If you’re looking for somewhere new to visit this summer, one British woman has come up with an unlikely recommendation – one you may not be familiar with despite it being named ‘best theme park in the world’ on two occasions.
Travel expert Bonnie Rakhit shared video footage of her trip to France’s “best kept secret”, which sits in the Pays de la Loire region in the west of the country. “It’s without doubt the most magical theme park I have ever visited,” she praised on TikTok.
Just an hour from Nantes, Bonnie claims the attraction is “ideal” for a short break outside of the UK. But what sets it apart from the rest?
“There are no rides here,” Bonnie continued. “Instead you go on a time-travelling adventure from Roman gladiators to Viking raids, and the legend of King Arthur to the splendour of the Palace of Versailles across 50 hectares of stunning landscape.”
Bonnie continued, reporting that the theme park boasts 20 award-winning shows in all as well as fully immersive experiences for all the family. In addition, each show has been translated into English, the transcript of which can be accessed via the the park’s dedicated app.
“The magic doesn’t stop at night,” Bonnie added. “We stayed at Le Grand Siecle – a hotel inspired by Louis XIV’s Court. There’s also a medieval village, a Camelot-style tented camp, an ancient Roman town and a castle called the Citadel.”
Closing her review, Bonnie said Puy Du Fou welcomes more than 2.8million tourists per year. “It’s easy to see why,” she praised. “It’s inspiring and completely unique – this isn’t just a theme park, it’s a journey through time. Add it to your bucket list.”
Writing in response, one TikTok user hailed: “I have been a few times and it is insane, seriously amazing. The Coliseum is crazy!”
A second person added: “I love Puy de Fou, used to live in Nantes and went many times. The evening shows are amazing! Planet Sauvage is also fab and the best safari park I have ever seen.”
And a third gushed: “This is genuinely the best park I have ever been to! So incredible I would say Europa Park is good for rollercoasters (although i don’t think it’s the best one in Europe but it’s nice) but Puy Du Fou is amazing for story telling! Like incredibly impressive!”
The British section of the Puy de Fou website states that single-night stays start from £63.38 per person. As well as access to the park and all of its shows, this includes a night in a hotel with breakfast included (at a hotel in the park or partner accommodation near Puy du Fou) and free translation of every attraction.
Park tickets minus hotel stays are also available for one, two and three day visits, starting at £31.69 per person.
The site adds: “The Puy du Fou experience is designed for all ages to enjoy. Children and parents alike will be captivated all the way through as the shows are short and feature many amazing effects.
“The few scenes that may alarm very young children due to their spectacular realism are indicated by a symbol in the mobile app and Visitor Guide.”