Wonder how many get returned...

they likely require you to leave a photo id and credit card at the main desk (well, that's what i would do). that way they can identify you, and, if need be, charge someone for any lost or damaged devices.

all in all, though, this is a cool idea. especially the multi-language part.

::runs::

correct spelling

Funny how they actually promote the iPod at the museum as a reason for going there ! « Come see our castle cause we have the iPod tour !!! » as opposed to it just being a tool they happen to find useful. I've never seen a product with this kind of ravenous, sustained publicity. It is by the way, a perfect tool for the museum cause you can put all those languages on there. I remember a « Treasures of the Tsars » Russian tour when there were sony walkmans and all these different tapes. There must have been a small economy just based on the sales of batteries.

This is excellent news for Apple. If you go the the chenonceau web site (which is pretty cool by the way) you'll learn that important persons (ministers, scientific...) will be the first to use the iPod.
This is good for Apple in France. Apple's got to attack the french market seriously.
Tokyo museum is using the iPod now. Do you know how many museum there is just in Paris?

An option to load the audio program onto your own iPod would be nice too.

...walking through a museum exhibit in Houston years ago that used Newtons with headphones. You pushed a button on the screen when you got to each display. They worked very well.

Chenonceau is, in my opinion, the best of the Loire Valley castles. One of the most historic too. Lots of wealthy tourists visit - my wife and I (not wealthy) went through it with a Russian "new rich" guy and his young wife that we met while in Paris back in 1998. I'm sure now there are even more Russian tourists there now. Good way to make it a status symbol in Russia and help the brand overall there.