Château de Villers-Cotterêts

In the heart of Villers-Cotterêts, France, stands the historic Château de Villers-Cotterêts – an iconic symbol of French Renaissance architecture where King Francis I signed an ordinance that made the French language compulsory for all official documents. In 2024, Cité Internationale de la Langue Française was finally inaugurated, with the help of ETC Audiovisuel, which undertook the monumental AV integration project assisted by more than a dozen Digital Projection laser projectors.

Collaborating closely with architecture studio Projectiles and digital scenographer Lundi8 (from parent creative agency Artisans d’idées), the project transformed the restored museum experience through seamless integration of the latest AV technologies while preserving the château’s architectural integrity.

The project consisted of more than 60 audiovisual areas using nearly 80 screens and 25 video projectors, including 15 Digital Projection E-Vision Laser 11000 4K-UHD and E-Vision 7500 laser projectors, with ten of ETC Audiovisuel’s media servers, Onlyview, handling the necessary warping and blending.

Encompassing a 1,200sqm exhibition area and 15 rooms divided into three sections, the museum welcomes visitors with the Un château, un territoire (“a castle, a territory”) room, which reveals the castle’s history and architecture using a large chronological fresco, a tactile model and projection. Further along the exhibition, in the une langue monde (a global language) section, the la langue dans tous ses états (language in a state) exhibit takes visitors on a trip around the world. Three ceiling-mounted Digital Projection E-Vision Laser 4K UHD laser projectors provide content for, respectively, two 3.9m ×3m projection areas (‘Love’ and ‘Revolt’) – each hosting four ceiling-hung and wall-mounted projection screens – and a third area (‘Laughs’) which hosts six more projection screens.

The exhibit culminates in the Sacristy Room, where four E-Vision Laser 4K-UHD projectors create a 24m x 3.3m 360˚ view, showcasing the evolution of words to the French language, the projectors hung from the ceiling on each side of the room, surround visitors in an immersive experience, providing them with an engaging epilogue.

The restoration of the Château de Villers-Cotterêts presented a vast challenge, both in terms of scale and significance. With a rich history dating back centuries, the castle provided an ideal setting for the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française. However, years of neglect meant that it required extensive restoration efforts.

One of the primary challenges was installing the projectors in a way that maintained the building’s integrity while delivering an immersive and visually stunning experience. Given the château’s status as a protected heritage site, ETC Audiovisuel had to carefully plan every installation to ensure that no permanent modifications were made to the structure. This meant designing custom mounting solutions that allowed projectors to be discreetly positioned without interfering with the aesthetics.

Another challenge was ensuring complete AV equipment concealment while maintaining optimal performance. This was achieved by using ultra-short-throw lenses and carefully integrating projection surfaces into the existing architecture.

Additionally, the tight installation timeline required a 24-hour work schedule with dual teams working in shifts to meet the project’s deadline before the opening.

The installation transformed the museum by blending digital storytelling with a deeply historic venue. The combination of Digital Projection’s laser projectors and ETC Audiovisuel’s expertise, the integrator ensured a truly visually stunning and educational experience. From the initial tests to final installation, every aspect was carefully orchestrated to preserve the château’s architectural and historical integrity while inspiring the visitor to learn more about the French language.

The Cité Internationale de la Langue Française is a testament to how AV can preserve cultural heritage while making it engaging and easy-to-understand for modern audiences. This is why the project deserves recognition for innovation, technical excellence as well as its cultural significance.