France: Puy du Fou Turns 45 and Announces Big Update for Le Signe du Triomphe Show

Located in the heart of the French Vendée between Cholet and La Roche-sur-Yon in the west of the country, the Puy du Fou theme park celebrates its 45^th anniversary this year. A park whose exceptional concept – known above all for its spectacular and magnificently staged shows – has now become an international brand. For its anniversary season, which began on Saturday (9 April), Puy du Fou has several surprises in the pipeline for its visitors.

The biggest among them is certainly the new edition of the highlight show “Le Signe du Triomphe”, in which spectators witness gladiator fights and a legendary chariot race in a 7,000-seat replica of a Roman amphitheater. The highlight of the remake is the final scene of the show, in which a new large stage is now created in the center of the venue, as more than 110 movable stage elements transform into a giant imperial galley (40 meters long and 15 meters high) before the eyes of the audience in just a few seconds. For the Roman governor has condemned the doomed Gaulish captives to a new trial – a naval battle in which the Gaulish rafts fight against the imperial fleet. Incidentally, in addition to “Le Signe du Triomphe”, two of the park’s other shows will be accompanied by new music for the upcoming season – the birds of prey show “Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes” and the Viking show “Les Vikings” have been set to new voices and music.

Other highlights of the season include two new special events the park is hosting under the title of “Les Grands Événements” – “La Nuit des Feux Follets”, a show with pyrotechnics that will take place on 16 September, and “La Foulée des Géants”, a night run through the park that will be held on 8 and 9 October. In the latter, different areas of the park will be staged in the dark with special lighting to provide an atmospheric accompaniment to the athletic runners on the 10 or 19 kilometer course. On the second day of this event there will be a run for children.

In addition, there will be new features at the “Cité Nocturne” hotel area of the park, where overnight guests can now explore five new “Ateliers Découvertes”, or discovery workshops, and go behind the scenes of the park’s own falconry as well as the equestrian and costume departments of Puy du Fou to learn all about their work from the experts. (eap)