Parc Astérix’s new €36 million land, ‘Festival Toutatis’, was officially opened last weekend. The most expensive ever addition to Compagnie des Alpes’ flagship property outside Paris represents an investment of more than €1m for every year of Parc Asterix’s existence.
The themed area and Intamin multi LSM launch coaster that anchors it are named after the Gaulish god Toutatis. Depicted in the form of an 11-metre-tall statue, the friendly prophet peers down over his worshippers in the heart of the forest. The new coaster’s station, meanwhile, resembles a tumulus, or megalithic shrine.
The three-hectare site was previously undeveloped except for the park’s existing bobsled coaster, Trace Du Hourra. The brown troughs of the Mack Rides construction blend seamlessly with the naturalistic theming throughout the new land.
Two additional new attractions are a themed playground called Sanglier D’Or (Golden Boar) by Monstrum of Denmark and Chez Gyrofolix, a Nebulaz ride from Zamperla. There is also a 200-seat restaurant, sweet kiosk and gift shop.
The concept for the land, which was in soft opening for over a month, was provided by Julien Bertevas and Jean Franćois Preti at KAERU Theme Park Design.
Parc Astérix parties at Festival Toutatis
As the launch event on Friday (12 May) proved, Festival Toutatis is also a great backdrop against which to hold events, with an inviting atmosphere after dark.
Welcome addresses were delivered by Parc Astérix‘s director general Delphine Pons and Compagnie des Alpes’ director of leisure parks François Fassier. Meanwhile, Intamin CEO Patrick Spieldiener presented Pons with a 3D-printed replica of the coaster’s train.
There were appearances from characters Astérix and Obelix, as well as fellow Gauls such as Abraracourcix. The head of the ‘Village of Fools’ is known as Vitalstatistix in English. After the speeches, fireworks lit up the sky and superstar DJ Martin Solveig spun party tunes to the 600 invited guests.
Music of a more authentic nature was composed for the land by Benjamin Ribolet. The soundtrack was performed by 75 musicians from Budapest, Brittany, Scotland and England.
Parc Astérix’s signature new attraction
Toutatis is the eighth roller coaster at Parc Astérix, and its new signature attraction. With more than 1.1 kilometres of track, riders travel almost 1.4 miles thanks to a reverse section and switch track.
In total, there are 32 individual ride elements, including a 51-metre-high spike/reverse stall. This is visible from many areas of the park, together with a top hat reaching 45 metres. Thrill-seekers will experience no fewer than 23 moments of airtime during the two-minute ride – the most of any steel coaster worldwide. The top speed, enjoyed after the fourth of seven launches, is 110 km/h.
“As soon as you leave the station, there are no dead moments until you come back,” says Julien Simon. The project manager for Compagnie des Alpes was responsible for selecting many of the new rides across the group’s portfolio in recent years. Other than the spike and top hat on Toutatis, he adds: “You are quite close to the ground, so you have a good sense of speed with the trees surrounding you.”
The official launch of the new coaster and themed land was held the same weekend Parque Warner Madrid opened its new Intamin launch coaster. Batman: Gotham City Escape also features a 45-metre top hat, plus other exciting elements and a new style train.
A record-breaking season in 2022
Founded in 1989, 35km north of the French capital, Parc Astérix enjoyed its best ever season last year, welcoming with 2,636,000 guests. That’s 20 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels, and cements its status as France’s busiest non-Disney theme park.
Images: Compagnie des Alpes / Intamin / Owen Ralph
