A practical guide for cultural institutions and local authorities
Why a treasure hunt energises your Heritage Days
Every September, the European Heritage Days (EHD) draw eager crowds. Competition is fierce—museums, castles, archives and tourist offices all vie for attention.
A geolocalised treasure hunt adds a playful, participatory layer to your programme: visitors shift from passive observers to active explorers. The result? Deeper engagement, spontaneous word-of-mouth, and audiences who return, captivated by a one-of-a-kind experience.
“We wanted to reach families and young adults; the treasure hunt bridged the generation gap.” – Heritage Service, mid-sized town in the Loire Valley
Step 1: (Re)define your heritage storyline
- Clarify your goal: raise awareness? entertain? highlight an overlooked site?
- Map your points of interest: listed monuments, picturesque lanes, public artworks, local anecdotes. Think broadly: an old wine press in Provence or a grain hall in Alsace can become captivating spots.
- Choose a common thread: historical figure, local legend, theme (architecture, gastronomy, gardens…). Strong storytelling turns each stop into a living chapter.
Step 2: Craft riddles everyone will enjoy
- Vary the formats: visual multiple-choice, image puzzle, audio quiz, mini photo challenge.
- Keep the pace fluid: alternate easy clues with trickier tasks to sustain motivation.
- Engage the five senses: have participants smell a Bordeaux wine aroma or listen to a historic organ in the Dordogne.
- Build in inclusivity: pictograms, high-contrast visuals, audio playback for remote audiences.
Step 3: Put your route online with Questovery
- Sign up (5 free teams included when you create an account).
- Create a new game and enter the title (e.g., The Legend of Angers’ Builders).
- Add your stops: geolocate, insert text, photos, audio, video or PDF documents.
- Write your riddles directly in the editor. Test each stop in real time on your smartphone.
- Customise the visual identity: icons, colours matching your brand or the territory’s palette.
- Publish and share: a QR code and public link are generated. Display them on your EHD materials.
💡 Tip: activate the timer to spark friendly competition among family teams.
Step 4: Mobilise and communicate
- Before the event: teasers on social media, newsletters, outreach to schools and tourist offices.
- On-site: info panels, welcome host, symbolic prizes for the top three teams.
- Afterwards: share best scores, photos or anecdotes gathered during the hunt. This digital trail helps build momentum for next year’s edition.
Step 5: Measure, learn, sustain
With the Questovery dashboard you can track:
- Number of teams registered and completing the route.
- Average time per stop: spot sequences that are too easy or too tough.
- In-app comments: suggestions, highlights, accessibility needs.
These qualitative insights let you tweak the scenario or plan new themes for winter or the next EHD.
Questovery: a discreet yet powerful partner
Designed for local authorities, museums and event agencies, Questovery streamlines treasure-hunt creation with no technical skills required: everything happens in your browser. Visitors install nothing—just a smartphone and they’re off!
- Time-saving: drag-and-drop interface.
- Flexibility: public or private routes, date limits, team or solo modes.
- Content valorisation: repurpose your photo archives, heritage fact sheets, or audio guides.
Take action today
👉 Ready to transform your European Heritage Days? Book a personalised demo here: https://zcal.co/simon-boisset/questovery
Remember: registration includes 5 free teams to test your first route in real-life conditions. Get started—your visitors can’t wait to (re)discover their heritage through fresh eyes!