Parc Astérix is a theme amusement park

Amusement park

thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...

 in France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, based on the stories of Asterix

Asterix

Asterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...

 (by Albert Uderzo

Albert Uderzo

Albert Uderzo is a French comic book artist, and scriptwriter. He is best known for his work on the Astérix series, but also drew other comics such as Oumpah-pah, also in collaboration with René Goscinny.-Early life:...

 and René Goscinny

René Goscinny

René Goscinny was a French comics editor and writer, who is best known for the comic book Astérix, which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the comic series Lucky Luke with Morris and Iznogoud with Jean Tabary.-Early life:Goscinny was born in Paris in 1926, to a family...

). Situated approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 and 32 km (20 mi) from Disneyland Resort Paris

Disneyland Resort Paris

Disneyland Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The complex is located from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part within the commune of Chessy, Seine-et-Marne....

, in Plailly

Plailly

Plailly is a village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....

 in the département of Oise

Oise

Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

, it opened in 1989. The park is operated by Compagnie des Alpes

Compagnie des Alpes

Compagnie des Alpes is a French company created in 1989 to operate many ski resorts in Europe. Compagnie des Alpes is a part of Caisse des dépôts et consignations.-History:...

.

It is especially well known for its large variety of roller coaster

Roller coaster

The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...

s, and has begun incorporating rides and themes from historic cultures such as the Romans

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

 and the ancient Greeks.

Attractions

There are many attractions and shows including:

• Tonnerre de Zeus
  Tonnerre de Zeus
  Tonnerre de Zeus is a roller coaster at Parc Astérix in Plailly, France. Opened in 1997 and built by Custom Coasters International, it is the 3rd longest wooden coaster in Europe after Coaster express and Colossos, with a track length of 1230m...
  
  , a wooden roller coaster
  Wooden roller coaster
  A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
  
  
• Goudurix
  Goudurix
  Goudurix is a steel roller coaster located Parc Astérix in France. The Vekoma built ride jointly held the world record for the greatest number of inversions upon its opening in 1989. The record was lost in 1995 to Dragon Khan in Spain. It is one of only two coasters in the world to feature a...
  
  , a large steel multi-looping coaster, built by Vekoma
  Vekoma
  Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
  
  .
• Oxygénarium, a large, twisting water slide with round inflatable 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 Menhir
  Menhir
  A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top...
  
  -themed log flume
  Log flume (attraction)
  Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
  
   ride with a 13m high final drop
• Grand splatch, a River Rapids ride

See also

• Incidents at European parks
  Incidents at European parks
  This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various European amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise...
  
   (info on 2006 accidental drowning)

External links

• Parc Astérix official website (some parts require Adobe Flash
  Adobe Flash
  Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
  
  . In French, with some English translations)
• Parc Astérix fan club website (Forum in French but with photos and videos)