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Observatoire Centre Ardenne

The Observatoire Centre Ardenne is a public astronomical observatory located in Grapfontaine in Belgium, in the Province of Luxembourg. The only public, generalist and permanent observatory in Wallonia, it has 6 domes, one of which is suitable for PRM, and one of the most powerful telescopes in Belgium.
 
The association organises numerous discovery, training and management activities open to all in the French and German-speaking regions of the country and on the coast. Thousands of members participate and commit themselves in more than 60 sections to constantly renew this movement of permanent education.

The Observatory does not organise guided tours for people with comprehension difficulties or sensory disabilities.

The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with many visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme. Some of the rooms are dark so that the stars or the phosphorescent supports can be seen.

Visits to the observatory are generally made in groups and by reservation, by e-mail or telephone or via the website.

Strong points

Staff
  • There is staff available to direct and guide.
Safety
  • The structure of the location is simple and makes it possible to find the way and orient oneself easily.
Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

The site has 2 reserved parking spaces inside the site. They are in the immediate vicinity of the various entrances.

The various rooms are accessible either from the inside or the outside. The outside walkways are asphalted and allow good circulation on the site.

All doors have level access.

For the PRM dome, there is a vertical platform lift allowing a person in an electric wheelchair to view the sky from the device. The platform is accessible via a mobile (wide) ramp to compensate for a small step. The person is accompanied on the platform with the guide and has the explanation like everyone else.

The rooms are spacious and the furniture is movable.

The only toilet on the site is adapted for PRM. The door handle of the toilet does not have an access of at least 50 cm. Assistance may be required. The toilet is equipped with grab bars. The washbasin has a sufficient but slightly offset turning area.

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 100 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the car park
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The passage width of the door measures at least 85 cm.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is accessible.
  • The passage width of the doors measures at least 85 cm.
Horizontal circulation
  • The steps can be bypassed by a well-indicated alternative pathway.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • The passage width of the doors measures at least 85 cm.
Adapted sanitary
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
  • An adapted toilet is available, well signalled and easy to use.
  • There is an accessible sink outside of the adapted toilet.
  • The sink is accessible and it is easy to use.
  • The passage width of the door measures at least 85 cm.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible and visible.
  • The passage width of the doors measures at least 85 cm.
  • Some tables allow a correct positioning in a wheelchair.
Dining room
  • All the tables allow a correct positioning in a wheelchair.
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.
  • Service is provided at the table by the staff.
Theater/Cinema
  • All the theatres have reserved spaces that offer a good visual comfort.

The site has 2 reserved parking spaces inside the site. They are in the immediate vicinity of the various entrances.

The various rooms are accessible either from the inside or the outside. The outside walkways are asphalted and allow good circulation on the site.

All doors have level access.

The rooms are spacious and the furniture is movable. Seating is provided in all rooms.

The only toilet on the site is adapted for PRM. The door handle of the toilet does not have an access of at least 50 cm. Assistance can be requested. The toilet is equipped with grab bars. The sink is present but outside the toilet.

Strong points

Parking
  • There is at least 1 reserved parking space less than 50 metres from the entrance.
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Access road from the car park
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Access road from the street
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is accessible.
  • There is no step in the entrance.
  • The passage width of the doors measures at least 85 cm.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • The steps can be bypassed by a well-indicated alternative pathway.
  • Circulation is easy everywhere.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
Exposition
  • All the content of the exhibition is accessible.
  • There are seats in every space of the exhibition.
Dining room
  • The width of circulations is sufficient.
  • Service is provided at the table by the staff.
  • There is no step to negotiate.

There are no adapted guided tours. The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with a lot of visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme.

Visits to the observatory are generally for groups and by reservation, by email or telephone or via the website.

The interior circulation is simple and only on the ground floor. Seating is available in all rooms.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Access road from the street
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Dining room
  • The service is at the table.

Points of attention

Access road from the car park
  • There are no guide-lines in the large pathways.
Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is at least one non-secured step in the logical pathway.
Exposition
  • No adapted tours are planned.
  • The exhibition is not adapted, since the content is mainly visual.

There are no adapted guided tours. The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with a lot of visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme. Some of the rooms are dark so that the stars or the phosphorescent supports can be seen.

Visits to the observatory are generally for groups and by reservation, by email or telephone or via the website.

The interior circulation is simple and only on the ground floor. Seating is available in all rooms.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • There are no obstacles.
Access road from the street
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Entrance
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Dining room
  • The service is at the table.

Points of attention

Access road from the car park
  • There are no natural or artificial guide-lines.
Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are no guide-lines in contrasting colour facilitating circulation.
Exposition
  • There is no visitor guide in large characters.
  • No adapted tours are planned.

There are no adapted guided tours. The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with a lot of visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme. Some of the rooms are dark so that the stars or the phosphorescent supports can be seen.

Visits to the observatory are generally for groups and by reservation, by email or telephone or via the website.

The interior circulation is simple and only on the ground floor.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.
Dining room
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult.
Exposition
  • There are no organised guided tours in sign language.
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult.
  • There is no adapted fire alarm system (light or vibration).
Dining room
  • There is no round or oval table for X persons.

There are no adapted guided tours. The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with a lot of visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme. Some of the rooms are dark so that the stars or the phosphorescent supports can be seen.

Visits to the observatory are generally for groups and by reservation, by email or telephone or via the website.

The interior circulation is simple and only on the ground floor.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
Dining room
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Magnetic induction loop
  • There is no mobile induction loop.
Light
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .
Exposition
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .
Theater/Cinema
  • There is no mobile induction loop available.
  • The lighting is not sufficient during the arrival et exit.

There are no adapted guided tours. The presentation of the exhibition is classical but with a lot of visual aids. There is always a guide who explains the theme. Some of the rooms are dark so that the stars or the phosphorescent supports can be seen.

Visits to the observatory are generally made in groups and by reservation, by e-mail or telephone or via the website.

The interior circulation is simple and only on the ground floor. Seating is available in all rooms.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.

Points of attention

Horizontal circulation
  • There are parts of the location that are dark.
Exposition
  • No adapted guided visits are organised.
  • A part of the exhibition is in the dark.
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