The ultimate family guide for visiting Puy du Fou France with kids

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Welcome to my ultimate family guide for visiting Puy du Fou France with kids. If you’re looking for a family day out in France that’s completely different from the usual theme park experience, Puy du Fou in the Vendée region is an absolute winner. It’s a unique historical park with no rides – instead it features spectacular live shows with actors, animals, special effects, stunts and immersive set design that completely transports you back in time. From Viking raids to Roman chariot races or medieval castle sieges, you’ll feel like you’re on a movie set! Honestly, if you’re looking for an utterly unique day out with the kids in France, Puy du Fou is perfect – our whole family was mesmerised!

So, keep reading for all the information you’ll need before a visit to Puy du Fou France with the kids – including the best places to stay nearby, costs, what to expect, practical details for a family visit, how long you’ll need and more! I’ll also be doing a huge photo dump from our day at Puy du Fou throughout. 😂 I loved it so much that I took a ridiculous amount of photos – so if you’re on the fence about whether Puy du Fou France is any good, and whether it’s worth a visit, hopefully you can see for yourself how epic it is! I should also mention that we paid for our tickets and this is in no way an ad for Puy du Fou – I’m just raving about it because it was absolutely incredible!! 😍

Visit: June 2025

What is Puy du Fou in France?

Puy du Fou is a multi-award-winning historical theme park in western France. But, as I said above, don’t expect rollercoasters – instead of rides, you’ll find epic live shows that blend history, theatre, stunt work, music and special effects. Think flaming Viking raids, Roman chariot races, medieval jousts, falconry and castle sieges. It’s thrilling, cinematic and truly magical for both kids and adults. My kids were determined it was going to be rubbish – a theme park without rides?! But they absolutely loved every second of our day, we all did, and these shows go beyond acting – the stunts, the atmosphere and the sets were incredible.

Where is Puy du Fou located in France?

Puy du Fou is located in the Vendée region of central western France, near the town of Les Epesses. It’s about a 1 hour drive from Nantes and just over 3 hours from Paris by car. The site is beautifully set in countryside surroundings, it’s well signposted and it’s easy to reach by road. How do I get to Puy du Fou from the UK?

Fly: The closest airport is Nantes, which has direct flights from places like London, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Manchester and other UK airports. From Nantes, it’s a 1 hour drive to the park.
Drive: You can take the Eurotunnel or ferry to Calais or Caen and drive down. From Caen it’s roughly a 3.5 hour drive, and from Calais it’s about 6 hours.
Train: Take the Eurostar to Paris, then catch a high-speed train to Angers. A shuttle bus runs from Angers directly to Puy du Fou (booking in advance is advised).

What age kids is Puy du Fou suitable for?

Personally, I think the Puy du Fou theme park is best suited to kids from around 6/7 years old and up. You’ll have about a 30 minute wait to get into each show, and each show lasts around 30 minutes, so patience is needed. On top of this, the shows can be pretty dramatic with fight scenes, fire, stunts and loud music – so I think for the style of the park and the content of the shows at Puy du Fou France it’s more suited to older kids. Having said that, we did think it was sweet that they gave every show we watched a happy ending – unrealistic but sweet! 😂 Finn and Lola were 14 and 12 for our Puy du Fou visit and they loved every second! We also visited on a very hot day – June heat wave – it was 34 degrees and only one of the shows we watched (the gladiator show) had a canopy, so it might be a bit much for little ones on a hot day too.

How many days do you need at Puy du Fou – is one day enough?

Unfortunately, it’s actually impossible to see and experience everything at Puy du Fou in one day – with the overlap of the show times and the length of the shows you physically can’t do it all. However, you can map out an itinerary with the shows that interest you the most – we only had one day at Puy du Fou and, whilst we couldn’t do it all, we prioritised the shows that we wanted to see the most. If you want to see absolutely everything, I think it would likely be possible in two days. Pre-plan your day so you don’t miss the shows you’re desperate to see – you can use the app to help and, on the day, collect a paper map near the entrance to help you get around – that has the show times on it too.

What to expect on a day at Puy du Fou France

Your day at Puy du Fou is best planned around the show schedule. Most performances last around 30 minutes and they have fixed start times throughout the day. If, like us, you’re only visiting for one day – aim to see around four or five of the major spectacles and use the rest of the time to explore the walk-through areas, allowing enough time to eat and use the loo etc in between shows and activities. I think the best shows for kids are:

Les Vikings: Les Vikings was our absolute favourite show of the day! Think Viking raids, fire, stunts and Viking ships – at one point there’s even a ship that appears from the water with actors already on it! There was so much going on, and so much to see, honestly we didn’t know where to look – it was incredible.

Le Secret de la Lance: Le Secret de la Lance was another of Finn and Lola’s favourite shows – the stunt actors on this one were amazing and the set and effects were just brilliant. This show is based around a medieval castle and a battle that ensues.

Le Signe du Triomphe: The atmosphere at Le Signe du Triomphe was incredible – it’s a full-scale Roman amphitheatre and there’s a battle between the Romans and another group based on a forbidden love. Even before the show began they had people cheering, clapping, chanting and joining in – the kids thought it was brilliant. And, as sets go, this is another amazing one to watch!

L E’pee du Roi Arthur: This show is based on the legend of King Arthur and was a blend of battles, magic and a stage that lifts entirely into the air! Our first show of the day, and we were hooked from then on. Just fantastic.

Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes: Unfortunately, I’d jotted down the show times incorrectly so we didn’t get to see this one but it’s very popular – Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes is a magical bird of prey show.

To end the day, Les Noces de Feu (The Wedding of Fire) is a stunning lakeside night show with music, dancers and glowing lights – it’s family-friendly and runs for around 30 minutes. This show isn’t on every day, so plan your trip accordingly if you’d like to stay for the evening show – the tickets are slightly cheaper on the days without it. We had deliberately booked a day that had the Les Noces de Feu show but it was such a hot day, and the show didn’t begin until 10.30pm, that we decided not to wait around for it. That’s the only issue I would mention, the daytime shows tend to finish by 6-7pm and then there’s a very long wait in between if you’re staying for the evening show. There’s also a larger-scale night show, Cinéscénie, available on certain dates but that requires an additional ticket and it more than doubles the cost of a day at Puy du Fou.

Are Puy du Fou shows in English?

All of the shows at Puy du Fou are performed in French but you don’t need to speak the language to enjoy them – the action, music, visuals and emotion are enough to tell the story. For those who want more context, the park offers a free mobile app that provides live translations and audio guides in English – just bring headphones if you’d like to access that. We didn’t feel like we needed headphones, the stories are told well and you can generally follow the plot easily despite the language barrier. The only thing we found that didn’t work so well were the immersive walk-through areas – without any grasp of French we were a bit clueless as to what the storyline was! 😂

What facilities are on-site?

When it comes to food, there are plenty of food outlets and restaurants dotted around the site – they’re pretty reasonably priced for a theme park too. I’ll pop a few photos of the menus I snapped below so you can take a look at the food options and prices at Puy du Fou France ahead of your visit. However, picnics are allowed and I would definitely recommend bringing one. We packed up our trusty cool-bag rucksack, and there are plenty of shaded seating areas for you to enjoy your picnic. If you’re visiting on a particularly busy day, head to the lake area where the night shows take place – it’s empty all day so there’s loads of seating if the food areas are a bit manic. We brought our own food and opted just to grab ice-creams whilst we were there (€3.90 each).

You can refill water bottles, and they have hoses too for cooling down on hot days – we were so glad of it as it was absolutely boiling when we visited – we hosed ourselves off in between shows! When it comes to toilets, they’re pretty much near every show area, so loads to choose from. Wear comfortable shoes as there’s a lot of walking, and bring a lightweight waterproof or poncho – the shows go ahead even in the rain and most of the seating is exposed. The only show we watched that had a roof canopy was the gladiator show so don’t forget to bring suncream and a cap too for hot weather days.

Can you stay at Puy du Fou?

Yes you can stay on-site at Puy du Fou – the park has several themed hotels and it could be useful if you’re opting for multiple days at the park. Accommodation can be booked as part of a package with park entry but it’s pretty expensive. Alternatively, there are plenty of lovely holiday parks in Vendée with lots of family-friendly features for the kids, so I’d definitely recommend staying nearby instead to make your Puy du Fou trip more budget-friendly.

Where are the best places to stay with kids near Puy du Fou?

We had one of our favourite holidays at a Vendée Eurocamp – they offer some brilliant family holiday options just an hour’s drive from Puy du Fou so you can enjoy some sunshine and relaxation alongside your busy theme park day. Here are my top three picks for the best places to stay with kids near Puy du Fou France – and I’ve included a link to my review of the site that we picked for our family holiday too:

1. Eurocamp: Le Pin Parasol

We had one of our favourite holidays ever with Eurocamp at 5 star campsite Le Pin Parasol – about an hour’s drive from Puy du Fou theme park. If you’re looking for a great family holiday base in Vendée, this one offers awesome pools and waterslides, playgrounds and kids’ clubs on an immaculate campsite – with other great days out (like Le Grand Defi Adventure Park) nearby too. We had the most amazing stay, I can’t recommend it enough, check out my Le Pin Parasol Review for all the details. The nearest airport to Le Pin Parasol is Nantes, just over an hour away, or drive from Caen in 4 hours or Calais in 6.5 hours. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Le Pin Parasol on the Eurocamp website.

2. Eurocamp: La Garangeoire

Also just an hour’s drive from Puy Du Fou, La Garangeoire is one of the best options for families looking for a quieter Eurocamp holiday in Vendée. There’s a lovely, relaxed vibe but plenty to keep the little ones busy with its swimming pools, mini-golf, a playground and even pedalos on the lake. It’s got that rustic French charm but with all the convenience of a Eurocamp setup – and it’s just a short drive to the coast too. The nearest airport to La Garangeoire is Nantes, which is just over an hour away, or drive from Caen in 4 hours or Calais in 6.5 hours. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out La Garangeoire on the Eurocamp website.

3. Eurocamp: Château La Forêt

Also an hour away from Puy du Fou, and set in the grounds of a 19th-century château, Château La Forêt is a smaller quieter site with a lovely relaxed atmosphere. There’s a swimming pool with waterslides, a French restaurant and plenty of space for the kids to play but the real bonus is what’s next door! It neighbours the brilliant Le Grand Defi Adventure Park with tree-top rope courses, zip lines, an aqua park, laser tag and more, and it’s also a short drive from the beach. The nearest airport to Château La Forêt is Nantes, just over an hour away, or drive from Caen in 4 hours or Calais in 6.5 hours. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Château La Forêt on the Eurocamp website.

Is Puy du Fou expensive?

Puy Du Fou isn’t a cheap day out, but equally we thought it was good value for money based on the quality of the shows and how much we enjoyed our day there. If you’re heading to Vendée for a family holiday, this will likely be your main ‘treat day’ but it’s easy to enjoy some budget-friendly days out for the rest of your trip with island visits, beaches, lakes and plenty of countryside to explore. For our visit, adult tickets were €46 and kids €33 – though we had to buy an adult ticket for Finn as the kids’ tickets are for children aged 13 and under. (Though you scan your own and no-one checked their ages so we likely could have purchased two kids’ tickets.) This ticket price included the Les Noces de Feu night show too.

Without the evening show, the tickets for our visit would have been €37 per adult and €26 for kids – which is a bit annoying given we didn’t end up staying for it! 😂 So, if you don’t think the kids will last that late into the evening, or you don’t want the waiting around, I would advise visiting on one of their cheaper days. To be honest, if you’re visiting Puy du Fou France with kids, it’s probably a long enough day without staying late so the reduced price days are likely the better option for a family day out anyway – particularly if your kids are younger. The ticket prices are also a bit dearer during peak times so you might want to think about that when you’re planning your visit too. Children under 3 enter for free, and parking is free. (You can pay €12 to park closer to the entrance but it really isn’t needed.)

Is the Emotion Pass at Puy du Fou France worth it?

The Emotion Pass is a fast-track pass that gives you priority access and reserved seating at the shows, saving you long waits and helping you get better views. But, at around €30 per person, this would make your family day out pretty costly. I guess during busy periods, if your budget allows, it might be useful but we really didn’t feel like it was needed when we visited. Just ensure that you queue for each show 30 minutes before the start time and choosing the seat you’d prefer isn’t a problem – the arenas are really big. For the gladiator show, you’ll want to head there a good 45 minutes before the start time as this show is only on once per day, so all the guests in the theme park will be wanting to watch it. The amphitheater is absolutely huge, so seating shouldn’t be an issue, but it does take a long time for everyone to filter in.

Frugal Mum’s top tips for visiting Puy du Fou France:

Bring a picnic: It’ll save you time and money, and there are lovely shady spots to eat.
Download the app before you arrive: Pre-plan your day for a route that saves little legs from too much walking, and to allow enough time for all of your preferred shows.
Pack waterproofs, layers, caps and suncream: Shows go ahead in all weather, and it cools down in the evening, so make sure you’re well prepared. We strangely didn’t see any mosquitos in Vendée but you might want to wear bug repellent bracelets too if you’re watching the evening show on the lake. You can return to your car (I think they give you a stamp or a ticket to get back in) so you can always leave some coats there until the evening.
Wear comfy shoes: Even in warm weather, opt for trainers over sandals as you’ll be walking a lot.
Buy tickets in advance: Online prices are better, so check the weather forecast a few days ahead of your holiday and purchase tickets then to save some money. Where it does go ahead in all weathers, I’d really recommend not booking months in advance so you can see the weather forecast for the week you’re travelling and plan around it.
Include it in your family holiday: Vendée has lots on offer as holiday destination, and it’s a fantastic easy road trip from Caen or Calais if you’re travelling via ferry, so make the most of your visit by staying near the park and enjoying a well-rounded family holiday. Campsite holidays can often be cheaper for a week than the Puy du Fou hotels charge for one or two nights!

Is Puy du Fou coming to the UK?

Plans have been announced for a UK version of Puy du Fou – which is so exciting! I think the only thing that would make the theme park even better would be English speaking shows, so it would be fabulous to have our very own Puy du Fou! But, until then, it’s well worth the trip across the Channel to see it in all its glory.

So, final verdict, is Puy du Fou any good – is worth a visit?

In case you haven’t noticed from my gushy comments already, I (of course!) think Puy du Fou France is absolutely worth a visit with the kids and ‘good’ doesn’t cover it – it’s absolutely incredible and it was one of best family days out we’ve ever had. The quality of the shows is astonishing: giant sets, fire effects, music, animals, stunts, fights and skilled performers. Kids are captivated and parents are just as blown away. It’s not an amusement park – it’s like walking into a giant, immersive movie set. It’s consistently ranked as one of the best theme parks in the world for good reason. So, if you’re looking a day out with the kids that’s filled with ‘wow’ moments, I definitely highly recommend a day at Puy du Fou theme park when you’re on your family travels in France.

As well as there being loads of great places to stay for a family holiday in the Vendée region, there are some fantastic days out on offer too. So, when you’re planning your adventure, make sure you check out my article: The 10 best things to do in Vendée with kids for even more fun family days out! Have fun! 😊