Futuroscope (3)

Futuroscope, or Parc du Futuroscope (), formerly known as Planète Futuroscope, is a French theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic futuroscope and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world.

It is located in the department of Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, north of Poitiers, in the communes of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou and Jaunay-Clan.

The park had 1.83 million visitors in 2015. In total, 50 million visitors have been to the park since it opened in 1987.

History

* 1984 : 11 December, first stone placed by René Monory, president of the general council of Vienne.
* 1987 : 31 May, opens to the public with ''Kinémax'', the ''Pavillon du Futuroscope'' and a play zone.

* 1988 : opening of the first ''Dynamique Cinéma'' - ''Monde des Enfants'' (the world of children) and the ''Showscan'' (the first part of the ''Pavillon de la Communication'').
* 1989 : the ''Cinéma en Relief'', the ''Cinéma 360°'' and the second part of the ''Pavillon de la Communication'' open, offering new spectacles to visitors.
* 1990 : opening of the ''Omnimax'' and the ''Gyrotour''. Futuroscope produces its first film in 360° about the Tour de France.

* 1991 : inauguration of ''Cinéautomate'' in spring. The park receives its one-millionth visitor.
* 1992 : the ''Tapis Magique'' (Magic Carpet) and the ''Paysages d’ Europe'' (Landscapes of Europe, a tow boat ride) open.
* 1993 : inauguration of ''Solido''.
* 1994 : opening of ''Pavillon de la Vienne'', a second ''Dynamique Cinéma'' and the ''Aquascope''.
* 1995 : celebrating the centenary of cinema, inauguration of the ''Images Studio''.
* 1996 : the IMAX 3D opens and presents '' Guillaumet, les Ailes du Courage'' (the Wings of Courage), a fiction in 3D by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The ''Showscan'' becomes the ''Cinéma Haute Résolution'' (High Resolution Cinema).
* 1997 : Futuroscope celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new evening spectacle, ''Le Lac aux Images'' (the Lake with Images). The ''Cinéautomate'' becomes ''Ciné-Jeu'' (Cinema Game) and ''Cyber Avenue'' opens up the Cyberworld to its visitors,. The ''Pavillon de la Communication'' presents a film produced by Futuroscope called ''Les Autoroutes de l’Information'' (The Motorways of Information).
* 1998: ''Cyber Avenue'' expands with ''Cybermédia'' offering 1600 m² (17,000 sq ft) of multimedia, Internet and video games. ''Imagic'' opens, mixing image with illusion. The ''Dynamique Cinéma 2'' becomes ''Astratour'' with a film discovering satellites, produced by Futuroscope.
* 1999: opening of ''Images du Goût'' (Images of Taste) and ''The Workshop of Taste'' in the ''Pavillon du Futuroscope''.
* 2000: opening of the IMAX 3D simulator: ''Le Défi d’Atlantis'' (Race for Atlantis). In June, the ''Gare TGV-Futuroscope'' (Futuroscope's TGV Station) opened with a walkway allowing visitors to reach the heart of the park directly from the station (80 mins from Paris- Montparnasse).

* 2001: the inauguration of the new attractions: ''CyberWorld, ''OceanOasis'', ''Superstition'' et ''Métropole Défi'' (Metropolis Challenge). On 18 April, Futuroscope welcomed its 25-millionth visitor.
* 2002: opening of ''Destination Cosmos'', a new evening spectacle conceived by Yves Pépin : ''Le Miroir d’Uranie'' (the Mirror of Uranie) and two new films: ''Sur les traces du Panda'' ( China: The Panda Adventure) and ''Plongeurs sans Limite'' (Divers Without Limits).
* 2003: opening of the attraction ''La Cité du Numérique'' (the Digital City); 2 IMAX films: ''Space Station 3D'' and ''Percussions du Monde'' ( Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey); 2 dynamique films: ''Les mélodies Aquatiques'' (Aquatic Melodies); and 2 new spectacles: ''Les Grandes Illusions'' (The Great Illusions), the ''Pavillon de la Créativité'' and an open air photograph exhibition.
* 2004: the season begins with a festival of the best Imax films. Jacques Perrin produces an exclusive new film for ''Tapis Magique'', ''Voyageurs du Ciel et de la Mer'' (Travellers by Air and by Sea). ''Le Rêve d’Icare'' ( Adrenaline Rush) produces new sensations in the Imax cinema.
* 2005: the arrival of many new attractions: ''Star du Futur !'' (Star of the Future!); ''La Légende de l'Étalon Noir'' (The Young Black Stallion) in the ''Kinémax''; the dynamique film ''Péril sur Akryls'' (Danger on Akryls) in ''Dynamique 1'' and ''Les Yeux Grands Fermés'' (Journey into the Dark). On 27 April, the park welcomed its 30-millionth visitor, making it the second most visited theme park in France and the fifth in Europe.
* 2006: a new 3D film opens in ''Imax 3D'', ''le Seigneur du Ring'' (Adventures in Animation 3D). This year, the Park is themed as the Year of the Robots, by opening on 5 April with ''Dances with Robots'' in the new ''House of the Robots''. A new evening spectacle entitled the ''Forest of the Dreams'' also forms part of the theme.
* 2007: two new IMAX films, ''Expédition Nil Bleu'' ( Mystery of the Nile), ''Sous les Mers du Monde 3D'' (Deep Sea 3D), and a new version of the dynamic film ''La Vienne Dynamique''.
* 2008: a new attraction based around the BBC's programme '' The Future is Wild'', a new Omnimax film (''Dinosaurs''), a new dynamic film (''Laponie Express''). On 10 July, the park welcomed its 35-millionth visitor.
* 2015: Cirque du Soleil announced a partnership with Futuroscope and will produce a new show called 'La Forge aux étoiles' to replace the 'Lady O' evening show. The show will premier on 6 February 2016 and perform 250-300 shows a year.

Futuroscope currently employs 600 people, including 400 temporary staff.
Stages of the Tour de France cycle race have begun and ended at the park several times since its opening.

Architecture

The pavilions of Futuroscope are mainly constructed of metal and glass, and their design was led by architect Denis Laming.

* 1987 : Le Pavillon du Futuroscope, Le Kinémax
* 1988 : Le Cinéma Dynamique 1, Le Pavillon de la Communication
* 1989 : Le 360°, le Cinéma en Relief (the latter removed in 2004)
* 1990 : L’Omnimax, la Gyrotour
* 1991 : Le Cinéautomate
* 1992 : Le Tapis Magique
* 1993 : Le Solido ''(removed in 2017)''
* 1994 : Le Pavillon de la Vienne, le Cinéma Dynamique 2, l’Aquascope
* 1995 : Images Studio
* 1996 : L’Imax 3D
* 2000 : L’Imax 3D Dynamique, TGV-Futuroscope station
* 2002 : Destination Cosmos ''(formerly Aquascope)''
* 2006 : Le Pavillon des Robots ''(Dances with Robots)''
* 2008 : Les Animaux du Futur ''(today : La Machine à Voyager dans le Temps)''
* 2020 : Objectif Mars

Attractions

Restaurants and shops

The park has eight full-service restaurants and ten '' restaurations rapides'' (''Illico Resto''). There are eight shops, most of which are located at the entrance.

References

External links

{{commons category, Futuroscope

Official website

Buildings and structures in Vienne
Amusement parks in France
Compagnie des Alpes
Tourist attractions in Vienne
1987 establishments in France
Amusement parks opened in 1987