Single
phenomenon of its kind, it mobilizes an entire local population (3000
people including 1200 actors) in order to create a story through French
history as seen through one Vendean family. The Maupillier
family
from generation to generation, dramatizes the adventure of the Vendean,
with the voices of Philippe Noiret, Alain Delon, Robert Hossein (french
superstar actors)... More than 14,000 people can attend Cinéscénie each
Friday and Saturday evening in season. It tells initially the
history of "Vendeans before the Vendée", simple peasants. The hard
ground here was worked, and farmers enjoyed a simple life. The
landscapes were beautifull including many windmills and even King
François Ist stopped at the Puy-du-Fou to see the
splendid
countryside... Until one day when...
Suddenly churches were
closed, priests massacred, and civil guillotinés put to their murderous
use
beheading
innocents. The Revolution imposed its Terror then (see note about the
Wars of Vendée at the end of this page). The "simple peasants" then
took their pitch-forks and their iron shovels, and went to find the
aristocrats who were more hesitant, to ask them to direct the large
counter-revolutionary army. An army of peasants, an army of Faith, an
army of Giants. A quarter of the Vendean population was decimated at
this time. But the Giants were born and their spirit lives at the
Puy-du-Fou. Spectators will see the Vendean during both world wars,
defending France behind Clémenceau or deLattre. The Vendean marked
their history, and they revive it in an incredible manner
since
in 1977. The young Philippe de Villiers (who will become minister, and
is still president of the département of Vendée), had the idea to
create this Cinéscénie in front of the actual ruin of
the Puy-du-Fou Renaissance castle.
Le Grand Parc
(the 8 videos
following are about Le Grand Parc).
Conceived
from the beginning like an outline of the Cinéscénie performance, Le
Grand Park quickly became a popular phenomenon, welcoming
almost 1
million visitors every year. Le Grand Parc is open everyday (and
sometimes at night), whereas Cinéscénie takes place only on the
weekend. Every year, new infrastructures are being built. The latest is
a replica of a Roman arena, the huge indoor theatre for the musketeers
and the newest addition is a Roman hotel.
In
the videos on this site, you will see the 5 largest shows, which are 30
to 40mn each. The first video (above) is of the incredible Roman Arena, its race of four
horse chariots, gladiators battling to the death and the lions.
The Musketeers
of Richelieu
show was created in 2006 in the Big Amphitheater which houses
it.
Cardinal de Richelieu invites you here to a representation of
The
Cid when, suddenly... a succession of events lead the musketeers to
come to defend the public... elaborate decorations... incredible
special effects...
The
Vikings
is another spectacle with a lot of special effects. A peaceful Vendean
village of the year 1000 is celebrating a wedding, when the terrible
warriors unload everywhere with their drakkars. They quickly take
advantage of the unarmed villagers. What will the
peaceful villagers do to defeat the viking warriors?
A
tournament of knights animates the court of the medieval castle
of the Puy-du-Fou, and the court jester gets into a
comic
battle with the Cannonier of the palace. But the English army is
announced. The real war will begin while the Lord of the Puy-du-Fou
will follow Joan of Arc to battle. Viewers become engrossed in the
Hundred Year War and the Battle
of the Donjon !
The
Ball of the Phantom Birds
You
may have already attended a show of birds of prey with falcons, but
there is no chance that you have seen a show like this one. With 80
births of birds per year, the Puy-du-Fou is the only
center
of it’s kind in Europe. There are 300 birds in Le Grand Parc, from 55
different species. During the show the birds will perform for and
interact with the crowd. You will be amazed to see and feel vultures
whizzing above
your heads to perch on their trainer’s arm. Vultures of 7
feet in
wing-span will soar so close to you that you can almost touch them
(though it is forbidden), thrills are guaranteed. The
whole spectacle is superbly staged inside the ruins of the first
original castle (medieval) of the Puy-du-Fou.
But the
Puy-du-Fou is not limited to these 5 shows. There are also
musicians, animations of all kinds, and about a half-dozen smaller
shows, some of which are for children, like a puppet stage. Two areas
are based on the wars of Vendée : the Sunken Lane which immerses you in
the darkness of 1793, with scenes of reenacted lives and battles. And
the Grand Water Theatre, where superb animated
projections
are done on a curtain made up of moving water jets.
All these places for shows
are in a forest and animal petting park, in which you navigate with map.
In
addition there are three historical towns to visit : a medieval
village, a 18th century town (video below on the left), and the village
1900 (video on right-hand side), in which you will find many craftsmen
at their trades, (and selling their products).
Le
Grand Park hosts 4 restaurants and many snack bars or cafes.
On
the whole the park’s hospitality facilities are world
class.
Lastly there are audio-guides available in all languages for
foreigners, ATMs and beautiful souvenir shops.
-
Hotels :
since 2007, the Puy-du-Fou has it’s own hotel, housed
in a
splendid Gallo-Roman villa. But villages in the neighborhoods, or
Cholet, also have good quality hotels.
-
Contact for the Puy-du-Fou : Phone - 02 51 64 11
11. Postal address : 30, rue George Clémenceau, 85590 Les Épesses.
-
Internet site : well designed, it has a great number
of quality videos.
www.puydufou.com
To
buy or watch at Amazon.com, our selection :
