Puy du Fou

They tried to explain to us what Puy du Fou was.

'It's like Disneyland did history.'  I think that it is more like Cirque de Soleil did history.

And, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking the time to go here!

When you first enter, it looks like an old town in France.  But unlike Mainstreet, none of the shops were open!

The carousel wasn't running yet.

Then, like Disney's 'The Presidents' these animatronic people pop out of windows, and welcome you. I think that's what they said.  It is all in French!

Wondering through the forest paths are small items to view.

And a couple native animals.

I have seen many a bird show.  Sea World does a good one, as does Zoorasia in Yokohama.  But, this one was fantastic!

This is the bird who stomps on snakes.

Owl.  Duh!

It rained a little bit while we were watching.

For the worst rain, we were inside.  On show was Lippizaner stallions doing the show on a floor, and then it filled with water, and they were splashing around.  Lots of fire, fireworks, black lights with neon.  Very cool.

The other show was about Vendée, France.  During the French Revolution (1793), the area rebelled, and were shot down and starved.  It was in a round building, and the audience would swivel, and different stages would show up, and the actors would walk from one to another as you followed them in their story.

I was most impressed with the Roman Coliseum.  I never thought that I would actually experience such an event.

I was told it was not full-sized.

They started with a parade of different animals and excesses.

The Roman Emperor.

We were asked which side to sit on, so we chose the rebels!

The lion taming was fun, but the hilarious part came when the tamer tried to get this guy back in the cage.  The lion would put his paw on the door so it wouldn't open for him to get into.  He did it several times.  The whole crowd was laughing.  He eventually did have to go inside.

We didn't get a great shot of them running around, but it was wild!

The detail was fun!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

The winner gets the girl.

Finale.

This was a Viking Village.

I believe love was in the air.

Stampede!

soldiers arrive.

Voomp, the boat pops up and war ensues.  People fall off of buildings, etc.

Medieval times and they even got a horse to go to the top of this tower!

Lots of the knights jousting.

Different styles of sport.  It was amazing how many horse acrobatics they could do in such a short runway.

Then, the facade background goes away, and there's a castle!

And it rolls towards you!  Freakin' amazing!

Another medieval village.

This, I think, is the sword in the stone.

He gets it out...

...and water and fire explodes!

What to do next?

Oh!  The center of the water goes down, and they they are, the knights of the round table!

Merlin.

And there must be a water-tight door down there that opens after the water goes out, and the table comes up, because this horse CAME OUT of the water!