An elephant was driven along "Les Machines de l'Ile": a park of mechanical machines in Nantes (France)

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Science fiction is good because it can become a reality if you want to. French decorators François Delaroziere and Pierre Orefice reasoned this way and created a unique amusement park inspired by the discoveries of Leonardo da Vinci (which only his drawings of a mechanical knight and a lion are worth!) And Jules Verne. The "Steam House" (from the novel of the same name), which outwardly resembles an elephant, is remembered by all admirers of the great science fiction writer, but from now on, all visitors can ride it park "Les Machines de l'Ile" ("Island of machines")located in the city Nantes.

Undoubtedly, the 12-meter elephant is the main attraction of Nantes. Visitors enjoy riding on the back of a giant mechanical animal, which manages not only to walk along the park alleys, but also to clap its ears, turn its head and water the tourists who surround the giant with curiosity.

In addition to the elephant, there are other entertainments in the park - the huge Carousel of Sea Worlds and the fantastic Gallery of Cars. The carousel appeared in the park relatively recently - in the summer of 2012. Its height is 25 m, diameter is 22 m, due to its huge size, it can accommodate 300 people at a time. Those wishing to ride this attraction can choose where to go for a walk: to the seabed, to the depth or stay on the surface of the sea. Instead of the usual horses, tourists have the opportunity to ride real aquatic inhabitants: there are bathyscaphes, anchovies, giant crabs, and even semi-fantastic sea animals - the fruits of the imagination of the creators of the carousel.

You can get acquainted with the fantastic "terrestrial" inhabitants of "Les Machines de l'Ile" in the "Gallery of machines". In the mechanical zoo one can “meet” not only ancient birds and arthropods, but also not always pretty turtles and caterpillars. All animals move around the pavilions, so that they can also not only be touched, but also saddled.

Another attraction is the Heron Tree. It is a structure 28 m high and 45 m in diameter. There are two mechanical herons on the tree, visitors can sit on them, looking at the park from a bird's eye view.

A visit to the workshop, the expositions of which illustrate the history of the creation of mechanical machines, can be an excellent end of a walk along the "Island of Machines". There are many old drawings and drawings, which were used to recreate animals that tourists saw on the carousel and in the gallery.

The emergence of a park of mechanical machines in Nantes is natural: the legendary company Royal de Luxe is located here, which specializes in the creation of giant puppet dolls. By the way, if you happen to visit this amazing French town, do not be lazy to stay at the unusual hotel La Villa Hamster, which looks more like a hamster's cage than a fashionable hotel.