Puy de Fou - is it worth it??

[Porthia]

Hello! Off to France in the summer and was planning to go to Put de Fou but it’s mega expensive so I was wondering if it’s worth it!? And if so is it worth doing the “emotion pass” to get quick access to shows and seats etc?

kids are 5,7,11 years old

thanks!!

Brilliant place - you wont regret it!

@Porthia update us when you have been !

It’s amazing, just as all the PPs have said. We’ve been to the one in France twice and would go again if I was ever within a couple of hours drive of it. They really are world-class performances.
We have also been to the newer one in Spain - very close to Toledo - it is not as big yet and the site is not as mature but the shows were fantastic. Obviously it has a Spanish historical flavour - the night show was stunning.
Tip: shows are narrated in French/Spanish - they are visually spectacular even if you don’t understand- but the app has live English translations so remember earphones and maybe earphone splitters to allow 2 people use one phone. (This was in Spain last year, presume same for French one now)

@mainbrochus will do!! Not going until late August but quite excited about it now!

So glad to hear everyone thinks it is worth the price tag!! It’s costing about £300 for our family of 5!

I promise its worth every penny.

Remember to take hats, sunscreen, water and snacks

The queues are long to get food, so if you can, take a picnic.

We didn’t go because they used big cats - kids didn’t fancy it and I could only agree really (but kept the leaflet a bit ruefully).

You must go to the bird show and the gladiator/chariot racing show. Both amazing!

It’s awesome…literally I was full of awe, jaw dropped. It’s just so so clever, I’ve done Disney many times but that has nothing on Puy de Fou.

Make sure you see Le Secret De La Lance, I was blown away.

I went last week. It was EPIC! My toddler adored it too. Seriously worth it.

Ooh ok actually this is v useful.

we only have one day.
we DO have the emotion passes.

what should we see? Are there any bits you absolutelt MUST see! (5 yo DS is into knights and sword fights and things so that’s a bonus - they will not be interested in anything vaguely romantic)

This is my MUST see for your 5 year old DS who loves Knights, swords, fighting etc

Le Signe du Triomphe 34mins
This is a Roman Gladitor show. It's like you are at the coliseum watching gladiators fight it out.
It is family friendly, but it depends on your 5 year old. Of course, they are not really hurting/killing each other. But it is fighting

Les Vikings 26 mins
Again this is quite fearsome, as you are watching Vikings attack and pillage a village.
Again it is family frirndly, but maybe a little scary to a 5 year old.
For me, watching huge, ripped men pretending to be Vikings is like my dreams have come true 😁

Le Secret de la Lance 29 mins
This is a medieval Knights. Sword fighting, jousting etc
Your 5 year old will.love this.

Les Chevalier de la Table Ronde 17 mins
The Knights of the Round Table.
Its all about the young knight Arthur who become King Arthur. Right up your DS street.

Finally for the evening, you have to go to Puy De Fou most famous show La Cinescenie. 1.30 hour.
Its a show which shows all the history over 7 centuries, from the Middle Ages all the way to World War II.
I cant really explain it. Its amazing. It has everything. 13 million people have gone to see it, that's how good it is.

A zillion percent yes it's worth it!

We are looking to go in August, we have heard it’s amazing. There is an emotion pass available for the date we want. Is it worth the extra 100 euros? What benefits do you get? Thanks

I haven't been but have a trip planned also in August and forked out for the emotion pass because it means you can arrive up to 10 minutes before the show and get reserved seating rather than having to queue. I joined a puy du fou FB group and the consensus was that in August the queues for shows can be very long and the emotion pass is worthwhile. As we only have a day I wanted to maximise time (without whining children queuing). I don't know for sure if it will be worth it and I must admit I did balk at the cost but the idea of long queues had been putting me off.

Should add, I believe the pass is valid for the six or seven "main" shows.

Le Secret de la Lance 29 mins - never mind 5 year olds, my ovaries literally jumped with all the testosterone going on in this show. But all the shows are great.

They don't do this anymore. They've replaced that part with something that doesn't involve animals.

😁

where is nice to stay close like 1-2 hr commute to puy de fou? camp sites ?? nice towns near by??

I would love to go again! You'll have the best time OP.
It must have changed a lot since we went, dc3 was a tiny baby that i carried around snuggled in a sling and they are 11 now! The older dc still remember the chariots and the Christians being "eaten" by lions.

https://www.camping-auboisduce.com/fr/
we have been to Puy du Fou 4 times in the last 10-15 years. This time we stayed in their motor home /campervan aire, but prior to that we stayed in our touring caravan in the campsite above which is just up the road. We no longer have the caravan, The parc is quite in land and there isnt much else around there. They have a glamping pod site on the parc but Im not sure if you can bring your own tents.
There are also hotels on the parc but it can be expensive.
However if you are planning to see the cinescieinie show staying close by is a god send as the car park is gridlocked at going home time.
There are lots to do and see around the Vendee so I would suggest staying on/near the parc for the duration of your visit, and then go to one of the many sea side locations.

Gosh it must be 20 years since we went to Puy du Fou and we all still rave about it. Don't think they had Emotion Pass in those days but we looked at the timetable and planned our day round the big shows. We didn't have tickets for the evening show but the day was so fantastic we picked some up from the touts outside (had to split family into 2 groups) and that was also amazing. Would be a very long day for an under 8 year old to do both.

We live nearby and have been many, many times.

With a five year old don't even think about the evening show, it starts very late and they will be exhausted. The day part is much better for kids.

Don't plan more than 3, maybe 4 of the big shows. It makes the day too tiring and you miss out on the rest.

If the kids like knights then secret of the lance is a must.

Le bal des oiseaux phantoms is magnificent. Our favourite. Birds of prey like you have never seen them.

Whilst the gladiator show is impressive it is also the one with the worst queues as it is only on twice a day so I would skip that and go to the Vikings instead.

The musketeers show is brilliant and has the advantage of being inside.

The other inside show (Dernière panache) is not as visually and it is more local French history that might go over the kids heads.

There are lots of other small shows, and walk through s. The secret of Verdun is worth it if you are interested in WWI but some kids find it scary.

Have a great day. Wear sunscreen. You will not regret it, I promise.