Installing the Audiopen at the Musée Goya

The Musée Goya in Castres, home to one of the richest collections of Spanish works of art outside Spain, has enhanced its visitors' experience by installing Sycomore's Audiopen, an interactive device that offers total immersion in the museum's artistic world.

A collection unique in France

The story of the Musée Goya begins at the end of the 19th century, when the town of Castres saw its collection enriched with several works of Hispanic art thanks to the generous donation of the Briguiboul family. Marcel Briguiboul, his wife Valentine and their son Pierre gave nearly eighty pieces, including three remarkable paintings by Francisco de Goya: *Self-Portrait with Glasses*, *Portrait of Francisco del Mazo* and *The Junta of the Philippines*. These works were the starting point for the museum's transformation into an institution specialising in Spanish art.

Housed in a former 17th-century episcopal palace designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the celebrated architect of Versailles, the museum is itself an architectural work of art, displaying more than 200 paintings from the 15th to the 20th century.

An audio trail built in stages

The collaboration between Sycomore and the Musée Goya began even before the museum's major renovations, carried out between 2020 and 2023: a complete refurbishment of the building, redesign of the interior spaces and enlargement of the exhibition rooms.

Between 2017 and 2023, Sycomore worked on adapting and rewriting the commentaries for the spoken word for a selection of around 35 major works. This step-by-step process ensures that each work is placed in context in a clear and rigorous manner. The audio trail allows visitors to follow a guided route through the various rooms while discovering the history and details of each selected work.

The Audiopen: an innovative tool for an immersive visit

At the museum entrance, visitors receive an Audiopen along with a detailed visit map showing the various rooms and the major works to explore. Each point of interest on the map is associated with an encoded zone: simply pointing at it with the Audiopen automatically triggers the corresponding audio commentary.

An experience suited to every visitor

The audio commentaries are available in three languages — French, English and Spanish — allowing visitors from different backgrounds to enjoy the visit to the full. Specially adapted versions for children have also been developed, with educational and playful content that makes visiting the museum appealing for the whole family.

By combining historical content with an interactive experience, the installation of the Audiopen at the Musée Goya provides cultural interpretation that captures visitors' attention and makes Spanish art more accessible and understandable. A wonderful invitation to rediscover this essential venue and its masterpieces.