‘Napoleonland’ Theme Park Proposed in France

The Trafalgar Tilt-A-Whirl? Borodino Bumper Cars? Waterloo Water Slide?

Novelist Jasper Fforde wrote about a Battle of the Somme theme park in his humorous mystery The Fourth Bear. One ponders the opportunities for marketing slogans for such a park: It’s a gas. Over the top entertainment. But in the book Sommeworld failed to catch the public’s imagination.

In the real world, no one has proposed a Somme theme park, but some investors in France are hoping to build a £180 million (nearly $278 million) Napoleonland theme park.

According to a story by Rob Cooper in London’s Daily Mail, "There are plans to build it at the site where Napoleon defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Montereau in 1814 in Montereau-Fault-Yonne just south of Paris.

"The six-day battle was the nation’s last military victory over the Austrians.

"The Battle of Waterloo, which put an end to Napoleon’s rule in France, is expected to be recreated on a daily basis and visitors may even be able to take part in the reenactments.

"They will also be able to take in a water show recreating the Battle of Trafalgar."

If one can stop pondering bad puns for a Battle of the Somme theme park long enough, one might ponder why the daily historical features at Napoleonland will focus on two of la petite empereur‘s defeats rather than his string of victories. C’est la vive, c’est la guerre.

Click here to read the entire Daily Mail story about the plans for Napoleonland.

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

E-mail (will not be published) (required)

   Notify me of followup comments via e-mail