Parc Astérix
| Industry | Amusement park |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 30, 1989 in France |
| Headquarters | Plailly , France |
Area served | France, Europe |
Key people | Thomas Dubosc (Head of Construction, 2018) |
| Products | Theme park attractions and roller coasters |
| Owner | Compagnie des Alpes |
Number of employees | 2000 (2023) |
| Parent | Compagnie des Alpes |
| Website | www |
Parc Astérix () is a theme park located in France that draws inspiration from the comic series Asterix created by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. In 2023, the park welcomed over 2.8 million guests, making it the second most frequented amusement destination in France after Disneyland Paris and ranking eighth across Europe.
Renowned for its vast assortment of roller coasters—exceeding the number found in most French parks—the park's themes are deeply rooted in ancient civilizations such as the Gauls, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and more recently, Ancient Egypt, all designed to stay true to the original comic book aesthetics. Situated roughly north of Paris near the A1 motorway (connecting Paris, Lille, and Brussels), it benefits from dedicated highway access alongside convenient transport connections. Since its establishment in 1989, Parc Astérix has been managed by Compagnie des Alpes.
Planning and Opening
The project was primarily financed by Barclays together with 20 other investors including Compagnie Générale des Eaux, the Havas group, and the regional government of Picardy. The development required an investment of 850 million French francs and generated approximately 1,200 jobs. The site was strategically selected for its excellent transport links, featuring a private junction on the nearby A1 autoroute and shuttle services connecting to Paris Métro Line 7 at La Courneuve. After two years of construction, the park officially opened its gates on April 30, 1989, with a ceremony led by then Minister of Culture Jack Lang.
Following the debut of Disneyland Paris in 1992, Parc Astérix experienced a 30% decline in visitor numbers alongside a 19% drop in revenue. Nevertheless, attendance figures eventually stabilized at around two million visitors per year.
Recent Enhancements
In October 2005, Parc Astérix introduced La Fête des Druides ("The Festival of the Druids") as an alternative celebration to Halloween. By 2007, the park extended its season to include holiday operations during Christmas. For its 20th anniversary in 2009, Parc Astérix remained open on weekends throughout September and October, hosting a Halloween-themed event named Peur sur le Parc Astérix ("Fear at Parc Astérix").
In May 2018, Thomas Dubosc, then Head of Construction, revealed plans for Toutatis, a new multi-launch roller coaster developed by Intamin. Initially slated for a 2021 debut, its opening was postponed until the 2023 season due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and delays related to forestry work. Additionally, in January 2021, the park permanently closed its dolphin and sea lion habitat known as the Delphinarium, shifting its focus more toward rides and other forms of entertainment.
Attractions
Parc Astérix features a wide variety of rides and shows including:
- Tonnerre 2 Zeus, a prominent wooden roller coaster crafted by Custom Coasters International (1997);
- Goudurix, a steel coaster with multiple inversions designed by Vekoma (1989);
- Trace du Hourra, a 900-metre-long bobsled roller coaster reaching speeds up to 60 km/h (2001);
- Romus et Rapidus, a themed river rapids ride introduced in 1989;
- OzIris, an inverted roller coaster engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard (2012);
- Attention Menhir, a 4D cinema experience launched in 2019;
- L'Oxygénarium, a twisting water slide featuring inflatable rafts (1999);
- La Galère, a classic swinging ship attraction dating back to 1989;
- Menhir Express, a log flume ride with a drop measuring 13 metres (1995);
- La Revanche des Pirates (formerly known as Le Grand Splatch), a high-capacity Shoot the Chute ride showcasing the park’s iconic rock statue (1989);
- Le Défi de César, a Madhouse style attraction introduced in 2008;
- Le Delphinarium, once among Europe's largest dolphin enclosures;
- Pégase Express, a launched steel coaster featuring mid-course directional changes by Gerstlauer (2017);
- Toutatis, an Intamin-manufactured launched steel coaster with direction reversals holding records for tallest and fastest coaster within France (2023).
Leadership and Workforce
For the 2023 season, Parc Astérix aimed to hire close to 2,000 staff members, marking a record high in recruitment numbers.
Visitor Numbers
The park recorded an unprecedented attendance of over 2.8 million guests in 2023, largely driven by the introduction of the new roller coaster, Toutatis.
Incidents
- In July 2004, an 11-year-old child was struck by lightning near the Trace du Hourra bobsleigh attraction, despite the presence of three lightning rods within a 20-meter radius. The park continued operations despite weather alerts.
- On 5 July 2006, a 6-year-old Belgian child tragically drowned on the Descente du Styx river rapids ride after being pulled into the water pumps located at the bottom of the canal. In response, safety protocols were strengthened and the ride was renamed Romus et Rapidus to mitigate negative associations linked to the incident.
See also
External links
- Official Parc Astérix website (some sections require Adobe Flash. Available primarily in French with partial English translations)
- Parc Astérix profile on rcdb.com