The history of Puy du Fou as a theme park started in 1977, when Philippe de Villiers, a twenty-seven-year-old student, decided to create an original show named "Cinéscénie". On 13 June 1977, he discovered the ruins of an old renaissance castle in the village of Les Epesses near Cholet, he wrote a scenario about a local family named Maupillier, spanning from the fourteenth century until World War II. Phillippe de Villiers organized an association of 600 members named "l'Association du Puy du Fou" which has as president today Phillippe de Villiers' son, Nicolas de Villiers. When the first representation of the Cinéscénie began in June 1978, the show didn't have great success, but that quickly changed by the end of the first season, and with that success, the show grew into a huge spectacular. It has since spawned its own micro-industry of actors, prop-makers and trainers for the featured horse riding and sword fighting, which, since 1998, has been due to the efforts of the "Académies Junior" who organized shows every year outside the Cinéscénie, such as the Paris Paname in the "Halle Renaissance" of the Grand Park, in March 2008. The Grand Park of the Puy du Fou was opened near the Cinéscénie in 1989, and is today one of the most popular theme parks in France. In 2011, the Grand Parc of Puy du Fou hosted the team presentations prior to the Tour de France, which was set to begin in the Vendée. On 13 August 2018, the Grand Parc launched a program where specially trained rooks fly around the park to pick up cigarette butts and other small pieces of litter. Christophe Gaborit, the park's Head of Falconry, originally trained the birds to participate in the park's falconry show, but later was inspired to teach them how to pick up rubbish left by the park's visitors. By using a specially-created box, which was inspired by a magician's prop, he taught six of his birds—Boubou, Bamboo, Bill, Black, Bricole, and Baco—to deliver bits of trash to the box and exchange them for food. The goal of the project is to both teach the park's visitors about the birds and to discourage littering.
Attractions
The park is split into 26 main shows, each running for approximately 30 – 40 minutes:
The Secret of the Lance is set in front of the battlements of a Middle Age Castle. It relates the story of a young shepherdess who must defend alone her castle's tower against English knights, helped by a lance with supernatural powers.
The Vikings is set in a reconstructed 1000-year-old fortress that is attacked by a VikingLongship. The story begins with a marriage in the village, just before the arrival of a Viking longboat. Special effects include the emergence of a longboat from under water.
Triumph's Sign is set in a replica of an amphitheatre that is 115 meters long and 75 meters wide. It recreates the Gaul atmosphere during Roman times. It features a traditional parade of people and animals, gladiatorial combat, chariot racing and executions. It is set during the time of Diocletian, when there was great unrest.
The Phantom Birds Dance is a show set to a mysterious story. Dozens of birds of prey surge from the ruins and swoop low over the heads of the visitors. The falcons are placed on the heads of some visitors wearing hats provided by the falconers. Many of the larger birds are released from a balloon floating far overhead. This ends with around two hundred birds flying at once above the audience.
Richelieu's Musketeers features musketeers performing swash-buckling sword fighting and Gypsy girls Flamenco dancing in water. Horses also perform special trotting/jumping techniques.
Le Dernier Panache which follows the destiny of a French naval officer, a hero of the American War of Independence, whose life will change dramatically in 1793, in a last fight for freedom.
Les Noces de Feu. During the night, this show takes place completely on the water and depicts a love story between two musicians.
The above spectacles are presented in French, but electronic translators are available. Other smaller spectacles are available only in French:
The main show takes place in the evening on a huge outdoor stage behind the ruined castle. It tells the story of the 700 years of history in the area. The Cinéscénie boasts the largest stage in the world, 1 200 actors, hundreds of horses and about 800 fireworks per performance. All of the dialogs is in French, but translation headsets are available in 5 different languages. All of the actors and actressescome from the local villages and are volunteers. The Cinéscénie is only performed during peak season. It is bookable separately and has a separate entrance.
13 August 2011, Puy du Fou won the silver Jupiter at the "Internationale des Feux Loto Quebec", the greatest international competition of pyrotechnic at Montréal.
17 March 2012, Puy du Fou received the « Thea Classic Award 2012 », for "outstanding, breakthrough visitor attractions that have stood the test of time" at Los Angeles.
2013: it was titled "best European theme park" by the Parksmania Awards in Italy.
