Futuroscope – a unique theme park in France

Futuroscope

Get away to one of France’s most popular amusement parks and the only one of its kind in Europe!

Set off on amazing journeys and dive headlong into the fantastic, fun and festive Futuroscope atmosphere as it celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2017! Futuroscope is following in the footsteps of Jules Verne with a new-look journey around the world in its latest ride The Extraordinary Journey, the only attraction of its kind in Europe…

Take to the skies aboard an incredible machine with your legs hanging free, and feel the thrill of being lighter than air… Fly like a bird to the edge of make-believe, whoosh by mirages in the desert, base-jump from the top of a skyscraper in a futuristic city, and more…

No problem if you non parlez pas Francais

For UK guests – this is a great day out for non-French speaking guests! Some attractions are translated via headsets which you can borrow free of charge, just bring your own headphones or you can hire headphones, and other attractions don’t require translations.  Find out more about how Futuroscope caters for English speaking guests here. 

Latest special offers

Book now for a special deal on a Family 1 Day Pass plus 1 Day Free when buying a 2-day or 3-day entry ticket or a 2-day or 3-day break.

Location

THE EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY- New for 2017

Futoroscope

Futuroscope follows in the footsteps of Jules Verne and gives his journey around the world a new, 21st-century touch. The only flight motion platform in Europe Futuroscope has created a technology-leading attraction system that combines a 90° tilting platform and a 6K film showing a mix of real and computer-generated 3D images on a 6,450- ft2 surround screen to bring visitors the ultimate immersive experience of flying like a bird around the world.

Enjoy 25 original experiences with family and friends, including star attractions such as the THEA* award winners The Time Machine and Arthur, the 4D Adventure.

And get ready for a magical evening show by the light of the moon with La Forge aux Etoiles, the aquatic fairytale fantasy from Cirque du Soleil (every evening after dark, included in the price of admission).

*Awarded by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) (organization of amusement-park industry professionals from across the globe).

La Forge aux Etoiles from Cirque du Soliel

Futuroscope films

The aquatic fairytale evening show from Cirque du Soleil. Futuroscope’s new evening show is a big-bang blend of visual, aquatic and pyrotechnical effects. The constellation of fairytale scenes tells the story of a young real girl who meets a virtual giant with his feet on the ground and his head in the stars. Every evening after dark- Included in the price of admission.

Futuroscope La Forge Aux Etoiles

Ice Age, no time for nuts 4D – New 2017 version

Get your furs on for family fun with Scrat from Ice Age, who has found a strange machine that has spirited his acorn away to another time! Hurtle headlong with Scrat on his frantic mission in this lifelike adventure! A totally cool immersive adventure featuring physical in-theatre effects, a dynamic platform and laughs galore!

New for 2017- IllusiO- A new magical live show

From April 2017

Futur, l’Expo- The Exhibition

Futuroscope FuturA fun, hands-on journey into the future. Robots, connected devices, smart wardrobes, touch-operated tables, 3D printers, and more, all feature in this exhibition that explores how we will communicate, use our imaginations and consume in the not too distant future, and lets you try out the groundbreaking technologies that will change how we live our lives in 10 fun, hands-on experiences. The expo gives you also the chance to try out future cuisine with a liquid-solid coffee, dry-ice cocktail and insect biscuits at the Bar’Lab.

Tiny Giants

Tiny Giants uses IMAX® 4K laser projection to take you on a journey into one of the most highly evolved cinema experience in the world! Tiny Giants is a highly informative animal western on a gigantic screen! A BBC Earth production.

THE BEST OF

The Time Machine with the Raving Rabbids

Futuroscope Le LaboratoireYou’d be raving mad to miss it! Futuroscope has cranked up this attraction with a unique blend of art and technology to bring visitors an all-out intensive immersive experience. The moving platform and polarized glasses take the audience through 4 historical scenes, each bursting with thrill after thrill against backdrops that merge with 3D computer-generated images and are boosted by 4D effects, and immersing them in a key moment from History A Ubisoft partnership.

The Time Machine has been awarded in 2014, 2015 and 2016 the ESA (European Star Award) by the Kirmes & Park Revue independent trade journal at its ceremony in Amsterdam to honour the most outstanding innovations and projects by leisure parks in Europe. The time Machine has also received in 2014 the «THEA Award » from the TEA* *TEA: The Themed Entertainment Association is an organization of amusement-park industry professionals from across the globe.

Arthur, the 4D Adventure!

Futuroscope Arthur adventure“Arthur, the 4D Adventure” received the “world’s best attraction” Award from the TEA* in 2012. It is the 1st attraction in France to win this coveted award… This award honours the talent of Luc Besson (Director of LUCY, the 5th Element, the Big Blue….) and all the teams who made it possible to create an attraction that is so fully immersive, from its scenery to its storytelling and unique, cutting-edge technological system. The tailor-made technological system developed by Futuroscope offers the director a whole new level of artistic expression for his first leisure park attraction.

After a fun, interactive and instructive walk through the world of the Minimoys, visitors join Arthur on a hair-raising race against time back to the human world. This attraction boasts a world-beating array of technologies under one roof. The 3D animated fi lm viewed on a 9,700-ft2 IMAX® dome screen, the synchronized motion simulator and the multi-sensory physical effects in the theatre all combine to absorb visitors in this original digital work from Luc Besson. Accessible from 3’5’’ *TEA: The Themed Entertainment Association

“La Table d’Arthur” restaurant Arthur invites you to discover his amazing buffet meal, with amusing verrines, new vegetables, hot and cold foods, wok dishes, selection of sweets, and more. Our chefs display their full inventive flair to create a treasure trove of fresh, gourmet flavours that keep the Minimoys adventure alive.

Futuroscope La Table d'ARthur

CDI_2016-001 // DLV 2021

New for 2017 : Arthur’s playground Enjoy open-air fun in hidey-holes and on slides in the land of the Minimoys…

Dances with Robots

A high-energy robot-party to a banging playlist from DJ Martin Solveig. One giant dance floor, ten robots standing 23 feet high, three thrill levels to choose from… This star attraction gets a new club beat this year as ten 23-ft-high robot arms pick up their passengers and perform a series of brand new dance routines to remixes from the famous DJ, in time with breath-taking lighting and special effects. Get back into the groove! A great experience for all the family (Children must be 4ft or over) “The Robothespian” who welcomes you inside the attraction has been created by the British Company “Engineered Arts”. He is also used by the NASA to interact with visitors at the Kennedy Space Center.

DISCOVER THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS AT FUTUROSCOPE

Aerobar*

Futuroscope AerobarDesigned by Aerophile in association with DVVD architects (who built the support frame), the Aerobar lifts twelve lucky guests 115 foot in the air with drink (and snack) in hand to have twelve minutes of spectacular views over the Park. This is an entirely unusual experience in the foodtainment mould and can be enjoyed with family and friends. Feet dangling from the airship – you will not have drunk a glass of champagne from this position ever!

*Extra for the drink to be paid at the entrance to the Aerobar

The Arena Fun Xperiences

Get in on the pumping action in this totally whacky sports training centre! This futuristic arena has been designed so you can max out on the thrills and fun in a range of wild new, entertaining sports games that include free-fall slides, sprinting, flying-ball, jumping, laser training, and mind-ball. Get your body moving and get grooving, people! You’re the stars of this show!

The Kube Mysteries

Lyrically moving fun for the whole family. Experience a dreamlike show that combines technological excellence and artistic performance, and which brings acrobats in a stage- and scenery-hugging 600 m2 video- mapped set.

Mysteries of the unseen World

The images on the gigantic dome screen of this journey deep into the unseen world reveal all the things that are too small, fast or slow for us to see with the naked eye. “Mysteries of the Unseen World” shows that what you can see with your eyes is only a tiny fraction of what can be seen on Earth… A National Geographic Entertainment production

The Explorarium

The Explorarium discovery pod is a chance to take a stunning dive down to the ocean depths of the Bahamas and Fiji, and into a still-secret world to meet the tiniest organisms at the bottom on the marine food chain.

Dynamic Vienne with its hilarious 4D effects

Have you got the stomach for a trip through the Vienne Department at the wheel of a formula 3 racing car? Get ready to go tearing over the bumps and through wind and rain at crazy speeds in this manic fright seeing tour… Unique in Europe! Accessible from 3’5’’

The 8th Continent

Rise to the challenge of the 8th Continent and destroy the garbage that threatens our oceans. Take to your jet skis and use your laser pistols to help two scientists in their mission to transform waste into pure air.

It was inspired by Charles Moore, a British sailor, who discovered a gigantic “soup” of industrial and household plastic waste floating in the Pacific Ocean.

Cosmic Collisions

Futuroscope Chocs CosmiqueThis spectacular, immersive and instructive show from the American Museum of Natural History, narrated by Robert Redford, takes visitors on a breathtaking journey through time and space to witness the cosmic smashes that shape the universe. The scientific images shown on the dome screen were taken by NASA satellites and modelled to simulate cosmic phenomena in 3D.

TripAdvisor® Travellers’ Choice award for 2015: One of the best Amusement Parks.

Click here to read about our favourite rides at Futuroscope…

Practical Information for your visit…

General Info:  See here for the latest opening hours and dates in 2017 and days and here for current pricing.   Children under 5 are free (it’s a good idea to have their passports with you as evidence of their age). Keep an eye on their Special Offers here.

Location: Ideally located near the Atlantic coast, in the Poitou-Charentes region (newly renamed Nouvelle Aquitaine), between the Loire Valley, Vendée, Cognac, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and the Dordogne, Futuroscope is only 90 min. from London by plane and 80 min. from Paris by TGV (Futuroscope has its own train station). There are direct flights from London to Poitiers and direct flights from Edinburgh to Poitiers.

Driving directions: Access by road either from the A10, exit number 28, or from the N10 taking the exit signposted Futuroscope (between Poitiers and Châtellerault). See here for more details.

Flights:  Direct flights from London to Poitiers (Available until 27th October 2017) Direct flights from Edinburgh to Poitiers (from 1st July to 30th September 2017)

Parking: If you’re staying for the evening spectacular then pay for your parking before the show begins…this will avoid queuing when several thousand people leave at the same time (and you will beat them to the Autoroute peage booth as well!).  We can’t guarantee this will work…but it did for us.  You can also take the opportunity to move your car closer to the park entrance as spaces will free up during the day.

Special accommodation packages are also available.  For further information, or for bookings please visit the Futuroscope website or call + 33 5 49 49 59 06.

Accessibility: Futuroscope go a long way to cater for everyone’s needs and must be congratulated for their efforts.  However there are a very few shows that are only partially accessible, for example Dances with Robots has a height restriction that applies.

On Arrival: After the ticket check look out for the kiosk on the RHS which provides translators (free of charge…make sure you have an ID available such as a driving license or passport).  Take your own iPod earphones otherwise you will have to pay extra for those – at 3 euros per set.  Make sure you return the translators before the late evening show…another way to avoid queues at the end of the day.  Then pick up a free English guide to the park and plan your day (the detailed showing times are updated for each day).  You can check full details here: https://en.futuroscope.com/practical-information/services-and-helpful-tips/translation-headsets).

Our recommendations: Entrance ticket price offers a good value for money and a great day out for all the family.  So make sure you spend a day there to get maximum value for money!  To avoid too much queueing, head for the far side of the park (Arthur 4D and Dances with Robots) at opening times, leaving the rides near the entrance till later in the day (but make sure you don’t miss the delightful Dynamic Vienne).  Lunch times are always quieter as is the early evening when day trippers leave and evening visitors have not yet arrived.  Try and stick together in groups when you get inside the more popular rides…it’s much more fun to share the experience together than to have to take isolated seats amongst strangers (although this may be unavoidable at times).

For the children: Futuroscope is made for them, especially good for the over 8s – they will have a great day out here – allow plenty of time to see all the exhibitions and get the best value for money.  Alternatively, the whole complex is vast incorporating many hotels so you can stay overnight or longer. Take advantage of special packages as shown on the website.

If it’s a hot day then make sure the kids are wearing light clothing and take a change of clothes and then they can spend hours enjoying the various different water attractions!

Additional tips on Futuroscope:
Food: If you’re on a budget then there is a very good picnic area close to the entrance.  There are covered areas and good toilets nearby.  You can leave your picnic in the car and then go out and get it when you’re ready to eat (make sure you get your hand stamped to ensure you are allowed re-entry).

However if you’re looking to be catered for then we can highly recommend the La Table D’Arthur buffet restaurant.  The restaurant provides a buffet with a huge choice of excellent food.  Please visit this page to read more about eating at Futuroscope

Shopping: There’s a number of different boutiques selling souvenirs throughout the park.  You can shop during the day and then collect your purchases from the Comptoirs de la Vienne booth (near the entrance) at the end of the day.

Saving money:  Special offers and concessions available for students and disabled visitors are mentioned here.  If you have a “carte famille nombreuse” you may be entitled to a discount – we know people that got a “famille nombreuse” discount without even having the card, so it’s worth asking for it.  They can only say “no”!  The “carte famille nombreuse” can be purchased from railway ticket offices and allows reduced price train travel as well as discounts at many attractions.

Click here to read about our favourite rides at Futuroscope…

More information on http://en.futuroscope.com

Here’s more information to make the most of your visit to the Charente Maritime: