View source for Parc du Petit Prince

{{Short description|Theme park in France}}
{{Expand French|topic=struct|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Parc du Petit Prince
| logo =
| location = [[Ungersheim]]
| location2 = [[Alsace]]
| location3 = France
| homepage = {{Official website|https://parcdupetitprince.com/}}
| owner = [[Aerophile|Aérophile SAS]]
| opening_date = {{Start date|2014|07|01}}
| rides = 36
| coasters = 3
| water_rides = 1
| shows = 6
}}
'''Parc du Petit Prince''' is a [[theme park]] inspired by the tale of the French writer [[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]]. It is located in [[Ungersheim]] in the [[Alsace]] region in France, more specifically in the [[Haut-Rhin]] department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.fr/20140703/little-prince-theme-park-opens-in-france|title=Little Prince theme park opens in France|publisher=[[The Local]]|date=3 July 2014|accessdate=2015-08-07}}</ref> The park is the first aerial parc in the world<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schnee |first=Philippe |date=29 July 2023 |title=Parc du Petit Prince {{!}} Le charme du 1er parc aérien du monde ! |url=https://www.parcsactus.fr/post/le-parc-du-petit-prince-un-lieu-universel |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Parcs actus |language=fr}}</ref> and the most visited in the region.
The park replaces [[Le Bioscope]], which closed on 30 September 2012.
== History ==
From 2006 to 2012, the area was owned by another [[amusement park]] dedicated to the environment, the [[Le Bioscope|Bioscope]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Site du Bioscope. Le Symbio lance l’appel à projets |url=https://www.dna.fr/edition-de-mulhouse-et-thann/2012/09/04/le-symbio-lance-l-appel-a-projets |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.dna.fr |language=FR-fr}}</ref>
In September 2012, the syndicate's executive committee launched a call for projects to find a new owner.
With the agreement of Olivier d'Agay, director of the [[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry|Saint-Exupéry]] succession foundation and great-nephew of the author,<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 July 2014 |title=Alsace : Un parc d'attraction dédié au Petit Prince ouvre à Ungersheim |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/strasbourg/1416223-20140708-alsace-parc-attraction-dedie-petit-prince-ouvre-ungersheim |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}</ref> the managers of [[Aerophile|Aerophile SAS]], Jérôme Giacomoni and Matthieu Gobbi, had the idea of building a park on the theme of [[The Little Prince]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=à 12h17 |first=Par Martin Antoine Le 13 juin 2016 |date=13 June 2016 |title=En Alsace, le Petit Prince a son parc d'attractions |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/economie/business/en-alsace-le-petit-prince-a-son-parc-13-06-2016-5877481.php |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=leparisien.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin@kernix.com |date=31 March 2014 |title=Aérophile prend de la hauteur avec le Petit Prince |url=https://www.entrepreneursdavenir.com/actualites/aerophile-prend-de-la-hauteur-avec-le-petit-prince/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Entrepreneurs d'avenir |language=fr-FR}}</ref> and won the call for projects in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Parc du Petit Prince va bientôt prendre son envol |url=https://www.jds.fr/magazine/actu-magazine/le-parc-du-petit-prince-va-bientot-prendre-son-envol-69584_A |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=jds.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
On 1 July 2014, the Parc du Petit Prince, with an area of 24 hectares, opened its doors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 July 2014 |title="Dessine-moi un parc d'attractions": découvrez Le Parc du Petit Prince |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/photos-le-parc-du-petit-prince-un-parc-de-loisirs-recree-l-univers-poetique-du-heros-de-saint-exupery_40251.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Le HuffPost |language=fr}}</ref> It keeps the layout centred on the simulation of a meteorite crash as well as the main architectural elements but presents a new scenery inspired by the work of [[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]], including a [[biplane]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mcpartland |first=Ben |date=3 July 2014 |title=Little Prince theme park opens in France |url=http://www.thelocal.fr/20140703/little-prince-theme-park-opens-in-france |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=The Local Fr}}</ref> The season ended with 90,000 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2015 |title=Le Parc du Petit Prince attend 150.000 visiteurs en 2015 |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2015/03/17/20005-20150317ARTFIG00125-le-parc-du-petit-prince-attend-150000-visiteurs-en-2015.php |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}</ref>
In its second year, the amusement park recorded 120,000 admissions. and in 2017, it reached for the first time 200,000 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleap |date=18 February 2018 |title=Saison 2018 : un grand cru pour les petits parcs français ? • Coasters World |url=https://coastersworld.fr/saison-2018-un-grand-cru-pour-les-petits-parcs-francais/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=Coasters World |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
In 2018, the Parc du Petit Prince took over the traditional Alsacian hotel '''Les Loges''', with 40 rooms, and the restaurant '''La Taverne'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2018 |title=Un hôtel et trois lieux de restauration pour le Parc du Petit Prince en Alsace |url=https://androland.com/un-hotel-et-trois-lieux-de-restauration-pour-le-parc-du-petit-prince-en-alsace-857.html |website=Androland}}</ref> The same year, the park redesigned one hectare of its domain to have a green space where visitors can meet the sheep, hens, rabbits, goats and pigeons of the park.
In 2019, the '''Thunderstone''' roller coaster came to enrich the park's offering of thrill rides.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petit |first=François |date=8 September 2020 |title=Le parc du Petit Prince 2019 : Pierre de Tonnerre |url=https://www.parcsactus.fr/post/le-parc-du-petit-prince-2019-pierre-de-tonnerre |website=ParcsActu}}</ref>
For the 2022 season, the Park opens its doors with two new shows, '''Interstice''', a show that immerses the visitor in the story of the Little Prince, and '''Planète des Animaux''', an aerial ballet featuring emblematic characters from the tale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durand |first=Jennifer |last2=Linternaute.com |date=27 April 2022 |title=Le Parc du Petit Prince |url=https://www.linternaute.com/sortir/parc-d-attractions/2502149-ce-qui-vous-attend-cet-ete-2022-dans-les-parcs-d-attraction/2502173-parc-du-petit-prince |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.linternaute.com |language=fr}}</ref> At the same time, the park completely redesigns the hotel Les Loges which is awarded a third star.
== Geographical location ==
The park is located 20&nbsp;km away from [[Mulhouse]] and 25&nbsp;km away from [[Colmar]].
== Attractions ==
The Parc du Petit Prince is an [[amusement park]] that offers fun and educational activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy thrill rides, interactive events and shows.
The Parc du Petit Prince offers 8 thrill rides:
* '''The  Snake''': A roller coaster on board of a giant snake, in a desert setting. Ride open to children from 1m30, and to accompanied children from 1m. (Manufacturer: [[Zierer]])
* '''South Atlantik''': Passengers board planes for a 10-meter-high drop into the water. Ride open to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 95&nbsp;cm. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. (Manufacturer: [[:fr:Soquet|Soquet]])
* '''Thunderstone''': A roller coaster on board a meteorite, in homage to the book [[The Little Prince]], and to the real [[:fr:Pierre du tonnerre d'Ensisheim|Pierre de Tonnerre]] (thunderstone in French), the first meteorite whose fall on Earth was observed, in 1492 in [[Alsace]]. Accessible to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 95&nbsp;cm. (Manufacturer: [[Reverchon Industries|Reverchon]])
* '''The King's Balloon''': A [[tethered balloon]], going up to 150 meters in altitude, to offer its passengers a panorama of the park, the Vosges, the Black Forest, and the Alps. The ride can accommodate up to 30 people and is accessible to people with reduced mobility. (Manufacturer: [[Aerophile|Aerophil SAS]])
* '''The Aerobar of the Drinker''': Aerial bar with 15 seats, taking passengers for a drink with their feet in the void at 35 meters in height. Accessible to children from 1m20, or to accompanied children from 1 meter. (Manufacturer: [[Aerophile|Aerophil SAS]])
* '''Flying chairs:''' Ride accessible to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 1m05. (Manufacturer: [[Zierer]])
* '''Underwater Planet''': 4D interactive cinema with laser guns in an underwater setting. Accessible to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 1m. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''Little Prince and Friends''': Obstacle course in the colours of the Okoo series. Accessible to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 1m. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
The park also offers attractions for a younger public:
* '''The fox burrow''' : Climb on the back of a fox for a ride around the burrow. Accessible to children from 1m20, and to accompanied children from 85&nbsp;cm. ( Manufacturer: [[Zierer]])
* '''The Little Train''': A ride across the park between the Volcano station and the Citadel station. Accessible to all ages. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''The fountain maze''': A maze with clues given by the characters of the book, to obtain the secret code that will turn on the well
* '''The Citadel''': Play area for children of all ages. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''Southern Courier''': Interactive game of geography and general knowledge. Accessible to all ages. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''The big swing''': Giant swing, to be used alone or with others. Accessible to all. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''Draw Me a Sheep''': A slate wall where the visitor can leave their message or their drawing. Accessible to all ages. Accessible to people with reduced mobility
* '''Metamorphosis''': Photo area with green screen
* '''The Little Prince's Hopscotch'''
* '''Tyrolean traverse'''
In 2024, the parc has 6 shows:
* Tame-me
* The big movie theatre
* Meet the mascots
* The planets of the animals
* Interstice
* Halloween
== Photos ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Parc du Petit Prince.jpg|Entrance of the park
File:Parc du petit prince.jpg|Aerial view from the King's Balloon
File:Parc du Petit Prince, Ballon de l'Allumeur et Aerobar.PNG|The King's Balloon and the Aerobar of the Drinker
File:Parc du Petit Prince, Antonov An-2.jpg|The [[Antonov An-2]], legendary [[Biplane|biplan]]
File:Parc du Petit Prince, le restaurant.jpg|Restaurant The Table of Saint-Exupéry
File:Parc du Petit Prince, Aerobar.PNG|The Aerobar of the Drinker
File:Petit Prince Pierre de Tonnerre.jpg|Thunderstone
File:Petit Prince Pierre de Tonnerre 2.jpg|Thunderstone
File:Petit Prince Le Serpent.jpg|The Snake
File:Petit Prince Le Serpent 2.jpg|The Snake
File:Petit Prince Atlantique Sud.jpg|South Atlantik
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
«[[The Little Prince]]» Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943 in New-York, United States, 1946 in France)
==External links==
{{Commons category|Parc du Petit Prince}}
*{{Official website|http://www.parcdupetitprince.com/en/}}
{{The Little Prince}}
{{coord|47.8608|N|7.2969|E|type:landmark_region:FR_source:wikidata|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parc du Petit Prince}}
[[Category:The Little Prince]]
[[Category:Amusement parks in France]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Haut-Rhin]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Haut-Rhin]]
[[Category:Amusement parks opened in 2014]]
[[Category:21st-century architecture in France]]