contents are available through a mobile app that can be downloaded for free both from Google Play and the App Store.

The Results

Tourists appreciate the application which allows them to visit the medieval city of Montfort-sur-Meu in complete autonomy, choosing their timing and itinerary, with no need to contract a tourist guide to access complete and in-depth information.
The satnav solution, financed by the Communauté de Communes and by the Regional Council of Haute Bretagne, has proven so successful that by 2010 it was implemented in 40 other municipalities. The interactive guided tours of the Pays de Montfort have been
awarded the trophy in the category “Communication supports” of the Haute Bretagne Tourism Awards of 2010.

“Satellite technology allowed us to inform the public about the city’s history and to develop innovative ways to visit it. Visitors’ satisfaction encourages us to develop other animations and itineraries.” Florian Villain, Tourist Office of the Pays de Montfort