[MR] Review of the Grand Parc Puy du Fou

[Terelyn Marks]

It sounds wonderful, but all I got when I tried the links was "This page not 
available."

::sigh::

Marsaili Johnston

In democracy it's your vote that counts.  In feudalism it's your count that 
votes.





>From: "Towey, Brian" <cbt4489 at GlaxoWellcome.com>
>To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
>CC: "'Windmasters Hill List'" <keep at windmastershill.org>
>Subject: [MR] Review of the Grand Parc Puy du Fou
>Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 12:44:39 -0400
>
>[Cross-posted from the Research and Authenticity section of the Armour
>Archive]
>
>This is a review of the Grand Parc Puy du Fou, an historical theme park in
>western France.  They advertise an "imposing reproduction of a living city
>in the 13th and 14th centuries, with unparalleled historical realism."
>Their Web site is at:
>http://www.puydufou.com/anglais/Default.htm
>
>I went; I saw; I took pictures.
>
>This place was very impressive.  For example, they have built a full-sized
>Roman coliseum.  Really.  It looked like poured concrete, instead of 
>marble,
>but so what?  There is a lot to be said for things that are authentically
>BIG.
>
>Twice a day, they race chariots, battle gladiators, and feed Christians to
>the lions.  Most impressive.
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/coliseum.jpg
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/lions.jpg
>
>The raptor show was more of a fantasy, with a sleeping princess floating up
>from the ruins of a medieval castle and calling to her long-lost birds and
>knights.  A dozen eagles at a time swooping overhead, countless hawks, at
>least one condor, and so on.  Definitely a wow!
>
>As for authenticity, this show could have been a loss, but instead they
>scored big points for one particular detail.  Here is the inside of an
>actual 15th C circular tower from a chateau in the Loire valley.  Notice 
>the
>odd coffering on the interior.  (What is that for, I wonder?)
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/real tower.jpg
>
>And, this is a tower that was part of the stage set.  Its walls opened up
>and birds flew out.  They took the trouble to match the coffering on the
>wall.  Very nice!
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/stage tower.jpg
>
>Finally, we went to their medieval village, which they advertise as being
>very authentic.  It was basically a Ren Faire, but for authenticity it
>certainly beat any I've seen elsewhere.  For instance, the roof beams in 
>the
>snack shop used the same joinery as the ones I saw in a 15th C chateau.
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/roof_truss.jpg
>
>The trestle tables and benches in the snack shop looked great, too.
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/benches.jpg
>
>The "village" was credibly old, even if the shops were selling the usual 
>Ren
>Faire stuff.
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/medieval village.jpg
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/medieval village2.jpg
>
>The roofs in the village were real slate, with real moss.
>
>http://www.charlesfleming-sca.com/images/puy du fou/slate roof.jpg
>
>It was a hot day, and I noticed that the waitresses at the snack bar had
>headpieces that were cleverly disguised sweat bands.  That's a trick I'll
>remember for Pennsic.
>
>There were parts of the park I never saw, such as the village that gets
>razed by Vikings twice a day.  The Vikings have horns on their helmets, I'm
>afraid. :(
>
>Still, all in all, I give the place an A for authenticity, and an A+ for
>ambition.  If I lived nearby, I would definitely get the annual pass.
>
>One last thought: To get to this place, you have to drive past lots and 
>lots
>of farms with ancient stone barns, not to mention the churches and chateaux
>every few miles.  In Le Mans, where we started the trip, the city wall was
>laid by the Romans in 208 AD!  In such a setting, they had better get it
>right, because the audience knows the difference.
>
>Your servant,
>
>Brian Towey
>s.k.a. Charles Fleming
>"Miror Otium Negotium Multum Requirere"
>
>
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