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what
is futurescope?
Futuristic buildings
housing futuristic film shows – huge screens, flat and domed,
three-D, 360°, moving seats. All in a clean, well-kept park
with space-age walkways.
Futuroscope is a large, unique, well-kept theme park
presenting different forms of high-technology films and other
visual technologies, such as computer games and the Internet.
It is the only theme park of its type in Europe. Some displays are changed every season, so there is always something new. abelard.org visited in 2004, and the site has much developed since then.
It is a
park for children of all ages. The ‘yobs’ will enjoy
the adrenaline-generators, and the thoughtful ones will appreciate
the various technologies and pretty, more calm shows.
Entrance
prices (for 2017) include:
adults 40 euros, evenings (from 5pm/17h): 20€; two days: 82€
children 37 euros, evenings: 16€, two
days: 68€
(there is 20% off tickets for students, and 15% for 'seniors (over 60), handicapped people and large
families (having a Large Family rail card or their "family record booklet"/carnet de famille)
Two day tickets approximately
twice as much,
but you will probably be watching seven or
more short films during a day.
Futuroscope also has a flat
7€ a day charge for parking. Free shuttle buses (navettes) run from the hotel areas
to the theme park.
There is also a multitudes of multi-day and muli-person packages, too many and too convoluted to list here. For these study the Futuroscope prices and booking page. These packages can also include staying at one of the many on-site hotels of various cost.
Be aware: bookings made by telephone or internet have extra "administration fees" added : 3€ for a 'ticket file', and 11€ for a 'break file'.
Note that, although the piped muzak
is rather intrusive, after a while it sinks to a minor background
nusiance.
architecture
at futurescope
Futuroscope is an exhibition
of large buildings whose designs are based in science, technology
and the future:
prisms, spheres, crystals, glass, steel, all
distributed (one cannot say laid out coherently) in a tidy, neatly
planted park.
animations (activities) and spectacles (shows)
For 2004 there are 18 or so shows
at Futuroscope, shown in the buildings previously described. The
shows are short (20 minutes or so) films made with special filming
and projection effects, such as very big (up
to 900 m²) flat, hemispherical or domed screens (including
those using IMAX techniques), multiple screens (including 360-degree
viewing), 3D-viewing, moving seats.
Some projections have
occasional black specks on the screen. The Futuroscope management
is aware of the problem and is working to track down the origin
of the specks and eliminate the problem.
The shows can inadequately
be divided into two types:
- for thinkers:
these are pretty, sometimes spectacular, and the technology is
worth the study/observation;
- for thrill-seekers:
these
are noisy, adrenaline-generating, shake-around, roller-coaster,
visual excitement shockers.
The shows with technology worth seeing are:
- in building n° 9, two IMAX screens, one beneath your feet.
On an earlier visit, there were thousands of monarch butterflies
flocking through forests and mountains, in 2004 it is migrating
birds and sea mammals.
- in building n° 11, there are
two parts to the show – a foyer with 850 television screens
running continuously (note that this display
is not listed in the Futuroscope leaflet),
and a show room with hydraulically moving seats.
For the
thoughtful, the first display is far more interesting, but be
aware that this is only a waiting room. The attendants will try
and herd all visitors through to the other room as soon as they
can (when the roller-coaster ride next door has finished). Be
assertive and the attendants will let you stay in the first room,
or even escape from the building, but they will become confused.
- in
building n° 3, a 360° film showing on 9 screens. On a
previous visit, the film was about racing yachts; in 2004 it is
Brazil, its jungle and carnival. (Probably the best position for
viewing is close to and with your back to the screen that has
a horizontal dividing bar in the image.)
- outside at n°5,
the fountain show - Melodies Aquatiques - is fun although, as
usually at Futuroscope, the music is too loud.
- there are
various three-dimensional shows, which can be very absorbing,
but not to every visitor’s taste.
- n°2 –
the gyrotour, although not suited to all, is a gentle ride up
a tower that enables the visitor to see Futuroscope and its surrounding
countryside from up to 45 metres above the ground.
how
to manage your visit
This is a theme park for the
intelligent, where you need to plan your visit. The Futuroscope
web-site gives some information about shows available (the
French version has a greater range of information), so you can
do some choosing and planning beforehand. The attendants at the
information kiosk will help as well.
- on entering the
park, first study the sheet with time schedule, park map and list
of shows (spectacles). Take it all in together so you
can work out which shows to go to, when/in which order. To fit
in seeing lots, you will probably want to visit over two days.
- don’t be tempted into the souvenir
shops first, or you will miss timed displays - keep souvenir-hunting
for last, or for timed visits (!) between moving around and the
shows.
- some shows are morning only, some afternoon only,
some run continuously, most are at specific times during the day.
- There are large electronic displays that give the next show time
for each spectacle. There are also smaller boards at
each building that display the next showing time.
- For
a small returnable deposit, headphones (casques) are
available that receive translations of the French commentaries
in most of the shows.
other
facilities
- lots of cafés and refreshment stalls.
Food prices do not appear exorbitant. Café food includes
the great French (and Belgian) favourite: moules et frites! (mussels
and chips)
- there are several souvenir
shops with general Futuroscope items, as well as items themed
to different shows in the park. There are also regional food products.
The prices of the souvenirs are within reason.
- attractive
planted areas, trees, benches, attractively arranged
- young
children’s playground, and other child-size rides. (Some
payment by tokens/jetons is required for less common
activities.)
- signs are detailed, but understandable.
- toilets
are clean and for females, there is the privilege of a seat and
plenty of paper (not usual in France).
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Surrounding Futuroscope is a quantity
of variously-priced hotels, some offering special deals at times.
A bit further away are some camping sites.
Futuroscope and
most of the hotels have English-speaking staff, and often there
are also speakers of other European languages.
Information
on current prices, opening times and shows can be found at the Futuroscope
web-site, together with hotel information and descriptions
of the various technologies used.
[In French, English and
Spanish.]
Futuroscope was opened in 1987. Since 2002, its
main shareholders are the Department of Vienne and the Region
of Poitou-Charente.
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