What’s the hottest theme park in France?
EuroDisney? Oh, please, you are so… American!
The hottest theme park in France is La Cité du Vin, which means –yes, exactly – The City of Wine.
The brand new ten-story wine-themed entertainment and education center is located on the Garonne River in the Bordeaux region, about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Paris. The 10-story $91 million facility has been described as a “permanent World’s Fair of Wine” and features 20 exhibits, including a tribute to the hangover in which visitors sit in plush chairs and listen to tales of legendary benders. The building itself is designed to look like a splash of wine being poured into a flute.
Photo Courtesy: La Cité du Vin
The wine-related presentations run the gamut from serious to Disney-ish. There’s a 250-seat auditorium for classes, guided wine tastings, and a two-story wine bar and restaurant offering a spectacular view and vintages from 80 countries. On the more whimsical side visitors can take a simulated boat trip around the globe with a wine merchant, or partake of the “tasting experience,” a 4D multi-sensory experience similar to something you’d find at Legoland or Six Flags. Your $22 admission fee includes a digital guide that translates everything – education and entertainment — into your choice of eight languages.
If you’re a wine lover, Bordeaux is likely on your bucket list. La Cité du Vin sounds like a great place to start or finish that dream trip.
