'History of Spain' theme park to open in Toledo in 2019
'History of Spain' theme park to open in Toledo in 2019
A THEME park centred on the history of Spain is set to open in the province of Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha) in two years' time, creating over 1,000 directly-linked jobs and expected to attract 15,000 tourists a day.
Some €200 million is being invested in the Puy du Fou centre, for which work will start next year.
The park will be the venue for a nightly 75-minute live show giving a potted history of the country from its earliest settlers through to the 19th century, in a 25-acre (10-hectare) arena seating up to 4,000 spectators at a time.
An 'historic village' – probably similar to Barcelona's fascinating Poble Espanyol, a short walk through nearly every province in Spain through its typical architecture, although in period costume and set design – will be added to the park before 2020, along with restaurants and daytime shows along a similar theme.
The unusual, exciting attraction is funded and developed by the French company Puy du Fou, which already has a similar park featuring the history of France in Spain's northern neighbour country.
Founder Philippe de Villiers and chairman Nicolas de Villiers stress that it will not be a case of 'France imposing its vision' on Spain's history, but that the park will be 'entirely Spain-driven' via its manager in the country, Jesús Sáinz.
Toledo has been picked because so many of the events central to the history of Spain took place in Castilla, then one region and occupying the western half of the mainland.
The De Villiers say it will not be 'the type of theme park with rollercoasters' where 'families are split up for the day', but will be suitable for and interesting to all ages and both sexes.
And the 'reporting' of the country's centuries-long story will be 'completely accurate, faithful and error-free', given that it will be zealously overseen by Toledo's and Spain's history academies.
The Puy du Fou centre in France (pictured) has already won an award known as the 'Theme Park Oscar' on two occasions, meaning the economic boost through year-round tourism for Toledo would be nothing short of spectacular if the version in Spain were to be anything like the original.
At least 1,000 staff members would be employed directly by the theme park, and between 2,000 and 4,000 indirect jobs would be created as a result of its existence.
