Discover the museums of Valais with the Audiopen audio guide: an interactive, immersive visit

For two years, visitors to the cantonal museums of Valais have been using the Audiopen audio guide, a playful, interactive visit tool: they point it at the booklet handed out or at the labels placed around the site to trigger the audio commentaries. On the production side, Sycomore handles the spoken-word adaptation of the visit trails.

The Audiopen: a solution suited to the museums of Valais

Designed and produced by Sycomore, the Audiopen gives access to detailed information about the works and objects on display: simply point it at the labels next to the works or at the booklet given out at the entrance. Its ease of use makes it suitable for all audiences, from the very young to seniors, and its intuitive interface does not disturb immersion in the exhibition. Everyone can thus discover the treasures of Valais at their own pace, with detailed, contextualised commentaries.

The Valais Art Museum: an enlightening trail

The Art Museum occupies the medieval castles of Vidomnat and La Majorie, which overlook the old town of Sion. From the 15th to the 18th century, these two buildings were at the heart of the episcopal complex, and La Majorie was for a long time the main residence of the Bishop of Valais.

Today the museum offers a permanent collection trail entitled "Regarder le paysage" (Looking at the Landscape), punctuated by works from renowned artists including Ritz, Biéler, Burnat-Provins, Vallet, Chavaz, Duarte, Carron and Reist. The Audiopen gives access to the commentated trail in three languages: French, German and English.

Among recent temporary exhibitions, the one devoted to the duo Lang/Baumann, presented in the Ancienne Chancellerie, was accompanied by a dedicated sound trail for young audiences: with the Audiopen, children discover a range of soundscapes across the different spaces, highlighting the importance of sound in the perception of the works.

The Valais History Museum: a journey through time

The History Museum dominates the town of Sion and stands beside the imposing Basilica of Valère. Its permanent collection bears witness to the richness of human activity in the heart of the Alps, from the earliest times to the present day. Some pieces, such as the Petit-Chasseur stelae and the Treasure room, are rare, even unique in the world.

To present this collection, the museum offers a trail entitled "stars of history": the museum's "star" objects are personified and introduce themselves to visitors in an original, light-hearted way. Four actors in each language (French, English and German) were selected by Sycomore's production department to embody these characters, in a humorous tone.

The Nature Museum: an exploration of natural environments

The Nature Museum holds collections of minerals, plants and taxidermied animals, presented in an original staging in which the natural environments of Valais serve as the backdrop. The trail evokes the relationships that humankind has woven with its environment and concludes with the Anthropocene, the new geological period characterised by the impact of human activity on the planet.

The Audiopen has accompanied numerous temporary exhibitions, such as the one on cicadas: labels arranged on a large educational table allowed visitors to listen to their different songs. Switzerland is in fact home to 10 species of cicada, 5 of which are found in Valais.

Audio content that enriches every trail

Whether educational, sensory or experiential, the audio content adds an extra immersive dimension to the visit. Carefully crafted by Sycomore, it blends commentaries, sound effects, vivid testimonies and captivating historical context — enough to turn every visit into an immersive and informative experience.