It was meant to establish France among the ranks of the world’s leading theme parks. Opened in the spring of 1987 in Courdimanche, in the Val-d’Oise department, Mirapolis stretched across several dozen hectares near Cergy-Pontoise. The project focused on fairy tales, legends, and iconic figures of French culture, long before the opening of Parc Astérix and Disneyland Paris. Thirty-five years after its closure, however, its name remains associated with one of the most spectacular failures in the history of French leisure.
Mirapolis, the amusement park dominated by a 35-meter-tall Gargantua
The most striking feature was a 35-meter-tall statue of Gargantua that dominated the site and housed a scenic trail. Surrounding the giant imagined by Rabelais, visitors found, across eight themed zones, roller coasters, water rides, and worlds inspired by the City of Ys, Dame Tartine, and French fables.
Mirapolis had been designed as a family-friendly park capable of welcoming thousands of visitors each day. The investment was substantial, but attendance never reached the hoped-for level. Ticket prices, a brand identity deemed difficult to understand, and high operating costs quickly undermined the business model. After several changes in management, the park closed permanently in October 1991, at the end of its fifth season.
What remains of the abandoned Mirapolis park?
Most of the attractions were subsequently dismantled, resold, or transferred to other European parks. The buildings were demolished starting in the 1990s, and Gargantua’s head was blown up in 1995. A few structures, sections of road, and elements of the former entrance long served as reminders of the park’s presence, while vegetation gradually reclaimed the land.
Mirapolis is therefore no longer an abandoned park that has remained intact, contrary to what some urban exploration photos might suggest. The site is a derelict area not open to visitors, and its future is regularly the subject of new proposals. In July 2026, the possibility of building a Dragon Ball-themed park there was mentioned in the press, though no official confirmation or timeline has been announced. This is further proof that, even though it’s gone, Mirapolis continues to inspire the most ambitious projects.