Val d'Europe
Encyclopedia
Val d'Europe is a part of the new town
known as Marne-la-Vallée
. The final area of the district is currently in development. It is located around 35 km to the east of Paris, near Disneyland Paris. Val d'Europe was built in conjunction with the Walt Disney Company, who wished to create a town near the Disney resort.
The area is primarily given over to Disneyland Park
, as per the contract between the government and the Walt Disney Company. One of the terms was that the Euro Disney Resort (now Disneyland Paris) immediately got 19.40 km² of land to build Festival Disney (now named Disney Village
).
Euro Disney SCA
is the only private company within France that has had such a large say in the development of an urban area of this scale. The government was represented by an EPA (governmental development company). Disney has also contributed to the development of the new town
Marne-la-Vallée
.
The building work started in 1987, after Jacques Chirac
(then French prime minister) and Disney signed the contract. Val d'Europe was to be opened with the Euro Disney Resort in 1992. The villages of Bailly-Romainvilliers
, Magny-le-Hongre
and Serris
were to be made into housing estates for the employees.
It was not until the start of 1998 that Val d'Europe saw the opening of its shopping centre, which included a hypermarket and boutiques. However, the garden centre (Delbard) was opened in 2004 in a building to the south of the shopping centre.
As of 2005, Val d'Europe has a population of 19,700 people, but this is expected to increase to 40,000 people and 60,000 employees. 19.43 out of 30.00 km² is currently given over to development by Disney. Euro Disney SCA
has spent €5 billion ($5,953,266,855/£3,420,806,667), compared to €500 million ($595,326,686 /£342,080,667) from the French government.
The architectural style takes inspiration from the "neo-traditional" style of the Baron Haussmann
, who supervised the construction of many buildings in Paris in the 19th century. The town plan, by Cooper, Robertson & Partners
of New York City, was designed based upon traditional French town planning principles consistent with the New Urbanism
, a design philosophy which is frequently used in the United States
and used with the intent to plan new cities based upon known working principles studied by architects. Disney had previously created a New Urbanist city in Florida, known as Celebration
, also designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners
. It is believed that Val d'Europe and Celebration are descendants of Walt Disney
's original plan for The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow - EPCOT
, which was originally intended as Walt Disney's plan for a city of the future.
hypermarket, 130 shops and a food court known as "Les Terrasses." As well as a SEA LIFE aquarium indoor with about 300 species of marine creatures.
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
known as Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée is a new town located near Paris, France.Disneyland Paris, Val d'Europe,Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée,and École des Ponts ParisTech are located in Marne-la-Vallée.-Status:...
. The final area of the district is currently in development. It is located around 35 km to the east of Paris, near Disneyland Paris. Val d'Europe was built in conjunction with the Walt Disney Company, who wished to create a town near the Disney resort.
Description & history
Val d'Europe is made up of five communities, which have grouped together to form a town council. The five districts are:- Bailly-RomainvilliersBailly-RomainvilliersBailly-Romainvilliers is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.The inhabitants of the town of Bailly-Romainvilliers are "Romainvillersois, Romainvillersoises."-External links:* *...
- ChessyChessy, Seine-et-MarneChessy is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located from the center of Paris....
- CoupvrayCoupvrayCoupvray is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-People:Coupvray was the birthplace and home of Louis Braille. Braille's home is now a museum.-Points of interest:...
- Magny-le-HongreMagny-le-HongreMagny-le-Hongre is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
- SerrisSerris, Seine-et-MarneSerris is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
The area is primarily given over to Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Disneyland Park is a theme park at Disneyland Paris, a resort complex just outside of Paris, in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. The first of two parks built at the resort, it opened as Euro Disneyland on 12 April, 1992...
, as per the contract between the government and the Walt Disney Company. One of the terms was that the Euro Disney Resort (now Disneyland Paris) immediately got 19.40 km² of land to build Festival Disney (now named Disney Village
Disney Village
Disney Village is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France. Originally named Festival Disney, it opened April 12, 1992 with what was then the Euro Disney Resort and originally covered an area of approximately 18,000 m².Based on Walt Disney World's...
).
Euro Disney SCA
Euro Disney SCA
Euro Disney S.C.A. is the company that owns and operates Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. 39.78% of shares are held by The Walt Disney Company, 10% by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed and 50.22% by other shareholders...
is the only private company within France that has had such a large say in the development of an urban area of this scale. The government was represented by an EPA (governmental development company). Disney has also contributed to the development of the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée
Marne-la-Vallée is a new town located near Paris, France.Disneyland Paris, Val d'Europe,Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée,and École des Ponts ParisTech are located in Marne-la-Vallée.-Status:...
.
The building work started in 1987, after Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
(then French prime minister) and Disney signed the contract. Val d'Europe was to be opened with the Euro Disney Resort in 1992. The villages of Bailly-Romainvilliers
Bailly-Romainvilliers
Bailly-Romainvilliers is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.The inhabitants of the town of Bailly-Romainvilliers are "Romainvillersois, Romainvillersoises."-External links:* *...
, Magny-le-Hongre
Magny-le-Hongre
Magny-le-Hongre is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
and Serris
Serris, Seine-et-Marne
Serris is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
were to be made into housing estates for the employees.
It was not until the start of 1998 that Val d'Europe saw the opening of its shopping centre, which included a hypermarket and boutiques. However, the garden centre (Delbard) was opened in 2004 in a building to the south of the shopping centre.
As of 2005, Val d'Europe has a population of 19,700 people, but this is expected to increase to 40,000 people and 60,000 employees. 19.43 out of 30.00 km² is currently given over to development by Disney. Euro Disney SCA
Euro Disney SCA
Euro Disney S.C.A. is the company that owns and operates Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. 39.78% of shares are held by The Walt Disney Company, 10% by the Saudi Prince Alwaleed and 50.22% by other shareholders...
has spent €5 billion ($5,953,266,855/£3,420,806,667), compared to €500 million ($595,326,686 /£342,080,667) from the French government.
The architectural style takes inspiration from the "neo-traditional" style of the Baron Haussmann
Baron Haussmann
Georges-Eugène Haussmann, commonly known as Baron Haussmann , was a French civic planner whose name is associated with the rebuilding of Paris...
, who supervised the construction of many buildings in Paris in the 19th century. The town plan, by Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners is an international architecture and urban design firm headquartered in New York City.Founded originally as Alexander Cooper and Associates by Alex Cooper in 1979, the firm has designed a number of significant planned communities, urban infill, and transit-oriented...
of New York City, was designed based upon traditional French town planning principles consistent with the New Urbanism
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
, a design philosophy which is frequently used in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and used with the intent to plan new cities based upon known working principles studied by architects. Disney had previously created a New Urbanist city in Florida, known as Celebration
Celebration, Florida
Celebration is a census-designated place and a master-planned community in Osceola County, Florida, United States, located near Walt Disney World Resort and originally developed by The Walt Disney Company...
, also designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners
Cooper, Robertson & Partners is an international architecture and urban design firm headquartered in New York City.Founded originally as Alexander Cooper and Associates by Alex Cooper in 1979, the firm has designed a number of significant planned communities, urban infill, and transit-oriented...
. It is believed that Val d'Europe and Celebration are descendants of Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's original plan for The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow - EPCOT
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
, which was originally intended as Walt Disney's plan for a city of the future.
The shopping centre
There is a large AuchanAuchan
Groupe Auchan SA is a French international retail group and multinational corporation headquartered in Croix, France. It is one of the world's principal distribution groups with a presence in 12 countries and 175,000 employees....
hypermarket, 130 shops and a food court known as "Les Terrasses." As well as a SEA LIFE aquarium indoor with about 300 species of marine creatures.