Mirapolis
| Mirapolis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lady Tartine |
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| place | Courdimanche , Val-d'Oise department , France | |||
| opening | May 20, 1987 | |||
| closure | October 31, 1991 | |||
| surface | 30 hectares | |||
| staff | 13,000 | |||
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Coordinates: 49 ° 3 ′ 18 ″ N , 1 ° 59 ′ 57 ″ E
Mirapolis was a French theme park near Paris . It was located in the sub-municipality Courdimanche of the planned town of Cergy-Pontoise in the French department Val-d'Oise near the A 15 , was opened on May 20, 1987 and closed on October 20, 1991. With a total of 47 hectares (30 hectares of parkland and 17 hectares of parking lot), it was the first large theme park in France. It was designed for 28,000 visitors per day, was divided into eight areas and offered 29 attractions including shows when it opened. When it was closed, there were 60 attractions as well as 13 souvenir shops, 8 restaurants and 12 snack stands, so-called “Mirabars”.
The park featured great French novels and stories. The main attraction was the 35-meter-high Gargantua statue with a restaurant and ride inside, named after a character from the Gargantua and Pantagruel series of novels . It was the tallest free-standing statue in Europe and the second largest in the world after the Statue of Liberty . Other attractions besides Le Géant Gargantua were La Descente des rapides (= fast descent ). La Ville d'Ys (= The City of Ys ), Le Château des sortilèges (= The Magic Castle ). Les Impressionnistes (= The Impressionists ). and Le Palais des merveilles (= Palace of Miracles).
Attractions
"L'Entrée", translated as "entrance area"
"L'Entrée" (translated "The Entrance")
1. * Cash registers
Pay one-time entry for one day and free access to all rides and parades / shows.
2. * Accueil - Kioskques des Hotesses (translated "Welcome - Kiosk des Hotesses ")
Information in the entrance area.
3. * Poussettes (translated "stroller")
Stroller station
4. * La Boutique Souvenirs (translated as "Souvenir Boutique")
Memorabilia shop (souvenir shop; souvenirs; souvenir shop).
"Le Sommet de la grande Frousse" (translated "The peak of the big jitter")
5. * Le Grande de Mirapolis (translated "The Great of Mirapolis") ( "Mirapolis Express" ) (Parkbahn) (1987)
- Railway station / station of the "Mirapolis Express" park railway in the entrance area (1987)
Three trains were available. The train transported visitors through the park. The train had two stations. One in the entrance area, the other by the Gargantua statue. After the closure, the train was sold to Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin , which only used one train and cannibalized the other two trains as spare parts, although the blue train was initially in use and later the green train until the end.
6. * Le Tourbillon (1987) (translated "The Vortex")
A carousel-like octopus with the aesthetics of a troika and factory gondolas: a paratrooper.
7. * Le Miralooping (1988) (roller coaster)
A steel roller coaster from Vekoma with four inversions. Type Double Loop Double Corkscrew After the closure, the cable car was sold to Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin. There she continued to run under the name Mega Looping until the park closed in 2001. The railway has been operated in Europark France under the name Euroloop since 2003 .
8. * Les Velos Droles (translated as "The fun bikes")
Bouncing bikes. One knows in Germany from smaller parks and zoos.
"Le Domaine des enfants", translated as "The children's area" (Kinderland)
"Le Paradis des Comptines Gourmandes" (translated "The paradise of the gnarled counting rhymes")
9. * Le Palais de Dame Tartine (1987) (translated "The Palace of Ms. Butterbrot")
This attraction, partly realized by the SFP, takes its name from a children's song. The visitor discovers the magic of the four seasons. This palace was in the Dame Tartine district, in the children's area. It's an animation with electric and moving animal dolls talking.
10. * La Piscine à boules (1987) (translated "ball pool")
"LA PISCINE A BALLE", translated as "POOL A BALL"
Was a ball pool and stood at the attraction Le Palais de Dame Tartine.
- L'Arbre Lumière (1987) (translated "The light in the tree") (Animatronic theater)
The theater had space for 200 people. A show with mythical creatures was shown.
11. * La Ballades des Automates (1987) (translated “The Ballad of the Automates”) or Galerie des Automates (translated as “Gallery of the Automates”) (fairy tale tour)
Around the animatronic theater there were various scenes in which animated characters told fairy tales and French legends.
12. * Le Spectacle de l'Arabre Lumidre (translated "The Show of the Arab Lumidre"; "The Show l'Arabre Lumidre")
show
13. * Les Caravelles (1987) (translated "The Caravels")
A boat trip ( ascent and descent ) of the Music Express or Musik Express type ( ascent and descent # Musik Express ), but the version for children from the “cog ride” category. Located in front of the Palais de Dame.
14. * Le Petit Train des Comptines (1987) (translated "The little train of rhymes")
Two small trains in the form of at least one rabbit and several elephants. This attraction was in Dame Tartine's neighborhood.
15. * Le Kaleidoskope (1987) (translated "The Kaleidoskope")
Attraction next to the Palace Dame Tartine. This attraction is a nod to Anne Fourcade's childhood, kaleidoscope collection.
16. * Le Maison de Brioche (translated "The Brioche House")
restaurant
17. * Le Terrasse des Délices (translated "The Terrace of Earthly Delights")
glacier
18. * O Panier Gourmand (translated "Oh, food basket")
restaurant
19. * Le Relais Bébé
- Théâtre des marionnettes (1987) (translated "puppet theater")
Was a puppet theater that was located in the outer wall of the children's area. The seats (150) were in the open, in front of the Palace of Lady Tartine.
"La Terre de L`Aventure" (translated "The earth of adventure")
20. * Le Champ (translated "The Champ")
Bouncy castle
- La Cité des Robots (translated "The city of robots")
Restaurants and shops in the city of robots.
- Navette aux Mille Sensations (1988) (translated "Shuttle of a thousand sensations")
Was a tire park train (Midi Train) that drove through the park. The station was in the area of the robot city.
- Galeries des Jeux et Réflexes (1987) (translated "Galleries of games and reflexes")
Was a maze of mirrors. Stand near the robot city (went to the Spreepark after it was closed).
- Charivari (1988) (translated "Pandaemonium"): Was a cinema.
"La Descente des Rapides", translated as "The rapids descent" (Trill area)
21. * Le Bâteau Pirate Junior (1988) (translated as "The Junior Pirate Ship")
Children's ship swing by Huss Rides.
22. * Le Galion du Corsaire Rouge (1988) (translated "The Galione of the Red Corsair")
Ship swing by Zamperla Rides. Went to a Dutch showman who toured China with her after the closure. After it was sold again, the location of the swing is unknown.
23. * Le Château du Prince Noir (translated "The Castle of the Black Prince")
24. * Le Parcours de Robin des Bois (translated "The Path of Robin Hood") or Quick Cup (1987) (translated "Fast Cup") (mug track)
A Mack Rides cup track featuring the former Nesquik mascot . The railway was rebuilt after the closure in Spreepark Plänterwald. It is still on the site today.
25. * La Chocolatiere (translated "The Chocolate Shop")
Chocolate making and selling.
26. * Les Montgolfières (1988) (translated as "The hot air balloon") (balloon flight) A balloon flight by the company Zamperla Rides with a capacity of 1,200 people per hour.
27. * La Descente des Rapides (1987) (translated as "The rapids descent") (wild water slide)
A track from the manufacturer Mack Rides. The highest point was 14 meters. The train was designed for 1,800 people per hour. The run had a special feature that had never been seen on any other Mack Rides whitewater run. After the descent you drove over a small hill and then plunged into the water again, which resulted in a high degree of moisture. After the closure, the train was sold to the Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin. There she drove under the name "Grand Canyon" until the closure. It is still on the site today.
28. * Les Pirates (translated "The Pirates")
restaurant
29. * La Photo des Rapides (translated "The Rapids Photo ")
Photo station of the flume for souvenir photos.
30. * Mirabar
snack
31. * La Rivière des Castors (1987) (translated "The Beaver River") (raft trip)
A raft ride past animated beaver figures splashing with water. After the closure, the railway was sold to the Spreepark Plänterwald. There it was rebuilt and continued to be used with the swans of the Schwanenfahrt. The track is still in the closed park today. The boats were also bought by the Spreepark. They should be used for the never finished dinosaur ride.
32. * Le Bâteau Pirate (1987) (translated "The Pirate Ship")
A ship swing made by Huss Rides . After the closure, the railway was sold to the Spreepark Plänterwald. There it went under the name "Pirat" until it was closed. After that it was resold several times, u. a. to a Dutch showman who toured China (Asia) with it for a short time. Denies-Kipp also had the swing in his possession. Further whereabouts unknown.
33. * Le Télépherique (translated "The Cable Car")
Cable car
- Gravitron (1988) (translated "Gravitron")
Carousel of the Gravitron type (gravitation).
- Montagne Molle (1988) (translated "soft mountain")
Was a bouncy castle.
- Mini Dragons (1988) (translated "mini dragon") (hang glider) (hang glider) (flyer)
A train that was equipped with kites instead of airplanes. The track was manufactured by the Zamperla company. After the closure, the train was sold to Saint Paul Park in France. The railway stopped operating there in 2009. It is often mistakenly thought that these are dragons from the age of knights. But it is a hang glider .
- Chemin des Tortues (1988) (translated "Turtle Path")
It was a tortoise train. In trains that looked like turtles, visitors drove a short distance. The manufacturer of this track is the company Zamperla Rides.
- Mille Pattes (1988) (translated "millipede")
Was part of the Groquik free fields.
"La Ville d'Ys", translated "The City of Ys"
"Le Pays des Legends" (translated "The Land of Legends")
34. * Le Voyage sous la Mer (1987) (translated "Journey under the Sea") (themed trip)
Manufacturer Mack Rides . A themed trip through the depths of the sea. The route ran 14 meters underground in places. After the closure, the transport system was bought by the Spreepark. A fairy tale train was to be built there in a multi-purpose hall , which Traumlandpark was taken over. The railway was never completed for official reasons. In 1994 the railway opened in Europa-Park under the name Universum der Energie, now known as Madame Freundreichs Curiosités , where it is still operated today.
35. * Le Miratlantide (translated "Miratlantis")
restaurant
36. * Le Manège de chevaux de bois (1987) (translated as "carousel with wooden horses")
A horse carousel. (Location according to the linked parking plan)
37. * Le Village des Clowns (translated "The village of clowns"), or Chapiteau (1987) (translated "tent") (circus tent)
Various shows were shown in this tent (circus tent). The tent was rebuilt after the closure in the Spreepark Plänterwald. After the Spreepark was closed, it was still in the park. The tent tore down due to the snow loads in winter 2009/2010 and was then dismantled, but was still there in the park on site. The tent burned down in a major fire on the night of August 10th to 11th, 2014.
38. * Le Musee du Monde de la Fete (translated "The Museum of the World of Celebrations")
museum
39. * Le Ferme des Vikings (1988) (translated as "The Viking Farm")
Viking village, integrated into the area of the city of Ys. With a petting zoo and an adventure playground, with a wooden ship where there was a slide, a wooden system with a climbing frame and slide, as well as a small ship swing called "Pirate Ship".
40. * Le Drakkar (1988) (translated "The Dragon Ship")
A Viking ship on the lake near the Viking village. The petting zoo in the Viking Village has been removed.
41. * Mirabar
snack
- Tertre des Chevaliers (1987) (translated "hill of the knights") (knight show)
A medieval show with jousting (knights of the round table).
- Galerie des glaces (1988) (translated "Hall of Mirrors")
An ice palace.
- La Table ronde du Roi Arthur (1987) (translated "King Arthur's Round Table")
A garden with fairies. Both in the “dark forest”.
"Le Château des Sortilèges", translated as "The Castle of Enchantment" (fairytale castle)
- Château des Sortilèges (1987) (translated "The Castle of Enchantment")
restaurant
"Le Royaume de LÍllusion" (translated "The Kingdom of Illusions")
42nd * Tour de Léonard da Vinci (1987) (translated "Leonardo da Vinci Tour") (animatronics show)
"Le Palais de Leonard da Vinci et son Musee" (translated as "The Palace of Leonard da Vinci and its museum")
An animatronics show that compared the innovations of the past with those of the future. The show was revolutionary at the time, as the characters could also imitate facial expressions. After the closure, the Leonardo figurine was returned to the manufacturer as research has shown that it was never fully paid for.
43. * Le Dragon des Sortilèges (1987) (translated "The Magic Dragon ")
A steel roller coaster from Mack Rides , type Alpenexpress "Enzian" . It was rebuilt after the closure in Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin. It is still on the site today.
44. * Chez Leonardo (translated "At Leonardo")
restaurant
45. * La Grande Roue (1989) (translated "The Ferris Wheel")
A 40 meter high carousel ferris wheel (the gondolas could be turned by the passengers).
46. * La Fête Foraine (translated "The Market Festival ")
47. * Ses Manèges (translated "His Manegen")
48. * Ses Jeux (translated "His games")
49. * Mirabar
snack
- Labyrinth (1987)
A 2 hectare labyrinth. One was inspired by a labyrinth from the Middle Ages.
- Voyage en Ballon (1988) (translated "balloon trip")
Balloon Ride from Morgan. There is an identical ride in the Europa-Park Rust.
- Les Cygnes or Cygnes blancs (1990) (translated "The Swans" or "White Swans") (swan ride)
Pedal boats in the shape of swans. After the closure, some boats were sold to Saint Paul Park in France, where they are still in use today. The remaining boats were bought by Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin. You are still on the site today.
"Le Géant Gargantua", translated "The Giant Gargantua"
"Le Domaine du moyen Age" (translated "The Middle Ages")
50th * Gargantua (1987) ("Gargantua") (themed trip)
In 60 wagons, the passengers drove past various designed scenes that showed the inner life of a person. For this purpose 120 animated characters, the globules (blood cells), were used. At the highest section of the track (30 meters), visitors could enjoy a view of the park. The manufacturer of the railway was the company Reverchon Industries . The driving system was rebuilt after the closure in Spreepark Plänterwald, but never used. It was still on the site after it was closed. The railway was later dismantled and scrapped for safety reasons.
- Railway station of the "Mirapolis-Express" park railway near Garganua (1987)
Three trains were available. The train transported visitors through the park. The train had two stations. One in the entrance area, the other by the Gargantua statue. After the closure, the train was sold to Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin , which only used one train and cannibalized the other two trains as spare parts, although the blue train was initially in use and later the green train until the end.
51. * Le Table de Gargantua (translated "The table of Gargantua")
restaurant
52. * Les Vignerons du Bon Géant
53. * Le Sabot de Garganua (translated "The shoe of Garganua")
Botique
54. * Le Poney-Club des chevaliers (1988) (translated as "The Rider's Pony Club")
Knight tournament (according to the linked park map here)
55. * Le Mur Vauban (translated "The Wall Vauban")
Was a dam.
56 * Les Cygnes or Cygnes blancs (1990) (translated "The Swans" or "White Swans") (swan ride)
Pedal boats in the shape of swans. After the closure, some boats were sold to Saint Paul Park in France, where they are still in use today. The remaining boats were bought by Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin. You are still on the site today.
57. * Mirabar
snack
"Le Palais des Merveilles", translated "The Palace of Miracles"
- Le Palais des Merveilles (1987) (translated "The Palace of Miracles") (show room)
Different shows were performed here in alternation. There was room for 800 people.
- Château des Visions (1988) (translated "Castle of Visions")
A 4-D cinema inside a castle-like setting.
- Théâtre de Verdure (1987) (theater)
The theater was also housed in the Palace of Miracles. There was a different performance three times a day. There was room for 900 visitors.
- Grande Parade (1987) (translated "Great Parade")
The own park parade started at this point.
"Les Impressionnistes", translated "The Impressionists"
- A barrel organ in the neighborhood of the Impressionists (Original: “Un limonaire dans le quartier des impressionnistes”)
"Le Jardin de la Belle Epoque" (translated as "The Garden of the Belle Epoch")
58. * Le Port de Deauville (1988) (translated “The Port of Deauville”) A miniature city or model city with a port.
- Petits bateaux téléguidés (1987) (translated "Small remote-controlled boats")
Remote controlled boats (remote control boats). They drove (original translation "sailed") in the port of Deauville. (was sold to the Spreepark)
59. * Le Jardin des Impressionnistes (translated "The Garden of the Impressionists")
60. * Guinguette des Impressionnistes (1987) (translated "Impressionist tavern") or La Riviere Fleurie
A boat trip / a canal trip. Was sold to the Spreepark. There it has the name "Canale Grande". The railway is still in the closed park today.
61. * Les Tacots Chapeaux (1987) (translated "The hat rattlesnakes") (hat train)
"Les voiturettes de MIRAPOLIS: LES TACOTS CHAPEAUX", translated as "Karren Mirapolis: The caps bangers"
A train where passengers rode in hats with faces. The train was sold to the Spreepark. There it had the name "Chapeau claque". The railway is still in the closed park today.
62. * La Tonnelle des Impressionnistes
restaurant
- Le Manège de Chevaux de Bois (1987) (translated "carousel of wooden horses")
A horse carousel. (Location according to French Wikipedia article)
- Le Poney-Club des chevaliers (1988) (translated as "The Rider's Pony Club")
Knight tournament (according to French Wikipedia here)
"Attractions aux situations non déterminées", translated as "Unannounced attractions" (other attractions)
"La grand'Place" (translated "The Great Place")
63. * Le Chateau des Visions
movie theater
64. * La Botique du Chateau (translated "The Castle Shop")
Memorabilia shop (souvenir shop; souvenirs; souvenir shop).
65. * Le Bistro
bistro
66th * Le Labo Photo (photo lab)
Photoshop
67. * L`Observatorio (translated "The Observatorio")
- Punching ball
- Dinosaur and Mammoth Park (1991)
Life-size statues of dinosaurs. They were in meadows along the way. The dinosaurs were presented on information boards. After the closure, the dinosaurs were set up again in Spreepark Plänterwald in Berlin .
- Train fantôme (1989) (translated "ghost train")
This attraction was initially called "Ghost Castle" and was then renamed "Ghost Train Mirapolis".
- Enterprise
Type and name Enterprise from Huss Rides.
- UFO (1989)
Type and name UFO (UFO-2000) from Huss Rides. The ride could accommodate 48 standing passengers in 12 gondolas.
- Tagada (1989)
Manufacturer Far Fabbri, of the Tagada type , consists of a horizontal platform. The circular edge it is actually a long bench without a bar or seat belt hosting for 40 people each with a capacity of 800 people / hour. We mostly know it as a hop at the fair. Here the platform was moving. For two years in a row, this attraction has been voted the park's most popular amusement ride.
- Grand huit (1989) (translated "coaster")
This third roller coaster is a model with red rails and a white structure. The manufacturer is DEZA, type Galaxi.
- Télé Combat Avion (1989) (translated "TV fighter planes")
A trip in compressed air planes from the manufacturer Zamperla, type Telecombat.
- Pieuvre (1989) (translated "octopus") ("giant octopus")
A carousel like a polyp type octopus .
- Chenille (1989) (translated "caterpillar")
A caterpillar track ( mountain and valley ) from Mack Rides.
- Godbille (1989)
- Buggy (1989)
A two-story loop ride, with a convoy of small cars for children.
- Grand Prix (1989)
- Bungee jumping (1991)
These attractions were brought in by showmen. They were on the banks of the lake in the areas of Castle of Enchantment and the Giants Gargantua except Grand Prix.
- Dance Fly (translated "flying dance")
Type Hully-Gully from Mack Rides, but as, or in a special version, with swinging gondolas.
- Sweety (translated "sweetheart")
Mack Rides gondola carousel, sleigh ride type.
- Plorerz (or something like that)
Gondola carousel from the manufacturer Reverchon, type Explorer.
- LES GLOBULES (translated "BLOOD CELLS") (blood cells)
It was a blood cell parade. The floats circled during the parade. They were the "Globules" (blood cells) figures.
- Ponny riding
Here children could ride real ponies.
- Go-cart race track
A go-kart track with petrol karts.
- Pyro and water show
In the evening there was a fireworks and water show with water fountains.
Planned but never realized future of the park
The following three projects were never completed or no longer implemented:
- Dolphinarium
- Monorail or monorail
- A ninth area “Le Voyage dans le Futur” (translated “Journey into the future”) instead of miralooping
The End
The park closed for good on October 20, 1991. Some attractions have been sold to other parks in Europe, including Spreepark Berlin . On August 31, 1995, the huge statue of Gargantua was first partially dismantled and then blown up. Today the area is largely fallow and is becoming increasingly overgrown.
Reasons for the decline
The decline and the alleged bankruptcy are said to have been due not least to the nearby amusement parks. At the same time as Mirapolis, parks such as Disneyland Paris , Parc Asterix and BigBang Schtroumpf were being built or planned in France , which had the advantage that they featured well-known media franchises, while Mirapolis dealt with the French world of literature, legends and art had a subject that was not easily communicated to the general public. In addition, the park suffered from bad planning, mismanagement and numerous breakdowns during opening and operation, which led to bad press and the fact that the planned number of visitors was never achieved and economic operation was not possible.
In an interview, Norbert Witte , the former operator of Berlin's Spreepark, said that the park had been closed due to the upcoming opening of Disneyland Paris. The park operators have been compensated. As a result, he was lucky enough to get rides for the Spreepark very quickly.
numbers
- The property cost 26 million francs (4 million euros).
- 80 companies were involved during the construction phase
- 13,000 employees
- 250,000 m² of green space
- 500,000 m² of paved area
- 15 hectares for buildings
- Gastronomy offered 3,000 seats, the largest capacity in France at the time. In 1988 there are 5,000 places
- 6,000 parking spaces for cars, 350 for buses. The car park covered 17 hectares. The parking fee was FF 10 (€ 1.50)
- Gargantua's head was 11 meters tall. A total of 28 tons of material (14 tons of wood, 10 tons of resin and 4 tons for the hat) were used to make the head. It was molded with approximately 500 cubic meters of polyester
- Gargantua's hand weighed about 3 tons.
- Gargantua was 35 meters tall when seated. Standing he would have been 77 meters tall.
- The body surface of Gargantua was 2,800 m² and weighed 1,000 tons.
- For 22 francs you could even get the soundtrack of some attractions on a vinyl record. In today's parks it was common for the time to be extraordinary.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Santa Fe-Express , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ Mega-Loop , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ Mirror labyrinth , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ^ "Roting Cup" giant cups , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ^ Grand Canyon , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ berliner-spreepark.de
- ^ "Pirate" ship swing , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ a b INTERVIEW WITH NORBERT WITTE , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ Universe of Energy - Dinosaur Ride, on epfans.info
- ↑ PICCADILLY CIRCUS CHAPITEAU , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ Spreeblitz roller coaster , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ The Flight of Icarus. Europa-Park Fan Club, accessed on August 31, 2014 .
- ↑ a b Schwanen-Fahrt , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25th
- ↑ berliner-spreepark.de
- ↑ Canale Grande , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25
- ↑ Chapeau Claque , on berliner-spreepark.de, accessed on February 25
- ↑ Picture of an identical model: Explorer (Liebold). In: ride-index.de. March 7, 2019, accessed August 27, 2019 .
