A tourist circuit adapted for people with disabilities

There was already the Little Steps walk: a pedestrian circuit exploring the city center of Marche and its hidden corners. Today, another walk has been added, named PAZAPA: a more accessible version of its big sister, the Little Steps. This initiative comes from the Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities (CCPH), which aimed to respond to a call for projects from the Walloon Region regarding the accessibility of tourist sites and accommodations. The goal was to enhance our intra-muros tourist circuit and open it up to new visitors. This project is also funded by the City.

The Pazapa walk benefits from the Access-i label, which objectively and reliably qualifies the level of accessibility. The circuit is adapted for various disabilities.

For whom? Accessibility level:

• visually impaired: green
• deaf: green
• hard of hearing: green
• mobility impaired: orange (assistance needed);
• blind: orange (assistance needed);
• comprehension difficulties: orange (assistance needed);
• wheelchair users: white (not adapted due to cobblestones, slopes…).

Seventeen points of interest (artistic, historical…) have been included, starting from the Tourist Office.

A smartphone and tablet application (Pazapa) has been specially designed with adapted content (audio description, sign language, and easy-to-read formats) to navigate from one point to another. Starting from your home or at the Famenne Ardenne Ourthe & Lesse Tourist Office, it is available for free download via App and Play Store. Directional and safety information is also provided through the application. To facilitate movement, markers and signposts line the path, such as tactile paving, yellow posts, paving stones with the walk's symbol, and the point of interest number…

The 8 tablets equipped with headphones and straps must be reserved in advance at the Famenne Ardenne Ourthe & Lesse Tourist Office – Place de l'étang, 15 – 6900 MARCHE – 084/34.53.27 – info@famenneardenne.be

The Advisory Council and the City services have been supported in this wonderful adventure by Plain-Pied, a study office specialized in accessibility for persons with reduced mobility, which conducted an audit.