Parc Astérix provides scenery for a small town in Essonne

By Toutatis, they are moving! In mid-October, Parc Astérix presented a “revolution” worth 250 million euros by 2030 to develop with the ambition of entering the top 5 European amusement parks. For visitors, this plan provides for a transformation of the “Egypt zone” in 2026 with a change in name and theme of already existing attractions and restaurants, in 2027, the “Greece zone” will be transformed with two new family attractions, a playground and a restaurant with a capacity of 450 people. And, finally, in 2028, a “Londinium zone” inspired by the album Astérix chez les Bretons will be created with two family attractions, a playground, a pub and shops.

The park, located on the border of the Paris region and Hauts-de-France, must therefore make room. The management has announced the disappearance of one of its oldest attractions: the reconstruction of little medieval Paris, which dates from the opening of the park in 1989.

Rather than throwing everything away, it was decided to donate it to Janvry, a small rural town of 650 inhabitants, located in the south of Essonne, which will use it to decorate the village. Volunteer residents have been struggling since mid-November to salvage everything they can from this setting.

That morning, the roller coasters are stationary and the gourmet stands are deserted, in Plailly, in Oise. In the alleys of Parc Astérix, only the hammer blows are heard. Olivier is dismantling a large carved wooden hall. “It was a setting for this medieval square in Parc Astérix. It’s all going to be part of the games in the school playground!”he rejoices.

Carpenter, soldier, retired construction workers… The inhabitants of Janvry, all volunteers, look with relish around them at the scenery of little medieval Paris. “We see magnificent half-timbered facades, roofs each more beautiful than the last. It’s a bit like being in a pastry shop: we would like to take everything. Unfortunately we can’t, it’s so huge!”regrets Olivier.

The village only collects what is “hard”, and what is not too eccentric either. A real construction site which is taking place under the watchful eye of Parc Astérix project director, Eric Dudout. However, he confides his sweet nostalgia, because these decorations date from the opening, in 1989: “We couldn’t afford to remove this project, to bring the bulldozers through and then we don’t care…”

“It’s 35 years of memory, of life, of visitors… It’s a little heartbreaking to take it away, but we know that it’s meant to be reborn.”

Eric Dudout

at franceinfo

A harlequin, picnic tables and even a stone fountain have already been moved by semi-trailer to Janvry, in the heart of the Essonne countryside. Mayor Christian Schoettl welcomes them to the village, the phone pressed to his ear in one hand, guiding the trucks with the other.

“It’s only patronage because I absolutely don’t have the means to do that“, underlines this former antique dealer, who therefore convinced the park to give him the decorations, as well as local companies to do the logistics. “Besides, I almost gave up given the cost of the machines”he confides, before being interrupted by a new call.

It is therefore a waking dream for the mayor, who shows the small square behind the town hall. “A fountain like that, to buy, is worth more than 30,000 euros! I haven’t increased taxes for 37 years, I’m down to the euro. A very small town, which has no money like us, sometimes feels a bit… a little Gallic village! So it’s a gift“, he smiled, not a little proud.

To thank Parc Astérix, the village chief of Essonne has already planned to invite them to… a big banquet for the village’s Christmas market. And when we ask him if there will be a magic potion, the answer bursts out : “Based on kir and mulled wine!”