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Ruines de l'Abbaye de Villers-la-Ville

Discover Villers Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey which was founded in 1146 and abandoned in 1796... Most of the site is now a remarkably well-preserved ruin...

Almost 900 years of history in a green setting in the heart of Walloon Brabant.

Owned by the Belgian State, the ruins are part of the Walloon Region's exceptional heritage.

For more information on the new Visitor Centre, please consult : www.access-i.be/places.php?p=762

The full tour includes exhibition rooms in the Visitor Centre building, an outdoor trail with a timeline and orientation tables, a panoramic viewpoint over the entire site and, of course, the Ruins.

(DeepL Translation)

Strong points

Staff
  • An reference person is available upon prior request.
  • The staff has received training for the reception of persons with special needs.
Safety
  • A map of the location is distributed at the reception.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
Home
  • The payment device is easy to use.
  • The free space in front of the counter is sufficiently big.
  • The counter is at the correct height.
Horizontal circulation
  • The steps can be bypassed by a well-indicated alternative pathway.
  • The floor is hard.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • The ramp is secured on the void side.
  • A specific map indicating the accessible pathways and equipment is available.
Vertical circulation
  • A sufficiently large lift serves all the floors open to the public.
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 in the adapted toilet.
Exposition
  • The majority of the content of the exhibition is accessible and visible.
  • The majority of the equipment such as tablets or interactive terminals is accessible and can be used.

Points of attention

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces are not properly adapted.
Access road from the car park
  • The access path has a significant super-elevation.
  • There is at least one ramp that is difficult to negotiate.
Entrance
  • There is no doorbell at the entrance and the staff does not see the persons wanting to enter.
  • Help is needed to open the door.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is accessible.
Horizontal circulation
  • There is no step to negotiate.
  • There are a few steps, equipped with a handrail, to negotiate.
  • The steps can be bypassed by a well-indicated alternative pathway.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are equipped with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a lift.
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
  • The ramp is equipped with a handrail on both sides.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
  • There is a sink in the adapted toilet.
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
Exposition
  • The majority of the content of the exhibition is accessible.

Points of attention

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces are located further than 100 metres from the entrance.
  • The reserved parking spaces are too small.
  • The reserved parking spaces have a slope.
Access road from the car park
  • There are no seats along the pathway.
  • The access path has a significant super-elevation.
  • There is at least one very long ramp.
Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive.
  • Help is needed to open the door.
Home
  • There are no seats near the reception.
  • The location is complex and the signage is insufficient for orientation.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are not enough seats along the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.
  • There is at least one ramp that is difficult to negotiate.
Exposition
  • There are not enough seats.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • Guide-lines facilitate circulation.
Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Home
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
  • The reception has no glass partition.
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
  • The staircases have at least one handrail.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.
  • A significant part of the exhibition content is adapted (touch, smell, hearing).

Points of attention

Horizontal circulation
  • There are no guide-lines in the large pathways.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.

Strong points

Access road from the car park
  • Natural or artificial guide-lines facilitate circulation.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Home
  • The reception is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
  • The reception is in a quiet environment.
Horizontal circulation
  • Circulation is free from obstacles.
  • The contrast between the floor and the walls facilitates circulation.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors.
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided tours are organised upon reservation.

Points of attention

Entrance
  • The staff does not see the persons who arrive and can‘t offer assistance.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.
Exposition
  • The written explanations are hard to read.
  • There is no visitor guide in large characters.
  • An audio-guide is available, but does not adapt itself automatically to the visitor‘s progress.
  • The lighting is not sufficient.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
  • The rates are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
  • The institution can be contacted by fax.
  • The institution can be contacted by email.
  • The rates are displayed in the reception.
  • The premises are easy to understand.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a visual display of the floors in the lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.

Points of attention

Home
  • There is no staff member practicing sign language.
Wireless
  • Connecting to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G, is problematic at the location.
  • Wi-Fi is available only in the reception.
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.
  • The signage is insufficient for orientation.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The opening hours are displayed next to the door.
  • The rates are displayed next to the door.
Home
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a visual display of the floors in the lift.
Adapted sanitary
  • It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.
Exposition
  • The environment is calm.
  • The displayed content is mainly visual.

Points of attention

Home
  • The is no mobile number under which to contact the institution.
Exposition
  • Badly lit areas make lip reading difficult .
  • The signage is insufficient for orientation.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
Home
  • The reception is calm.
  • The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
Horizontal circulation
  • The location is calm.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.
Exposition
  • Adapted guided visits can be reserved by going directly to the reception.
  • The adapted guided visits can be reserved by phone.
  • A significant part of the exhibition is varied (touch, smell, sight, hearing).
  • The location is calm.

Points of attention

Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secure.
Exposition
  • There is no easy to read support.
  • The signage is insufficient for orientation.
Access-i vous informe sur l'accessibilité de ce lieu, de par les données relevées sur place, à un instant T. Les modifications éventuelles après la visite d'Access-i relèvent de la responsabilité du gestionnaire.