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Explanation: perhaps in the parts of the museum where you need to buy a ticket to get in?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 31 minutes (2009-11-13 12:32:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I can only think "douane" here means "duty", in the sense of "payment", unless of course certains areas of the museum are actually under the authority of the Customs, which is unlikely
Since further research confirms that in this particular museum, the areas in question are ticketed, I think this is the appropriate solution. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
I clearly cannot convince you but, trust me, it does happen. I rest my case because I've had enough for today and bashing my head against the wall is not my idea of Friday afternoon fun !
Customs have to clear things to cross borders regardless of whether duty is paid or not, presumably the loan of museum pieces is not subject to duty provided it goes back within a certain time limit
the zone sous douane may have nothing specifically to do with the audioguides as such. And, sorry, but for temporary exhibitions they bring in exhibits from foreign museums and these are NOT customs cleared because they are going to go back later (think temporary exhibitions in the Louvre for example)
I thought of that too but any exhibit not cleared by customs would surely not make it to the museum, and anyway what a strange qualification that would be in the case of audioguides...
which would be the usual translation, but I would choose something like... at the exits with surveillance cameras/systems. In other words, if someone walks away with the audioguides, the alarm goes off, as it would in the store when a merchandise hasn't been run through the scanner?
I think that you should use zones or areas: guarded zones or guarded areas to be more general. Would "secure zones" fit? (security zones would be more airport!)
Explanation: perhaps in the parts of the museum where you need to buy a ticket to get in?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 31 minutes (2009-11-13 12:32:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I can only think "douane" here means "duty", in the sense of "payment", unless of course certains areas of the museum are actually under the authority of the Customs, which is unlikely
Graham macLachlan Local time: 21:52 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 170
Grading comment
Since further research confirms that in this particular museum, the areas in question are ticketed, I think this is the appropriate solution.
Notes to answerer
Asker: It might be right, but I can't find any info on the museum website to confirm whether they are actually fee-paying areas, so would rather avoid it in this particular case.
Asker: I retract my previous note - let me just say that the link found by Gilla is highly relevant in this particular case!
16 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
controlled area
Explanation: -
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 58 mins (2009-11-13 12:59:14 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I generally prefer "area" to "zone" in English, with some exceptions
Sheila Wilson France Local time: 21:52 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 45
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): +1
authorised areas
Explanation: As in "the areas in which it is authorised to have an audioguide".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-13 13:12:19 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
But in actual fact, I'm not sure any solution describing the area being exited will actually work in your sentence. I think I would change the perspective slightly and say something like "placed at exhibition exit points, including emergency exits"
Emma Paulay France Local time: 21:52 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 41
Reference information: Here's an example where "zone sous douane" (a) is explained as the area requiring a ticket, and (b) is in quotes on first occurrence, suggesting that it is not entirely 'naturalised' in this usage.
"les principales modifications sont liées à la mise en place de la « zone sous douane » : les cinq circuits de visites du château sont situés à l’intérieur de cette zone sous douane à laquelle ne peuvent accéder que les visiteurs ayant préalablement acquis un billet d’entrée ...."
[http://www.chateauversailles.fr/resources/pdf/fr/rapport_act... ]
Martin Cassell United Kingdom Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 3
The translation workplace 
