Saint-Nazaire, an emblematic port city on the Atlantic coast, is home to a rare jewel of French maritime history: the first submarine to have dived under the ice floe. This former French Navy building offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the interior of a submarine. This historic treasure, the only submarine afloat accessible to the public in France, allows you to literally dive into history and discover the daily life of the sailors who lived and worked in this confined and emotional space.

Visiting the Saint-Nazaire submarine is an adventure not to be missed, whether you are a history buff, a technology lover, or simply curious to discover the fascinating world of the sea depths. The visit, lasting approximately 45 minutes, requires reservation and includes the audio guide in the entrance fee. To guarantee a smooth and enriching experience, the route is organized in one direction of traffic, limiting the capacity to 60 people per visit. This organization makes it possible to maintain an intimate atmosphere and respect the narrow spaces of the submarine while avoiding any crowds.

The choice of soundguide automatic audio headphones: total immersion

To make this exploration even more captivating, the city of Saint-Nazaire has made the wise choice of the Soundguide, an automatic audio headset designed to offer complete sound immersion. This device not only broadcasts traditional audio commentary, it envelops the visitor in an authentic soundscape which recreates the atmosphere of the submarine in action. Thanks to the Soundguide, visitors can hear the sounds of the machines, the conversations of the sailors, and even the lapping of the water against the hull of the submarine, as if they were there.

The Soundguide was specially chosen for its adaptation to the unique constraints of a submarine tour. Designed to be worn hands-free, it allows visitors to move easily through the cramped spaces of the submarine, where it is sometimes necessary to hold on to move from one compartment to another. In addition, the infrared technology integrated into the headset ensures automatic and precise triggering of comments as soon as the visitor approaches a point of interest. This synchronized system helps guide visitors through the history of the submarine without having to manipulate the device, providing an immersive and distraction-free experience.

This headset is available in nine languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian and Polish, making the experience accessible to a wide international audience. The audio-guided tours are suitable for adults and children, offering different content depending on the age and interests of visitors.

Technical installation of the inspection system: a challenge met with ingenuity

Installing the audio-guided tour system in the Saint-Nazaire submarine represented a major technical challenge, but the teams in charge of the project were able to demonstrate ingenuity to guarantee optimal sound immersion. The submarine, with its complex structure and restricted spaces, required a suitable solution to ensure perfect sound coverage and precise triggering of commentary at each point of the route.

Infrared technology, used to synchronize audio commentary with visitors’ progress, was a strategic choice for this installation. However, due to the unique configuration of the submarine, installing the infrared emitters required careful planning. The transmitters had to be positioned in strategic locations around the ship to ensure flawless signal transmission. To do this, the technicians used a boat to place the infrared emitters in the right place all around the submarine, thus ensuring high-quality sound immersion for each visitor, regardless of their location on board.

This careful installation maintains the magic of the visit while providing a fluid and coherent experience. The automatic comment trigger mode helps regulate visitor flow in a natural way, while ensuring that each visitor receives information exactly when they need it. This approach not only ensures total immersion in the history of the submarine, but it also makes it possible to effectively manage the limited number of visitors allowed on board, without compromising the quality of the experience.

An unforgettable exploration

Visiting the Saint-Nazaire submarine is much more than a simple historical exploration; it’s a sensory dive into the world of sailors of yesteryear. Thanks to the Soundguide, each visitor can fully immerse themselves in the history and daily life aboard this iconic building. This headset, with its automatic triggering and hands-free design, is perfectly suited to the demands of a submarine tour, providing an enriching and effortless experience.

The care taken in installing the tour system, with the ingenious use of infrared technology, guarantees high-quality sound immersion throughout the route. Whether you are passionate about maritime history, a fan of new technologies, or simply curious to discover a treasure of the French Navy, a visit to the Saint-Nazaire submarine promises you an unforgettable adventure, rich in discoveries and emotions. Book your visit now and get ready to embark on a unique journey through time and oceans.