Jardin d’Acclimatation
© Jardin d’Acclimatation

Luxury goods giant LVMH plans to turn Paris’ Jardin d’Acclimatation into one of France’s top three theme parks – with a steampunk motif.

Jardin d’Acclimatation is the country’s oldest leisure park. It was opened in 1860 by Napoléon III as a zoo before becoming a children’s leisure park, complete with rides, in the 1930s.

The 19-acre complex has been managed by LVMH – which has an 80% share in the park, in partnership with theme park and ski resort developer Compagnie des Alpes – since 1984. Last year officials renewed the company’s concession contract for another 25 years, paving the way for renovations to the storied site.

Jardin d’Acclimatation
© Jardin d’Acclimatation

‘Our goal is for Jardin d’Acclimatation to rank second or third among theme parks in France,’ said Delphine Pons, head of development at Compagnie des Alpes. LVMH hopes to increase annual footfall to 3 million visitors per year by 2025, behind Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix.

Around 17 new Jules Verne-inspired steampunk rides and attractions will be built between 4 September and 1 May 2018 as part of the €60m upgrades. Napoleon III-era structures, including the stables and aviary, will also be restored, while Le Figaro reports some 1960s structures will be demolished.

Jardin Acclimatation
© Christophe Coenon / LVMH

‘The idea is to re-level everything without losing the traditional elements of the park,’ said the park’s president, Marc-Antoine Jamet.

Jardin d’Acclimatation already counts an archery range, house of mirrors, miniature-golf course and pony riding among its attractions, as well as a puppet theatre, shooting galleries, a science museum, and an art museum for children.

The Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton also sits on the edge of the park in the Bois de Boulogne.

[Via Business of Fashion & Le Figaro]

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