History Parc...

[Hibernicus]

http://www.puydufou.com/uk/

Anyone been here?

What's it really like?

aerial view..

http://air-vendee-loisirs.chez-alice.fr ... du-Fou.jpg

[Quintilianus]

I have been there a couple of years ago. And it is great fun. Of course all the gear is plastic, but looks realistic from a distance.

In the amphitheater, which I found quite impressive, a show is performed and it goes like this:

First a parade of legionnaires in triumph, with some nice details, followed by a magnificent circus race and concluded by a series of gladiator fights.

The park also covers other eras.

Definitely worth a visit.

[Robert]

Salve Hibernicus!

Our resident archaeologist did a reconnaissance visit to this park, as it is one of our themepark benchmarks. The whole park revolves on the concept of a number of shows during the day. The themes are very nationalisticly French, as is the hero figure of each show. If you look at the video's on their site, you can gain an impression of the large scale of the shows they put on.
The Roman theme is displayed in a Colosseum like arena, the hero being made to perform a number of different challenges and his love almost gets fed to the lions. When you see the testudo being rolled in on wheels (you can see this in the video in the opening sequence) , this very much gives you a grip on the reality level they are trying to convey. The chariot race is Ben Hur revisited!
Having said this, they put up a very good spectacle for a wide public, based on entertainment, no strings. We were impressed by their level of professionalism and showmanship, the shows are very well done, lots of fire (both real and in the actors).

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

Oh Yes! I have visited le Grand Parc du Puy du fou! It is really great! very spectacular with nice House, castle multi period (the 18e century village is beautifull...) but it is a themepark with show nothing reenacting. The cinéscenie is a big show about the regional history of Vendée country. Very interesting. The story show about the roman amphitheater is the late roman times in diocletian persécutions but here no real historic research. But all the thempark is very impressive.

So, the themepark and show are not very nationalistic but "regionaliste" the fundator is also in France chief of a political party anti-european, suspicisous to the governement, proud of the regional liberty, come back to the tradition and like we said in France "très à droite" So all state and country have this type of political men...

[Hibernicus]

Thanks for the info and political insights.