| Great escapes: Ile de France 2 |
State-of-the-art theme park attractions combine with the charm and humour of France's popular Asterix the Gaul cartoon character.
If you find yourself near Paris and you have kids on board, it is most unlikely you will manage to sneak past Parc Asterix. In fact, it could be your very reason for treading on the capital's doorstep.
Since the early 60s the Asterix comic strip hero has fascinated most children and by the 70s the creators had considered giving their hero new scope for adventure. The idea took shape and a leisure park based on the spirit of Asterix adventures was developed. Opened in 1989, the park was the first new-generation theme park to be built in Europe.
Situated 30km north of Paris, it is easily accessible from the A1 Paris-Lille autoroute. Conveniently enough, it has its own Parc Asterix direct access which lies between exits 7 and 8. An alternative is to travel by the TGV high-speed train, or the Metro/RER line B3 to Roissy-Charles-de Gaulle station and from here take the regular Parc Asterix link CIF bus which leaves Roisy every 30 minutes from 9am to 6.30pm. We chose to drive from Camping Campix at St-Leu d'Esserent via the D44/D924a/
N17/D607 for a distance of 19.2km to the park entrance. Despite our endeavours to arrive early there was a lengthy queue at the entrance to the car park.
Gaul in good time
Although it was less than favourable weather when we arrived, we soon got caught up in the Gaulish spirit and imaginary world of the famous cartoon strip. Parc Asterix plays with French history, with its own special kind of humour. From Ancient Gaul, via the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, through to the 21st century it's fun all the way, with young and old plunged into a world full of friendly good humour.
On a site of more than 20 hectares in the heart of a protected forest, Parc Asterix offers 29 attractions, six large shows held three to six times a day, more than 10 permanent entertainment venues, 40 food outlets including six restaurants and more than 20 themed shops. Over the years this park, using the latest technology, has developed and invested in many new attractions.
What was up and running when we visited at Easter was the new 'La Trace Du Hourra', a daring bobsleigh-type slide back into prehistoric times. The brochure states: "Nothing as wild as this has been seen since humans first learnt to stand up on their own two feet."
'La Trace' is just one of a host of exciting rides, but not really for us; instead we turned our attention to more gentle pursuits by taking a seat and waiting for the dolphin show to start.
Whether you stay in the nearby Three Owls Hotel, or decide that one day of Gaulish hilarity is enough, the entire family are certain to leave Parc Asterix with unforgettable memories. |
Park admission Adults (1 day) FF185; children (1 day) FF135; under 3 years free; car parking FF30 per day.
Parc Attractions
The Goudurix loop-the-loop ride; Menhir Express water-raft ride; La Trace du Hourra, a fast, vertiginous bobsleigh-type run;
Le Grand Splatch big watersplash ride; on La Descente du Styx, you ride coracles down the mini-rapids; Le Vol d'Icare (the 'Wings of Icarus') high-in-the-sky ride; the Tonnerre de Zeus is a vast rollercoaster. More gentle attractions are also available!
Recommended Road Map
Michelin Yellow No.237.
Transport information available from reception at campsites.
Tourist Information Parc Asterix,
BP 8 - 60128 Plailly, France.
Tel 00 33 (0)3 44 62 34 34.
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Camping Campix
This is a popular park ideally placed for visiting sights such as the Parc Asterix. It has been developed in a disused sandstone quarry, with trees and shrubs to camouflage and soften the unusual setting.
There are modern sanitary facilities and although there is no shop on site a bread delivery van calls each morning in high season. A pathway from the site leads to St Leu town centre.
How to get there From Senlis take D44 (direction Chantilly) for 14km to St Leu. Site is signed north of town off the D12 towards Cramoisy.
• WE LIKED The friendly, helpful reception and convenient location.
• BE WARNED Levelling the van takes a few manoeuvres, and the approach road to the site is narrow.
• WOULD SUIT Families seeking a convenient base for visiting theme parks.
Address BT37, 60340, St Leu-d'Esserent.
Tel 00 33 (0)3 44 56 08 48.
Open 1 March-30 November
Charges FF50/80 car, caravan + 2 people; FF15/25 extra person; FF15/20 electric hook-up.
Facilities 160 touring pitches: 150 6-amp electric hook-ups; 22 hot showers.
Shopping 1.5km.
Nearest pub 1.5km.
Gas exchange On site.
FFCC Grading ***
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