Create Your Treasure Hunt for European Heritage Days

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

1. Clarify your goal: raise awareness? entertain? highlight an overlooked site?
2. 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.
3. 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

1. Sign up (5 free teams included when you create an account).
2. Create a new game and enter the title (e.g., The Legend of Angers’ Builders).
3. Add your stops: geolocate, insert text, photos, audio, video or PDF documents.
4. Write your riddles directly in the editor. Test each stop in real time on your smartphone.
5. Customise the visual identity: icons, colours matching your brand or the territory’s palette.
6. 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://www.cal.eu/simon-boisset/questovery-demo

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!