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Plans for history-themed destination park released
28/01/2025
Puy du Fou already has similar parks in France and Spain
Plans for a history-themed destination park north of Bicester have been revealed as a consultation into the £600 million project gets underway.
Puy du Fou already has similar parks in France and Spain, which include historical shows and immersive experiences, celebrating the country’s history, heroes and culture.
The park, close to Bucknell and junction 10 of the M40, would be open between April and October. Visitors will be able to walk through a wooded park with stunning landscaped gardens, and immerse themselves in British history by visiting four period villages and 13 live shows.
In addition to the venues for shows and restaurants and facilities for visitors, the plans include three hotels themed to different periods of British history, and a state of the art conference centre.
New ponds, lakes and gardens, as well as more than 40 acres of wildflower meadows and 20,000 trees are also included.
Olivier Strebelle, CEO of Puy du Fou, said: “After announcing our initial concepts last year, we held consultation events in Bucknell, Bicester, and Oxford, and have since met hundreds of local people and organisations. This has helped us draw up proposals that will create a world-class destination that excites British visitors with their own history while still being a good neighbour to local people.
“We want to create a setting of beautiful gardens and wildflower meadows, and the first new forest in Oxfordshire for generations, covering 50 acres and with 20,000 new trees being planted.
“This would be a £600 million investment in the local economy over the next ten years, and would employ 700 people, plus create as many as 2,000 new jobs at hotels, suppliers and other local businesses, from its first year of opening.
“I look forward to listening to local people and businesses as we work on finalising our plans for this exciting project.”
Puy du Fou was originally established in France in 1978, and was joined by a second destination in Toledo, Spain in 2021.
Detailed plans for the park can be seen on the consultation website and at events being held at the Whately Hall Hotel (February 7, 12pm-7pm), Bucknell Village Hall (February 8, 10am-5pm) and Weyland Hall in Bicester (February 6, 12pm-7pm).
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam