Puy du Fou
| Le Puy du Fou | ||||
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| place | Les Epesses , Vendée , France | |||
| opening | Cinéscénie: 1978 Grand Parc: 1989 |
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| Visitors | 2.305 million (2018) | |||
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Cinéscénie : 23 hectares Grand Parc : 45 hectares |
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| Website | www.puydufou.com | |||
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Coordinates: 46 ° 53 '36 " N , 0 ° 55' 55" W.
Puy du Fou is a historical theme park in Les Epesses (between Cholet and La Roche-sur-Yon ) in the heart of the Vendée in western France . According to its own information, the park reached the mark of 2 million visitors per year in 2015, making it one of the most popular excursion destinations in France. According to a survey by TripAdvisor , Le Puy du Fou was ranked 3rd among amusement parks worldwide and 1st in Europe in 2019.
history
The story of Puy du Fou as a theme park began in 1977 when Philippe de Villiers , a 27-year-old student (later a French politician), joined Jean Saint Bris, a young producer of “son et lumière” shows in the Loire Valley came up with the idea for a show called “Cinéscénie”.
When they discovered the ruins of an old Renaissance castle in Les Epesses near Cholet, they wrote a scenario about a local family named Maupillier (the name of a soldier who took part in the Vendée uprising during the French Revolution ). The play tells the history of the region from the fourteenth century to the Second World War .
Phillippe de Villiers and Jean Saint Bris founded an association with 600 members (today more than 3000) called "l'Association du Puy du Fou", whose president is the son of Phillippe de Villiers, Nicolas de Villiers.
At the first performances of the Cinéscénie in June 1978 the show had no particular success, which only changed towards the end of the first season, and from then on the event grew into a great spectacle. Since then, it has developed into a small industry of actors, props and trainers for the riding and fencing arts shown. The "Grand Parc de Puy du Fou" opened in 1989 next to the Cinéscénie and is one of the most popular theme parks in France. In 2004, 98% of the visitors were satisfied or very satisfied with their visit.
The “Académies Junior” has existed since 1998 and organizes shows outside the Cinéscénie, such as the “Paris Paname” in the “Hall Renaissance” of the Grand Parc in March 2008.
In 2011 the team presentations of the Tour de France , which started in the Vendée at that time, took place in the Grand Parc de Puy du Fou .
Attractions
The park has a total of 19 different attractions, 6 of which are named main attractions, which run between 25 and 40 minutes:
- Secret de la Lance (Secret of the Lance) is set against the backdrop of a medieval castle. It tells the story of a young shepherdess with a lance with supernatural powers their keep must defend against English knights. (4000 seats)
- Les Vikings (The Vikings) is set in a fortress around the year 1000, which is attacked by Vikings with a longship. The special effects include the arrival of a longboat from under the water and a saint walking across the water. (3500 seats)
- Le Signe du Triomphe (The Sign of Triumph) is set in a replica of a Roman amphitheater that is 115 m long and 75 m wide. A historicizing parade is held here, as well as gladiator fights, chariot races and the execution of prisoners. Part of the performance consists of a lion and tiger training. (6500 seats)
- Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes (The Dance of the Ghost Birds) . Dozens of birds of prey emerge from the ruins of a palace complex and fly just over the heads of visitors. Many of the larger birds take off from a balloon that stands very high. The show ends with around 150 birds all flying around the audience at the same time. (3200 seats)
- Mousquetaire de Richelieu (Musketeers of Richelieu) shows musketeers fencing and traditional dances reminiscent of flamenco on a flooded stage together with horse training. This show takes place in a hall and partly in complete darkness. (3000 seats)
- Le Dernier Panache (The Last Plume) is about the young general François Athanase de Charette de la Contrie , who leads the people of the Vendée in the uprising . The grandstand is rotated 360 ° into a ring consisting of 6 stages. (2400 seats)
- Les Orgues de Feu (The Fire Organ). Since 2010, the Grand Parc has presented an evening show on the small lake on selected days after sunset (except on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer season). This show plays entirely on water and uses 17 actors, fire and water effects to depict the love story of two musicians to the music of Mozart , Delerue , Bach and Bizet . For this purpose, a unique, 500-meter-long rail system was built under water to move the actors across the lake to let slide. (7500 seats and standing places)
In addition, smaller shows and continuous pass-through experiences are offered:
- Les Chevaliers de la Table Ronde (Knights of the Round Table), The deceased king has no descendants, which is why the Knights of the Round Table determine the succession to the throne among themselves. Short performance with large illusions , special effects and a sunken board in the lake. (2000 seats)
- Les Amoureux de Verdun (The Lovers of Verdun), continuous show that shows life in the trenches on the front lines of the First World War. A soldier writes letters to his lover at home and hopes to see her again soon.
- La Renaissance du Château (The Renaissance of the Castle), Continuous Show. The visitors go on a tour through the old castle of Puy du Fou, where they meet the lords of the castle, the artist, the dungeon guard and many other figures. Part of the show is the exhibition of the Jeanne d´Arc ring, which was bought by Philippe de Villiers on February 26, 2016 for 377,000 euros.
- Le Mystere de la Perouse (The Mystery of Perouse) Continuous show that takes place in a moving ship that is gradually sinking. The story of the disappearance of the Boussole with its captain Jean-François de La Pérouse is told.
- Le Premier Royaume (The First Kingdom), Continuous show about the story of Clovis I , the first king of France.
- Le Grand Carillon (Great Carillon )
- Les Grand Eaux (Large fountain show, during the day on the lake of the Les Orgues de Feu show )
- Les Automates Musiciens du Bourg 1900 (music show)
- Les Ballet des Sapeurs (show by the children of the Puy du Fou Academy)
All performances are presented in French. A translation for most of the shows via an app is available in several languages, including German. Some of the smaller performances are not translated.
Former attractions
- L'Odyssée du Puy du Fou (attraction with water show), until 2018, building reused and expanded for Le Premier Royaume
- Chemin de la mémoire (pass-through attraction), until 2015, area used for Le Mystere de la Perouse
- La légende de Martin (puppet show), until 2016, area used for the buffet restaurant La Mijoterie du Roy Henry
- Les Musiciens Traditionels (music show), until 2016, area used for Le Grand Carillon
Le Cinéscénie
The main show, which lasts 100 minutes, takes place in the evening on a 23 hectare outdoor stage with almost 14,000 seats. It tells the story of the region over the past 700 years. Le Cinéscénie boasts the largest stage in the world, 2400 actors, hundreds of horses, 142 water fountains, 30 drones and hundreds of fireworks per performance. All dialogue is in French. A translation into several languages such as English, German and Dutch is offered via an app. All actors (including many children) come from the local area and are volunteers. Le Cinéscénie is only performed on Fridays and Saturdays during the main season and must be booked separately.
Hotels
- La Villa Gallo-Romaine (2007, 100 rooms)
- Le Logis de Lescure (2009, 4 suites)
- Le Camp du Drap D'Or (2014, 100 rooms)
- Les Îles de Clovis (2010, 100 rooms)
- La Citadelle (2017, 100 rooms)
Awards
- On August 13, 2011, Puy du Fou won the silver Jupiter at the "Internationale des Feux Loto Quebec", a major international pyrotechnics competition in Montréal .
- On March 17, 2012, Puy du Fou was named “World's best theme park” by the “Thea Classic Award 2012” in Los Angeles .
- 2013: The park received the title of “best European theme park” from Parksmania Awards in Italy.
- 2014: The park received the Applause Award from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ 2018 Theme Index and Museum Index at https://www.aecom.com/theme-index/ , accessed on June 24, 2019
- ↑ Nouveau record! - Histoire de ouf. (No longer available online.) In: www.puydufou.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015 ; accessed on September 6, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ The World's Best Theme Parks - TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards. Retrieved June 24, 2019 .
- ↑ Tour de France 2011 . Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ↑ L'anneau de Jeanne d'Arc de retour en France. March 3, 2016, accessed June 24, 2019 .
- ↑ Douny: Neopter®. Retrieved June 24, 2019 (French).
- ↑ 2018 season: la Cinéscénie s'enrichit d'innovations. Retrieved June 24, 2019 (French).
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated November 23, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Le Jupiter d'Argent est au Puy du Fou.
- ↑ http://www.puystory.fr/archives/2011/08/09/21763774.html
- ↑ Le Puy du Fou, meilleur parc de loisirs , Le Figaro , 17 March 2012.
- ↑ Parksmania Awards 2013
- ↑ lefigaro.fr: Un Applause Award pour le Puy du Fou. Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
