France has many of Europe's leading theme parks including Disneyland Paris, Futuroscope, Parc Asterix and le Puy du Fou Disneyland Paris   For the fourth Disney Park to be based on the original in Anaheim, California, modifications were made to the concepts and designs of the park. Amongst these changes was a shift from Tomorrowland to "Discoveryland", giving the area a retrofuturistic theme rather than futuristic. Other elements that were altered include the Haunted Mansion, which was redesigned as Phantom Manor, and Space Mountain. The park's location in Europe brought forth its own challenges. For instance, the castle is said by its designers to have been necessarily reevaluated for a continent on which authentic castles stand. Modifications to the park were made to protect against changes in weather in the Parisian climate. Covered walkways were added and Michael Eisner ordered the installation of 35 fireplaces in hotels and restaurants. "People walk around Disney World (sic) with humidity and temperatures in the 90s, and they walk into an air-conditioned ride and say, 'This is the greatest,'" said Eisner. "When it's raining and miserable, I hope they will walk into one of those lobbies with the fireplace going and say the same thing."   Futuroscope Futuroscope, or Parc du Futuroscope is a French theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic futorscope and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world. It is located in the department of Vienne, 10 kilometres north of Poitiers, on the territory of the communes of Chasseneuil-du-Poitou and Jaunay-Clan. Most are available to non French speakers via translation headsets, while some are French only and are listed below. Expédition Nil Bleu (Mystery of the Nile) ÉcoDingo French Only La Cité du Numérique (Digital City) Hands on exhibit Danse avec les Robots (Dances with Robots) Arthur, l'aventure 4D (Arthur and the Minimoys 4D) French Only Star du Futur (Star of the Future) French Only Sous les Mers du Monde 3D (Deep Sea 3D) Les Ailes du Courage (Wings of Courage) Dinosaures (Dinosaurs) La Gyrotour (The Gyrotour) La Citadelle du Vertige (Castle of Giddiness) Les Astromouches (Fly me to the Moon 3D) Le Meilleur du Dynamique (The Best of Dynamic Cinema) Voyageurs du Ciel et de la Mer (Travellers by Air and by Sea) French Only Chocs Cosmiques La Vienne Dynamique + d'effets (The Dynamic Vienne) Les Animaux du Futur (The future is wild) Le Monde des Enfants (Children's World) Cyber Avenue Magic Show Les Yeux Grands Fermés (Journey into the Dark) French Only Le Mystère de la Note Bleue (The Blue Note Mystery)   Parc Asterix   Parc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix (by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny). Situated approximately 35 km (22 miles) north of Paris and 32 km (20 miles) from Disneyland Resort Paris, in Plailly in the département of Oise, it opened in 1989. The park is operated by Compagnie des Alpes. Unlike Disneyland Paris, the park used to open only from April to October, and has generally shorter opening hours. However, it is easily visited in a day. Since 2007, the park is also open in winter. It has its own exit on the A1. Attractions and shows including: Tonnerre de Zeus, a wooden roller coaster Goudurix, a large steel multi-looping coaster Oxygénarium, a large, twisting water slide with round dinghies Transdémonium, a haunted mansion filled with special effects la Trace du Hourra, a 900m bobsled, with cars that reach 80 km/h la Galère, a swinging ship Menhir express, a log flume ride with a 13m final drop   le Puy du Fou   The history of the Puy du Fou as a theme park started in 1977 when Phillippe de Villiers, a twenty-seven-year-old student (now a French politician) decided to create an original show named the Cinéscénie which means "the stage in moving". When he discovered on the 13th of June 1977 the ruins of an old renaissance castle in the village of Les Epesses near Cholet, he wrote a good scenario very quickly about a local family named Maupillier (the real name of a soldier of Vendee at the time of the conflict between Vendee and French Republic during the French Revolution), spanning from the fourteenth century until World War II. Phillippe de Villiers organised an association of 600 members (more than 3000 today) named "l'Association du Puy du Fou" which has as president today Phillippe de Villiers' son, Nicolas de Villiers. When the first representation of the Cinescenie began in June 1978, the show didn't have great success, but that quickly changed by the end of the first season, and with that success the show grew into a huge spectacular. It has since spawned its own micro-industry of actors, prop-makers and trainers for the featured horse riding and sword fighting, which, since 1998, has been due to the efforts of the "Académies Junior" who organized shows every year outside the Cinéscénie, such as the Paris Paname in the "Halle Rennaissance" of the Grand Park, in March 2008. The park is split into five separate attractions, each running for approximately 30/40 minutes:     The Battle of the Keep is based around a French Donjon in the year 1429 during the Grand Chivalry Festival when an attack by English Knights disrupts the tournament. This show features Jousting, trick-riding, horseback duels and a movable, flame-throwing castle. The Vikings is set in a reconstructed 1000 year old fortress that is attacked by a Viking Longship.The story begins with a marriage in the village, just before the arrival of a Viking Longboat.Special effects include the emergence of a Longboat from underwater, and a saint walking on the water.   Chariot Racing Gladiators is set in a replica of an amphitheater that is 115 meters long and 75 meters wide and recreated the atmosphere of Gaul during Roman times. It features a traditional parade of people and animals, gladiatorial combat, chariot racing and executions. It is set during the time of Diocletian, when there was great unrest. The Phantom Birds Dance. Dozens of birds of prey surge from the ruins and swoop low over the heads of the visitors. The falcons are placed on the heads of some visitors wearing hats by the falconer. Richeulieu's Musketeers features Musketeers performing swash-buckling sword fighting and Gypsy girls Flamenco dancing in water. Horses also perform special trotting/ jumping techniques. This is the only show that is staged indoors, in complete darkness. During July and August at 10 pm (except on Fridays and Saturdays) the Grand Park presents in 2009 a new show Les Orgues de feu. This show takes place completely on the water and depicts a love story between two musicians.