The Futuroscope amusement park

When our guests ask us to describe Futuroscope park, just north of Poitiers, we struggle a bit as it's not your usual 'theme park' but instead it is a site devoted to image, audiovisual techniques and special effects. Its futuristic architecture sets the scene... you can see 3D films on the giant ,flat, circular or spherical screens: Dynamic cinema, new video techniques and virtual pictures....this is not a theme park in the style of 'Alton Towers' as there are no roller-coasters.... but it makes for a good day out for the kids just the same.

The attractions include, our favourite 'Arthur and Minimoys', yes we've been a few times.The spectacular laser show at dusk adds the finishing touch to a good day out. The only problem is that in summertime you have quite a wait (10.45pm for us) until its dark enough for the show to start, so you end up, as we did on a visit,having time to kill. We did this by visiting some of the less inviting 'attractions' that we had felt earlier were not worth seeing as we had experienced some of them on an earlier visit. It also gave us older guests a chance for a nap - I chose the 'Born to be wild' show for my own personal 'power-nap' as interesting as it was, it was only something you would now see on the discovery channel or the likes but on a huge screen.

The major 'new' attraction giving robots star billing at Futuroscope, 'Danse avec les Robots' (Dances with Robots) is the nearest you will get to the 'normal' theme park rides, a ride that combines state-of-the-art technology and artistic skill.

The park opens from 10am daily.

Parc du Futuroscope