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Le Puy du Fou
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Le Puy du Fou
Le Puy du Fou ([pɥi dy fu]) is a historical theme park in Les Epesses, in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. It receives more than 2 million visitors every year, making it one of the most popular theme parks in France. In 2024, it was the third most visited theme park in France, behind Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix, with 2.8 million annual visitors.
The idea of Puy du Fou originated in 1977, when Philippe de Villiers, a 27-year-old student, decided to create an original show named "Cinéscénie". [citation needed]
On 13 June 1977, Villiers discovered the ruins of an old Renaissance castle in the village of Les Epesses, near Cholet, and wrote a story about a (fictitious) local family named Maupillier (the real name of a soldier of Vendée at the time of the conflict between Vendée and the French Republic during the French Revolution), detailing the family's history from that period until World War II.[citation needed]
Philippe de Villiers organized an association of 600 members (3,650 today) named "l'Association du Puy du Fou", whose current president is his son, Nicolas de Villiers.[citation needed] When Cinéscénie first started in June 1978, the show did not have great success. But during the first season, it flourished and continued to grow from there. It has since spawned its own micro-industry of actors, prop-makers, and trainers for horse riding and sword fighting, which both feature in the show. Since 1988, the "Académies Junior" have organized yearly showings of Cinéscénie, such as at the Paris Paname in the "Halle Renaissance" of the Grand Parc in March 2008.[citation needed]
In August 1980, the President of the French Republic, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, visited Puy du Fou and attended the Cinéscénie show.
In June 1987, the Prime Minister at the time — and future President of France — Jacques Chirac was hosted by Philippe de Villiers at Puy du Fou. He attended the Cinéscénie show alongside former Prime Minister Raymond Barre and the leader of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
The Grand Parc of the Puy du Fou was opened near the Cinéscénie in 1989, and is today one of the most popular theme parks in France.[citation needed] In 2011, the Grand Parc hosted the team presentations before the Tour de France, which was set to begin in the Vendée.
In August 2016, then French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron visited Puy du Fou alongside Philippe de Villiers. Despite their ideological differences, the two men are said to have a close relationship. In 2020, when Emmanuel Macron was President of the French Republic, he granted preferential treatment to Puy du Fou, pressuring his Prime Minister to authorize the park’s reopening and allowing larger crowds (9,000 people) than the usual limit imposed by COVID restriction rules (5,000 people).
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Le Puy du Fou
Le Puy du Fou ([pɥi dy fu]) is a historical theme park in Les Epesses, in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. It receives more than 2 million visitors every year, making it one of the most popular theme parks in France. In 2024, it was the third most visited theme park in France, behind Disneyland Paris and Parc Astérix, with 2.8 million annual visitors.
The idea of Puy du Fou originated in 1977, when Philippe de Villiers, a 27-year-old student, decided to create an original show named "Cinéscénie". [citation needed]
On 13 June 1977, Villiers discovered the ruins of an old Renaissance castle in the village of Les Epesses, near Cholet, and wrote a story about a (fictitious) local family named Maupillier (the real name of a soldier of Vendée at the time of the conflict between Vendée and the French Republic during the French Revolution), detailing the family's history from that period until World War II.[citation needed]
Philippe de Villiers organized an association of 600 members (3,650 today) named "l'Association du Puy du Fou", whose current president is his son, Nicolas de Villiers.[citation needed] When Cinéscénie first started in June 1978, the show did not have great success. But during the first season, it flourished and continued to grow from there. It has since spawned its own micro-industry of actors, prop-makers, and trainers for horse riding and sword fighting, which both feature in the show. Since 1988, the "Académies Junior" have organized yearly showings of Cinéscénie, such as at the Paris Paname in the "Halle Renaissance" of the Grand Parc in March 2008.[citation needed]
In August 1980, the President of the French Republic, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, visited Puy du Fou and attended the Cinéscénie show.
In June 1987, the Prime Minister at the time — and future President of France — Jacques Chirac was hosted by Philippe de Villiers at Puy du Fou. He attended the Cinéscénie show alongside former Prime Minister Raymond Barre and the leader of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
The Grand Parc of the Puy du Fou was opened near the Cinéscénie in 1989, and is today one of the most popular theme parks in France.[citation needed] In 2011, the Grand Parc hosted the team presentations before the Tour de France, which was set to begin in the Vendée.
In August 2016, then French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron visited Puy du Fou alongside Philippe de Villiers. Despite their ideological differences, the two men are said to have a close relationship. In 2020, when Emmanuel Macron was President of the French Republic, he granted preferential treatment to Puy du Fou, pressuring his Prime Minister to authorize the park’s reopening and allowing larger crowds (9,000 people) than the usual limit imposed by COVID restriction rules (5,000 people).
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