We had a feeling as soon as we arrived our time at Puy du Fou was going to be special. Situated just an hour’s drive from Nantes airport, it’s ranked one of the best parks in the world with over 2 million visitors a year. You might not have heard of Puy du Fou before but believe me, when I tell you, it’s extraordinary. This theme park had no rides, instead, there are spectacular daytime and evening performances themed around French history, period villages and authentic onsite accommodation.
We’d spent the night at Îles de Clovis which is one of the five-period hotels at Puy du Fou. Spread over 7 hectares, this lakeside village made us feel like we’d been transported back to the Middle Ages. The half-timbered huts are eco-designed to resemble a village from the first millennium but built to a high standard with all the mod cons you’d expect.
We had a packed itinerary while we were at Puy du Fou so we saw many of the shows on offer including the astonishing La Cinéscénie – recognised as being the greatest night show in the world. Our first performance, however, was Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes, a bird of prey show. Or so we thought.
This spectacle was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It featured in the region of 330 eagles, falcons, vultures, kites and owls. Telling the story of Aliénor who wakes in the ruins of the old château, her memories result in the birds emerging. Even if you don’t speak French (English audio is available), you can’t help but be taken in by the passion, the drama and the excitement.
Wherever you’re sitting in the amphitheatre, you have a great view of the birds, some of which have a wingspan that exceeds 2 metres. The finale of Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes included birds flying from a hot air balloon suspended high above us – said to be the result of a 25-year long project. The intricate detail of this show totally blew me away although it was the emotion we felt that came as a surprise. We were drawn into the performance as if we were part of it rather than feeling like spectators. Little did we know then that’s what Puy du Fou does remarkably well.
If you want to get a taste for Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes, you can watch the video here.
If Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes wasn’t enough, later in the day we visited the Puy du Fou Falconry Academy. There are 40 falconers here who have a wealth of knowledge and experience. The Academy raises over 500 birds and 70 different species including kites, eagles, buzzards, pelicans and condors. There are many newborns too and we were lucky to see some baby owls and kites while we were there. Having seen the bird of prey show, it was good to better understand how even the largest birds are looked after behind the scenes.
Puy du Fou creates unforgettable spectacles, themed around French history, which span from the first to the twentieth century. The special effects they adopt are on par with what you’d expect from a blockbuster movie with all performances fast-paced, action-packed and offering more excitement than you thought possible. Just when we thought we’d seen it all and the next show couldn’t be topped, they’d surprise us again. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Do have a read of our previous posts on the accommodation, the shows and the period villages at Puy du Fou. You can also read of my fellow travel bloggers posts.
For tips, read the Extraordinary Chaos guide to visiting and Jenography’s how to do Puy du Fou. For where to stay, read Juggle Mum’s Hotels at Puy du Fou and Extraordinary Chaos’ post Staying at Le Camp du Drap at Puy du Fou.
Jenography – The Best Theme Park You’ve Never Heard Of
Maris World – Puy Du Fou The World’s Best Theme Park
Globetotting – Puy Du Fou Theme Park, France
Are We Nearly There Yet – France’s Best Kept Secret, Puy Du Fou
Globetotting – The Best Shows at Puy du Fou
Maris World – What To See And Do At Puy Du Fou
Juggle Mum – A Review Of Puy Du Fou
Globetotting – 5 Things That Will Surprise You About Puy Du Fou
Extraordinary Chaos – Puy Du Fou in France
For more information about La Cinescenie, read this post by Juggle Mum and this post by Are We Nearly There Yet.
