The second most popular theme park in Europe is visited by millions of people every year, despite having no rides or rollercoasters.
Internationally speaking, Puy du Fou in west France is one of the country's best kept secrets, as more than 80% of its visitors are French.
It clearly has a winning formula, with around 2.3 million people pouring through the gates each year, and it is only behind Disneyland Paris in terms of most visited theme park on the Continent.
What attracts them is a more passive form of entertainment than you’ll find 250 miles north east at the magical kingdom, but it is no less thrilling than a roller coaster and, in a radical move, queueing is only really necessary to secure a better vantage point.
The park near Les Epesses opened in 1978 as a land of historical re-enactments and cosplaying wonderment. Today visitors can see Viking ship battles and kings going head to head in Medieval conquests.
A particular high point for many is the birds of prey show (Bal des Oiseaux Fantomes), which sees dozens of falconers and literally hundreds of birds put on a dazzling display that at times resembles that Hitchcock film.
Young fans are likely to be particularly excited by musketeer sword fights and a medieval joust, as well as Roman gladiatorial challenges and marauding Vikings to the French Revolution and WWI.
The theme park has no queues. For each show, the gates open only 30 minutes in advance and can seat thousands at a time.
Each day, a new show timetable is printed so you can plan what you want to see and when.
"We were also swept away by the other shows. The Roman amphitheatre is only a few metres smaller than the real Coliseum in Rome," Mel Brodie wrote of her visit to the park.
"There we boo the emperor, marvel at the gory body count as chariot races end in disaster and slaves fall foul of a real tiger, we side with the centurion trying to save his love’s life, and hold our collective breath as the lions decide not to rip the heroine to pieces.
"The same big cat trainer who worked with Russell Crowe on the movie Gladiator is responsible for keeping the actress alive.
"We walk through WWI trenches as the ground rumbles with bombs, and pass rats being prepared for the cooking pot and the makeshift hospital room.
"In the Joan of Arc story, a fierce battle destroys a castle before our eyes. It’s then reassembled in a different guise by the end of the show. Witchcraft indeed."
"The Three Musketeers leap from balconies, and horses dance in a flooded indoor theatre. Arthur and his Knights see the Round Table emerge from the bottom of a moat."
This park is, well, a park. Acres of countryside where you wander through leafy woods and pass rose gardens to find the chateau surrounded by formal topiary.
And nestling between all things outdoorsy are jaw-dropping shows or “experiences” which flit between significant historic events, from
Many people stay in the peace and tranquillity of La Garangeoire – the calm and peaceful holiday park in the Vendee region of France that is nearby. Around the site there are miles of trails for walking, cycling and pony trekking.
The coast is just 15 minutes away, making it an easy journey for day trips to the endless arcs of golden sand that line this area of France. Many Brits chose to travel overnight with Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo.
Entry costs £36 per adult, £26 for kids.
