The re-opening of tourist sites and theme parks in France’s green zone is set to take place on 2 June, together with restaurants in the region. The welcome news was personally conveyed to Philippe de Villiers, founder of Puy du Fou, by Secretary of State for Tourism, M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, at the request of the French President.
Puy du Fou, France’s second largest theme park, has warmly welcomed the decision which recognises the Park’s ability to guarantee its visitors’ safety.
In view of the complex measures that need to be put in place, Puy du Fou will open for its first visitors on Thursday 11 June, remaining open until 1 November 2020. The comprehensive range of health and safety initiatives, in accordance with government guidelines, will ensure guests’ safety at all times.
From 11 June, visitors will be the first to see Puy du Fou’s new show for 2020, ‘Les Noces de Feu’, stay in its new hotel ‘Le Grand Siècle’, and enjoy the rest of its legendary offering.
Puy du Fou puts safety at the heart of its opening
Guaranteeing its visitors’ safety remains the number one priority for Puy du Fou. Extending over a massive 150 hectares, and surrounded by nature, Puy du Fou has implemented a range of robust government-approved safety initiatives:
Visitor flow management: on arrival at Puy du Fou, visitors will be allocated spacious parking places, designed to limit their contact with others. Within the Park’s perimeter, visitor flow will be organised and controlled at all times by the presence of 350 staff, supported by a surveillance video covering the entire park.
Disinfection points and distancing: every part of the Park accessible to visitors will be constantly disinfected throughout the day (restaurants, grandstands, toilets, hotel bedrooms, shuttle service). Over 250 disinfection points will be available, and signs and information screens will remind visitors of social distancing and other safety procedures throughout their stay.
Fully-trained shielded teams: all Puy du Fou staff in contact with visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, visors), and full trained in security and hygiene practices. A doctor and medical team trained in the detection and management of Covid 19 will be on site every day.
Social distancing at all shows: the entrances and exits to all the shows have been widened and increased in number to allow for social distancing and regular visitor flow. In addition, the audience size for each show has been drastically reduced, to enable visitors to socially distance within their own family groups.
Restaurants – open-air or reduced capacity: each restaurant will welcome just 50% of its normal capacity in order to maintain distance between each table. Visitors will also have the option of a new take-away set menu which will allow them to enjoy a meal in one of the many designated open air areas.
For more information on all the measures being implemented to guarantee visitors’ safety, please visit ‘Information on Covid 19’.
New initiatives for 2020
As a tonic to the unprecedented crisis, Puy du Fou is delighted to introduce its visitors to three new initiatives for 2020:
‘Les Noces de Feu’: new night-time show
The show brings together the elements of fire and water in a spectacularly lavish staging, carrying its audience on a lyrical night-time journey, against a musical backdrop, to the heart of the 19th century. The extraordinary night-time fairyland shimmers with glowing figures, and dazzles with jaw-dropping aerial displays and vast stage sets that emerge from the depths of the water.
‘Le Grand Siècle’: the new Sun King hotel
Guests can stay in an ornate baroque-style apartment, adorned with elaborate fabrics, brocade tapestries and gilt-bronze mouldings, styled on the world of the Sun King. While Versailles was used by Louise XIV for his court and official visitors, friends were invited to the royal residence at Marly. Although no longer standing, the château was the inspiration for Puy du Fou’s newest hotel, ‘Le Grand Siècle’.
The 4-star hotel offers 96 family rooms split between 8 pavilions, amidst three hectares of French formal gardens. At the heart of the hotel, the ‘La Table des Ambassadeurs’ restaurant features a ‘royal’ menu, created by world-renowned chef, Yannick Alléno.
Le Théâtre Molière : Puy du Fou’s new convention centre
At the heart of ‘Le Grand Siècle’, ‘Le Théâtre Molière’ is a huge new 3,500m² convention centre comprising a 500-seat central auditorium, 11 fully modular meeting rooms (between 40m² and 250m²) and a large multi-purpose space designed to host any type of meeting, convention or conference.
