Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Puy du Fou: is it worth the effort

25 replies

Inaflap · 02/08/2012 09:24

We are staying about an hour and a half max away and have got 20% off vouchers on adult tickets. I think it might be husbands idea of hell as he can't seem to do crowds. However, me and the boys (11 and 17) have done the olympic park yesterday and other type attractions. I'm just wondering if it is worth doing or not, particularly for my youngest. I was toying with the idea of leaving husband back on the campsite as it's more stressful having to deal with him being grumpy but it means then that the driving etc is all down to me.

OP posts:

AgentProvocateur · 02/08/2012 09:40

Yes, definitely. We did it a few years ago, and I was prepared to be underwhelmed but it was fantastic.

MsIngaFewmarbles · 02/08/2012 09:41

Watching with interest as we are considering going, our DCs are 10,8&2

WendevilleAndManlock · 02/08/2012 15:07

Yes definately go.

Are you in the Vendee region? I went from St Jean de Monts a couple of years ago and booked a tour which picked us up from the campsite in a minibus. I took DS1 and 2 who were 6 and 7 at the time. It meant DH and DD (5) could stay behind. and I didn't have to drive.

Pick up a timetable on arrival and carefully plan which shows you will see at what time. To fit in every show was only just do-able, and they are all excellent.

Indith · 02/08/2012 15:14

Yes yes yes yes yes go! It is sooooooooo amazing! We went in June with a 3 year old and a 5 year old and had a superb day out, we could all have happily stayed longer really as there is so much to see that we didn't manage everything. It was pouring down for a lot of it but that didn't matter at all. It is really big so you don't get too crowded really.

PetiteRaleuse · 02/08/2012 15:19

YES I haven't been myself but know loads of people who have been, and haven't heard anyone say anything negative about it. In fact it is on my list of places to go when the DCs are no longer babies

Mominatrix · 02/08/2012 15:27

I will probably be one of the lone dissenters here. I went and was bored silly. Did not quite get what the point was - I was dragged there by my ILs and we drove an hour and a half to get there, then another hour and half to get back. I was not given any backstory, and my French is passable at best. There was no storyline, or one which was cohesive, and was melodramatic and a bit bombastic.

However, it did seem to be crowd pleaser - just not my cup of tea.

Wants3 · 02/08/2012 15:46

It was good but can get crowded especially the roman bit. If you don't mind lots of europeans who don't have queuing etiquette then it's a good day out.

WendevilleAndManlock · 02/08/2012 15:53

I think I read somewhere that if you take a radio, you can tune in to the commentary in English. Perhaps someone can confirm?

Can't say I was bothered about the storyline, just enjoyed the spectacle.

bigTillyMint · 02/08/2012 15:59

Yes definitely do it! My DH and DC don't speak French (beyond a few words!) and they enjoyed it muchly. The DC were probably about 6 and 8 at the time.

ClaireRacing · 02/08/2012 18:22

It is an amazing place - not to be missed.

There are quiet areas if it all gets too much for your DH.

frenchfancy · 03/08/2012 07:20

Definately go. Translators are available there. They are mini transitors and the translation is put out on radio waves. Go to the Grand parc during the day rather than the evening show though.

See the site www.puydufou.com/en . Planning is important to get to see the shows you want. You can get the days program on the French side of the web site to help you plan, or pick it up at the gates. If you don't like crowds then aim for 3 big shows, that should give you plenty time to wander round the quieter bits. The first big show starts at around 10:15 and it is always the quietest of the day. Aim to get there about 9:30-9:45 if you can.

dreamingofsun · 03/08/2012 14:46

yes definately. we only did the day as evening was too late and thought we'd get too tired. kids moaned about going - i insisted as had pre-booked tickets. was the highlight of the holiday though.

didn't bother with translations and it didn't detract from the amazing shows

wickedfairy · 03/08/2012 15:23

Hi, I am not into that kind of thing at all but we went last year with the DC's (4 and 1). I must admit, it was amazing - I really was surprised. We did a full day and got all the main shows in, but if you could manage 2 days, you would see much more (there are also lots of smaller shows but we didn't have time to see them), we really had to pack it all in! When you enter, get the English timetable (changes each day) - it shows which times all the shows are on and if you pick correctly, you can see all the main shows throughout the whole day. Or if you are not interested in one, you can skip it. I would recommend doing them all though, even the one's I thought sounded a bit strange were excellent.

The main shows were amazing, especially the birds of prey one and the vikings and romans. We didn;t stay for the evening show as our kids were too young, but it really was impressive. We don't speak French and didn't have the translation things and still got by ok - you can work out what is going on in the shows without it. They have really put a lot of effort into the shows, really impressive.

The grounds of the place are absolutely beautiful - take your own picnic if you can, the food on-site looks passable, but very motorway service style (the bit we saw anyway). I can't remember if it says you are allowed picnics butplenty of people did, we just had ours in a bag on the buggy and had no problems. I think children under 5 may be free (can't quite remeber) - I was worried that DS wouldn't get in free, as he was very tall but we had no issues.

Go for it and enjoy!!

ClaireRacing · 03/08/2012 15:46

I think it is worth going to because there is just nothing else like it.

You might think you have been to open-air theatre before, or gone to the show at Legoland, but nothing prepares you for the scaleof Puy du Fou. The re-enactments are top quality with seriously skilled actors. They do the real thing instead of hiding behind props and special effects, eg in the Colliseum. It is so superior to Disney shows.

I wouldn't bother buying the headsets. The music and commentary is so loud and will drown out whatever is on your headphones. They give you a synopsis of the story, and the visual displays will speak for themselves. A basic knowledge of French is a bonus, but not necessary.

parno · 07/08/2012 20:14

We went this June, me and 2 dc ages 8 and 14. Tbh we weren't overly awed by it all. It was quite flouncy and all a bit mystical. We did enjoy ourselves without the translator thingy trying to work out what was going on. The birds of prey and the roman gladiators were impressive. I was just pleased we had got vastly reduced tickets on the internet. After having read reviews about how wonderful it was I did start to wonder if we are just a bit grumpy.

parno · 07/08/2012 20:17

BTW we were staying in Jard sur Mer and I drove there no problems.

Drywhiteplease · 09/08/2012 21:27

We stayed in Jard sur mer too. Definitely go to Puy!!!

MsIngaFewmarbles · 10/08/2012 15:55

How much is it? We will prob go regardless but it would help with my holiday budgetting.

ClaireRacing · 10/08/2012 18:03

Prices are on their website.

frenchfancy · 10/08/2012 18:44

27? for Adults, 19? for children (5-13 years). If you book ahead; Slightly more if you pay on the day.

Evening show is 25? Adults and 16? for children.

rosajam · 13/08/2012 09:52

sorry to be ignorant - but what is this place?

dreamingofsun · 13/08/2012 10:05

its northern vendee. google and you will find the website. during evening there's a massive firework display. during the day there are about 6 different shows, eg the most amazing bird of prey show (10 times better than anything i've ever seen), acrobats with horses eg standing 3 high in pyramid on horseback. really amazing. my kids moaned about going but it ended up as the highlight of the holiday - spellbinding

frenchfancy · 13/08/2012 11:22

The Puy du Fou is difficult to describe because there is nothing else like it.

It is a theme park loosely based on the history of the Vendee covering everything from the Roman Empire, the 100 years war and cardinal richelieu. Some of it is true, mixed in with legend and fiction. As well as the shows there are several recreated villages (Medieval, Viking, 18th Century etc) which are a delight to wander around.

There are no roller coasters or other normal theme park stuff. It is suitable for all ages, not just children.

I love the place (can you tell? :) )

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 13/08/2012 21:00

It's Fab. You will love it

I agree you have to get your elbows out a bit because of lack of queuing etiquette.

Highlights are - Vikings, Bird Show, Romans, Joan of Arc.

milkybarsrus · 14/08/2012 09:16

to the OP:-- please can you say where you got your 20% discount from as I intend to take the family next week and any discount helps when theres 5 of us to pay for.

Flip