Royal Military Museum

Car park

• Parking is available on the forecourt, subject to the museum’s permission. We recommend that you contact the museum in advance to help you plan your visit.

• You can drop someone off near the entrance.

Access road from the car park

• All passageways are sufficiently wide.

Entrance

• The building is easily identifiable.

• Wheelchair access is available via an alternative entrance near the main entrance. You must ring the bell for staff to come and open the door.

Reception

• The payment system is easy to use.

• The space in front of the counter is sufficiently large, and the counter is at a suitable height.

Horizontal movement

• The floor is level and free of obstacles.

• All passageways are sufficiently wide.

Vertical movement

• Access from the historical hall to the 14/18 and 40/45 rooms is provided by a lift platform.

Adapted toilet

• We recommend using the toilets near the aircraft hall rather than those near the 14/18 room. The toilet is equipped with two grab rails.

• The toilets are easy to find.

• There is an accessible washbasin in the accessible toilet.

Exhibition

• Most of the exhibition content is accessible and visible.

• Most of the equipment, such as display stands and interactive terminals, is accessible and usable.

Restaurant

• Staff are on hand to help visitors get seated, choose their food, serve themselves and pay…

• All tables allow for comfortable positioning in a wheelchair.

• The aisles are sufficiently wide.

Car park

• The surface of the parking space is unsuitable.

• There is a car park near the entrance to the Royal Museum of Art and History, but it is a long way to walk.

Access road from the car park

• The ground is uneven.

Entrance

• The alternative entrance is difficult to find.

• To reach the doorbell, there is an 8 cm step to negotiate. The doorbell is high up.

• Staff cannot see people arriving.

• Once the alternative door is open, there is a 5-metre slope with an 8.6% gradient to negotiate to reach the aircraft hall. You must go to reception to start your visit.

Horizontal movement

• The museum is largely accessible, except for: the mezzanine in the aircraft hall, the armour room and the section on the theme of Napoleon located in the arcades.

• Once inside via the aircraft hall entrance, there is a steep slope of up to 11.5%.

• To access the exhibition rooms, you must pass through a security gate; the clear passage is narrow. You will need to manoeuvre in a zigzag pattern.

• Access to the armoured vehicles room is possible via a concrete platform. However, to get closer to the vehicles, the floor surface is gravel.

• Throughout the museum, there are numerous ramps, with gradients of up to 12%.

Vertical movement

• To access the floors of the 1940–45 exhibition, you must ask a member of staff to operate the lift. You will find a telephone number to call near the stairs : 02 737 78 33. This lift was out of order during our visit, so we were unable to check its dimensions.

• Another lift is available for staff in the event that the main lift is out of order. This lift has sufficient space to accommodate wheelchair users, but does not provide access to all floors.

Exhibition

• Some ‘role-play’ installations (boarding a plane, entering a bunker, etc.) are not accessible due to insufficient clear passage or the presence of steps.

Shop

• In the shop, the clear passage is sometimes reduced to 70 cm.

Car park

• Parking is available on the forecourt, subject to the museum’s permission. We recommend that you contact the museum in advance to help you plan your visit.

• It is possible to drop someone off near the entrance.

Access road from the car park

• All walkways are sufficiently wide.

• There are a few steps to negotiate, fitted with handrails.

Entrance

• The building and the entrance are easily identifiable.

• The main entrance is accessible.

Reception

• Seats are available near the reception.

• Wheelchairs are available.

Horizontal movement

• Movement is easy almost everywhere.

• The floor is level and free of obstacles.

• All passageways are sufficiently wide.

Vertical movement

• To reach the viewing area in the arcades, the stairs are fitted with handrails on both sides.

Adapted toilet

• We recommend using the toilets near Room 14/18 rather than those near the aircraft hall. The toilet has been made accessible and is fitted with two fold-down grab rails.

• There is a washbasin in the accessible toilet.

Exhibition

• The entire exhibition is accessible.

• There are seats in every area of the exhibition.

Restaurant

• Staff are available to help visitors sit down at a table, choose their meal, serve themselves, pay, etc.

• The aisles are wide enough.

• There are no steps to negotiate.

Car park

• There is a car park near the entrance to the Royal Museum of Art and History, but it is more than 100 metres away.

• A drop-off point is available on the forecourt immediately adjacent to the main entrance (subject to prior request to the museum).

Entrance

• There are more than three steps at the entrance.

• Staff cannot see people arriving.

Horizontal movement

• In the horizontal circulation areas of the 40/45 exhibition, there are numerous ramps without handrails. The gradients are up to 12%.

Vertical movement

• Movement between floors is mainly via stairs.

• To access the floors of the 40/45 exhibition, it is possible to take the lift. You will need to ask a member of staff for assistance. You will find a telephone number to contact near the stairs (02 737 78 33). 

• This lift was out of order during our visit, so we were unable to check its dimensions. Another lift is available in case the main lift is out of order.

• On the panorama terrace, there are 3 steps without handrails.

Shop

• In the shop, the clear passage is sometimes reduced to 70 cm.

Note : In our analysis, we assume that blind visitors are accompanied during their visit to the museum.

Guide dogs

• Assistance dogs are permitted.

Reception

• The reception is located opposite the entrance.

• The reception is in a quiet area.

Restaurant

• Staff are on hand to help visitors sit down at a table, choose their food, serve themselves, pay, etc.

Entrance

• Staff cannot see people arriving from outside and are unable to offer assistance.

Horizontal movement

• There are no guide lines in the wide walkways.

• In places, the walkway has a clearance height of less than 2 m.

• Some exhibition furniture/exhibits cannot be detected with a white cane.

• There are protruding objects in the walkway (cannon, shell, etc.).

Vertical movement

• In the arcades (Napoleon area), there are unsecured staircases.

• The handrails do not extend beyond the ends of the staircases (except for the arcade staircase).

• The mezzanine in the aircraft hall has a walkway bordering a 50 cm unsecured step. Some staircases are not fitted with handrails. There is a significant risk of falling.

• In the 40/45 exhibition, there are numerous sloping surfaces ; these are not fitted with handrails.

Exhibition

• No adapted tour is available.

• The exhibition is not adapted as the content is mainly visual.

• No adapted educational materials are available.

• There is no audio description.

• It is not possible to touch the objects.

Entrance

• The entrance is easy to spot.

Reception

• The reception is located opposite the entrance.

• The reception is in a quiet area.

• Visual information is accompanied by a voice announcement.

Restaurant

• Staff are on hand to help guests find a table, choose from the menu, serve themselves, pay, etc.

Entrance

• Staff cannot see people arriving from outside and are unable to offer assistance.

Reception

• There is no designated member of staff to welcome and assist people with specific needs.

Horizontal movement

• Some glass walls along the route are not marked with contrasting colours.

• There are no contrasting coloured guide lines to aid movement.

• Some objects protrude into the walkway (cannon, shells, etc.).

• Some exhibition furniture/displayed objects cannot be detected by a white cane.

Vertical movement

• Lighting is insufficient on the staircases.

• The stair treads lack contrast.

• Floor numbers are not clearly indicated on each landing.

• In the arcades (Napoleon area), there are a few unsecured steps (no handrails). The handrails do not extend to the ends of the staircases (except for the staircase leading to the arcades).

• The mezzanine in the aircraft hall has a circulation area bordering a 50 cm unsecured step. Some staircases are not fitted with handrails. There is a significant risk of falling.

• In the 40/45 exhibition, there are numerous sloping surfaces ; these are not fitted with handrails.

Exhibition

• No adapted tour is provided.

• The written explanations are difficult to read.

• There is no visitor guide in large print.

• Most of the works are displayed in glass cases.

• It is not possible to touch the objects.

• The lighting varies depending on the layout of the rooms.

• The rooms on Napoleon and 40/45 (first floor) are dimly lit.

Entrance

• The building and the entrance are easy to find.

• Opening hours are displayed near the door.

Reception

• The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.

• The reception area is open, well-lit and allows for lip-reading.

• The venue can be contacted by email.

• Prices are displayed at reception.

Wi-Fi

• It is possible to connect to mobile networks, 4G or 5G.

• Wi-Fi is available.

Toilets

• The toilets are easy to find.

• It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.

Exhibition

• The exhibition content is mainly visual.

Reception

• No information is available in sign language, and there are no staff members who use sign language.

Exhibition

• There are no guided tours organised in sign language.

• There are no easy-to-read materials.

• Poorly lit areas make lip-reading difficult.

Entrance

• The building and the entrance are easy to find.

• Opening hours are displayed near the door.

Reception

• The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.

• The reception is quiet, open, well-lit and allows for lip-reading.

• The venue can be contacted by email.

• Prices are displayed at reception.

Toilets

• It is possible to see whether a toilet is occupied or free.

Exhibition

• The environment is quiet.

• The exhibition content is mainly visual.

• Written explanations are available.

Restaurant

• There is sufficient lighting to allow for lip-reading.

Reception

• Depending on how busy it is, the reception area can be quite noisy.

• There is no BIM (magnetic induction loop).

Vertical movement

• It is difficult to tell which floor you are on.

Exhibition

• There are no easy-to-read displays.

• Poorly lit areas make lip-reading difficult.

Restaurant

• Depending on how busy it is, it can be very noisy.

Entrance

• The building and the entrance are easy to find.

• Opening hours are displayed near the door.

Reception

• The reception is easy to find and close to the entrance.

• The reception area is quiet.

• Cash payments (coins and notes) are accepted.

Vertical movement

• The stairs are fitted with at least one safety handrail.

Toilets

• The toilets are easy to find.

Exhibition

• The exhibition content is mainly visual : displays illustrate the themes, and uniforms are on show.

• There are interactive terminals.

Restaurant

• Staff are on hand to help visitors find a table, choose from the menu, serve themselves and pay…

• The venue is well lit.

• Cash payments (coins and notes) are accepted.

Entrance

• Staff cannot see people arriving from outside.

Reception

• It can sometimes be very noisy at reception.

Vertical movement

• It is difficult to tell which floor you are on.

• The stair treads lack sufficient contrast.

• The mezzanine in the aircraft hall has a walkway bordering a 50 cm unsecured step. Some staircases are not fitted with handrails. There is a significant risk of falling.

Exhibition

• There are no adapted guided tours organised.

• A significant part of the exhibition is presented in a conventional manner.

• There are no easy-to-read displays.

• Part of the exhibition is in the dark.

• The museum focuses on the themes of war and the military. There may be disturbing photographs, and numerous weapons are on display. Furthermore, to help visitors experience the atmosphere of these battles, sounds are played in certain areas of the museum (explosions, gunfire, screams, etc.).

Restaurant

• The menus and food lists are presented in the traditional way.