The Fontinettes Boat Lift: An Immersive Visit Thanks to the S-Guide Automatic Headset

Located in Arques , in the north of France, the Fontinettes boat lift is a monument of industrial engineering that has marked the history of river transport since its commissioning in 1888. Today, this historic site, transformed into a museum, offers a new way to explore its past through an immersive visit accompanied by the S-Guide , an innovative audio guide developed by Sycomore . This completely hands-free headset guides visitors through a richly detailed sound experience, immersing them in the history of this unique boat lift, once a jewel of engineering.

The Fontinettes Boat Lift: A 19th Century Industrial Heritage

The Fontinettes lift , designed to facilitate the passage of boats between two water levels of the Neufossé Canal , was put into service in 1888. This monumental structure allowed boats to cross a difference in level of more than 13 meters in just a few minutes, a feat for the time. This innovative mechanism worked tirelessly until its replacement by a modern lock in 1967 .

This lift, now closed, represented a key milestone for river transport in France, facilitating trade between the industrial cities of the north and the rest of the country. Thanks to ingenious hydraulic systems, the ferries carried boats from one level to another, with impressive mechanical precision. This technical feat helped boost river trade for almost 80 years, before the rise of new technologies led to the commissioning of a more modern lock.

A Renovation for a Living Museum

After its closure in 1967 , the elevator was disused and left abandoned for several years. However, this monument of civil engineering has never ceased to fascinate. Recently, it has undergone a complete renovation , aimed at preserving this industrial heritage and turning it into a living museum .

The renovation work has brought this iconic site back to life and made it a place of memory and discovery. The transformation into a museum included the addition of an interpretation centre installed on board a barge, a unique immersion into the past of the lift. This barge, anchored in one of the old lift bins, serves as an educational platform to better understand the history and techniques of 19th century river engineering.

The interpretation centre also addresses broader themes such as the importance of river transport in the 19th century, the evolution of engineering techniques and the transition to modern infrastructures such as locks. This exploration is done in a fun way, through models, historical documents and video animations that make the subject accessible to all audiences.

The Sycomore S-Guide: A Fully Automatic Audioguide For An Immersive Visit

To enhance this exceptional visit, Sycomore ’s S-Guide was introduced. This hands-free headset audio guide accompanies visitors throughout their exploration of the site, offering them an immersive experience without requiring manual interaction. One of the most innovative aspects of the S-Guide is its automatic triggering , which is activated depending on where visitors are, allowing them to remain fully focused on their surroundings.

By offering a completely hands-free experience , it allows maximum accessibility , whether for the elderly, families with children or international visitors. With content available in three languages ​​(French, English and Dutch), Sycomore makes the history of the Ascenseur des Fontinettes accessible to a wide audience.

The S-Guide does more than provide factual information: it transports visitors back in time through sound effects and fictional testimonies that recreate the atmosphere of the elevator when it was in operation. Voices such as that of the elevator’s last guard and a boatwoman recounting her memories provide a lively and moving narrative, blending personal history with broad outlines of industrial development.

With the combination of audio technology and captivating narrative content, the S-Guide makes this tour an unforgettable immersive experience .

An Original and Educational Visit Experience

The Fontinettes Boat Lift tour with the S-Guide allows visitors to immerse themselves in a captivating journey through the industrial history of the 19th and 20th centuries. Thanks to fictional stories, realistic sound effects and innovative Sycomore technology , visitors discover the ingenuity of this historic monument in an immersive and interactive way. Completed by the interpretation center installed in a barge, this visit is an experience not to be missed for lovers of history and industrial heritage.

The renovated and reimagined Fontinettes Elevator embodies a successful fusion of history and technology , offering an unforgettable experience that enriches understanding of the past while captivating the present.