Astérix Park: 250 Million Euros to Reach the European Top 5 – Detailed Analysis of New Features 2026-2028 (Londinium, Hotels, Greek Zone)

The Strategic Bet: 250 Million Euros to Rewrite the History of European Parks

Context and Growth Dynamics: From Records to Ambition

Parc Astérix, supported by the robust ecosystem of Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), is experiencing exceptional growth dynamics, firmly positioning itself as France's second most visited amusement park. In 2024, the park reached a record attendance of 2.84 million visitors, demonstrating that its past investment strategy (symbolized by the resounding success of Toutatis in 2023) is paying off. Building on these robust financial results, the Gallic establishment has formalized an unprecedented development plan: a massive investment of 250 million euros spread until 2030, with the majority of structural projects concentrated on the 2026-2028 period.

The stated objective of this historic financial package is to consolidate the park's status by elevating it to the Top 5 best amusement parks in Europe. This ambition aims to compete with European leaders while ensuring the sustainability of the destination. From a strategic point of view, this expansion is considered a Major Public Interest Imperative (RIIPM) on an economic and social level for the Oise region.

The Imperative of the Stay Destination and Calendar Extension

The success of Parc Astérix increasingly relies on its status as a stay destination, as evidenced by the exceptional occupancy rate of its three existing hotels (maintained at over 90% during the summer). This level of demand, combined with record attendance of nearly 3 million visitors, indicates that the park is experiencing saturation in its reception capacities, particularly in accommodation and catering.

The 250 million euro investment is therefore deployed to massively increase the park's overall capacity, a crucial factor for absorbing additional visitors without compromising the customer experience. If the supply of beds, catering, and high-throughput attractions (especially indoors) does not increase proportionally to demand, satisfaction could drop, jeopardizing the Top 5 objective which is intrinsically linked to the quality of the experience offered.

In parallel, the management aims to position Parc Astérix on the model of a complete resort by gradually extending its opening calendar to 270 days a year, even considering opening during the winter holidays in February. This operational extension is facilitated by the addition of attractions and themed areas (like Londinium) designed to be fully functional regardless of weather conditions. This strengthening of the tourist offering near Paris consolidates Parc Astérix's central position in the leisure sector in France.

The Accommodation Axis: L'Odyssée, the New Caravanserai (Opening 2027)

One of the most powerful levers for achieving the Top 5 objective is the increase in hotel capacity. The fourth hotel, named L'Odyssée, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in early 2027.

Technical Specifications and Market Positioning

L'Odyssée represents a major undertaking with 300 rooms, making it an establishment twice as large as each of the three previous hotels. The establishment aims for a 4-star rating, promising facilities and services similar to those of Les Quais de Lutèce (awarded best hotel in the world in 2020). The pricing will be strategically positioned between La Cité Suspendue and Les Quais de Lutèce, offering an accessible luxury option for families. The room configuration is optimized for family clientele, including 216 rooms for 4 people and 62 rooms for 5 people, as well as six suites.

Set Design and Theme: The Oriental Immersion

The set design is inspired by the album L'Odyssée d'Astérix and oriental travels. The architectural design draws inspiration from caravanserais, these fortified buildings organized around a central courtyard. This courtyard will be the thematic focal point, divided into four quarters representing Persian, Phoenician, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian gardens, organized around a central oasis. The park has once again called upon Thierry Retif, the designer of Les Quais de Lutèce, ensuring international-class immersion and decoration quality, with an emphasis on lush vegetation and a more mineral style than previous hotels.

Evening Pleasures: Dining and Rooftop

To meet the demand of the 300 rooms, the hotel will include two large buffet restaurants, totaling 700 seats for dinner and breakfast. The most distinctive element, adding a refined nocturnal leisure dimension to the complex, is the large bar located on the top floor, with a rooftop terrace offering breathtaking views of the hotel's interior.

The addition of this hotel, the largest in the park, is the factor that justifies the increase in annual attendance and its status as a stay destination. However, the logistics of doubling the bed offering requires a rethinking of the supply chain and a significant increase in permanent staff in 4-star hospitality. Although the development of an aquatic center for the hotel area is under consideration, it is not part of this immediate project, which is a notable difference from some major European resorts.

2028 Thematic Revolution: Londinium, the State-of-the-Art Major Zone

The major project of this investment phase is called Londinium, an entirely new zone planned for 2028, which alone represents approximately 10% of the park's surface area.

Strategic Deconstruction and British Immersion

The arrival of Londinium marks the end of an era. The project requires the total dismantling of the vast historical zone À Travers le Temps and the Rue de Paris, whose demolition is planned for late 2025. This "sacrifice" of nostalgia is essential to free up the space needed for the establishment of a modern zone.

Inspired by the album Asterix in Britain, Londinium will immerse visitors in the Gallic version of ancient London. The zone is designed to be largely indoor, which is fundamental for the extended opening objective of 270 days, ensuring quality entertainment even in low season or bad weather. The zone will be divided into the covered area of Camden (market type) and the outdoor square of Piccadilly Circus.

The Intamin Multi-Dimension Coaster: The Technological Anchor Attraction

The flagship attraction of Londinium is a dark coaster (indoor roller coaster) designed by Intamin, the same manufacturer as the exceptional Toutatis. It is a luxury technological product, aiming to offer both thrills and immersion.

This family thrill coaster will be propelled by electromagnetic launchers (LSM) and will use 12-seat vehicles capable of rotating on themselves, orienting passengers towards the sets and media according to the desired scenic element. The narrative journey will follow the main plot of the comic book: the adventures of the barrel of magic potion through Londinium. The 805-meter circuit, reaching 17 meters in height, is designed for a high theoretical capacity of 1110 people per hour. This choice positions Parc Astérix in the segment of world-renowned attractions, comparable to the type of experience offered by UNCHARTED: The Enigma of Penitence at PortAventura.

Alterface's Interactive Dark Ride: The Competitive and Playful Experience

To ensure a complete family offering, Londinium will also integrate an interactive dark ride, a type of attraction still absent from the park. Proposed by the Belgian company Alterface (specialist in the genre), this indoor scenic ride will take visitors in 4-seater vehicles (theoretical capacity of 900 p/h). Equipped with shooting devices simulating "magic potion gourds," passengers will have to aim at targets in 8 different universes to accumulate points. The playful and competitive nature of the attraction is intended to encourage replayability and satisfy a wide range of customers, from teenagers to families.

Catering, Seasons, and Associated Services

Londinium is conceived as a complete service hub. In terms of catering, it will offer a British Pub (table service with 250 seats) and the return of the Secret Bar (70 seats), animated by actors during the Peur sur le Parc season.

Moreover, the indoor space of the zone is optimized for extended seasons. It will permanently host three haunted houses, including the Catacombes (relocated). The covered space is also modular, allowing for the installation of an outdoor ice rink during Noël Gaulois and a large scare zone for Peur sur le Parc.

This transformation is also an opportunity to reorganize the catering offer in adjacent areas. The Restaurant du Lac (next to the Gallic Village) will be replaced by a large sandwich shop with 500 seats, named Le Tour de Gaule. This change allows for the reservation of traditional table meal offerings for the future restaurant in the Greek zone.

Densification and Thematic Excellence: The 2026 and 2027 Projects

Before the climax of 2028, the years 2026 and 2027 are crucial for densifying and homogenizing the park's thematic experience, ensuring the coherence of the Asterix universe.

Egyptian Consolidation (2026): Coherence and Thematic Reinforcement

The year 2026 marks the completion of the progressive extension of the Egypt zone, whose objective is to thematically unify the space and reinforce immersion. This phase sees the re-thematization of several attractions and a restaurant:

• L'Oxygénarium will become La Descente du Nil (The Descent of the Nile), offering an aquatic expedition to the source of the sacred river.
• Les Chaises Volantes (The Flying Chairs) will be transformed into L'Envol d'Ibis (The Flight of Ibis), enriched with water features and vegetation.
• The restaurant Le Cirque will be renamed Les Comptoirs d'Épidemaïs (Epidemais' Counters), a world buffet that pays homage to the Phoenician merchant. This restaurant will retain its seasonal function, transforming into the Buffet de l'Horreur (Horror Buffet) for Halloween.

The Greek Family Extension (2027): 5,000m² of New Experiences

The extension of the Greek zone, planned for spring 2027, aims to transform 5,000m² of the space along the lake, drawing inspiration from the architecture of the Greek islands and a prosperous fishing town. This zone will be dedicated to family experiences, offering new alternatives to thrill rides.

It will host two major attractions, complementing the existing offering:

Two mini drop towers 6.5 meters high (Zierer Mini Towers), themed around the Gods of Olympus.

A Gogo Bounze type ride (Zamperla), an eight-armed articulated ride themed as Greek fishing boats.

Special care will also be given to the youngest visitors with a large outdoor playground of over 220 m2, structured like a Greek fishing boat, capable of accommodating up to 100 children.1

The Apex of Gastronomy: La Table de Dionysos

The Greek extension is also an opportunity to create a point of culinary excellence. The new table service restaurant, La Table de Dionysos, will be a colossal establishment with over 500 seats. The park director explicitly described it as the site's benchmark establishment: "THE Parc Astérix restaurant."

The restaurant, with an extremely immersive design, will be divided into four distinct themed rooms: the atmosphere of the port, the Greek city, and the market. It will offer a menu with Mediterranean accents and feature beautiful terraces, including one offering a privileged view of the lake. This focus on prestigious dining is a strong signal sent to visitors seeking a luxury park experience, justifying the destination's status.

Analysis and Operational Challenges: Managing Growth and Construction

While the ambition of a European Top 5 is resolutely positive, the massive 250 million euro investment plan naturally introduces logistical and operational challenges that must be addressed with clarity.

Logistical Pressure and Calendar Risk

The simultaneous realization of three major projects (Londinium, the L'Odyssée hotel, the Greek extension) requires the park to manage three seasons (2026-2028) in a context of massive construction and demolition (Rue de Paris). This level of operational complexity can temporarily impact the visitor experience and increases the risk of calendar delays. Although the park is firmly targeting 2028 for Londinium, some industry observers remain cautious about meeting deadlines, given the technological complexity of the Intamin dark coaster.

Furthermore, to support the targeted attendance influx of over 3 million, the overhaul of peripheral infrastructures is essential, particularly the improvement of parking lots and mobility (buses). These works, while less spectacular than the attractions, are crucial for the fluidity of the overall visitor experience.

The year 2026 is particularly delicate, positioning itself as a "transition year" between the 2025 novelty (Cétautomatix or Camp des Lames d'Acier) and the blockbusters of 2027/2028. The park's strategy is to rely on the high quality of thematic renovations (Egypt) and the opening of the hotel in 2027 to maintain attractiveness and attendance growth while awaiting the Londinium revolution.

Seasonal Adaptation: Peur sur le Parc in Transition

The demolition of the Rue de Paris at the end of the 2025 season has a direct impact on the Peur sur le Parc event. This area was historically used for parades and some haunted houses, notably La Colère d'Anubis.

The park must temporarily adapt its offering in 2026, but the continuity of events is ensured by:

The relocation of the Catacombes near the Théâtre de la Joconde.

The announcement of a new horror experience to replace La Colère d'Anubis in 2026.

Optimism rests on the horizon of 2028, when Londinium (a largely indoor zone) will offer a permanent and dedicated space for scary and Christmas seasons, significantly improving the quality and capacity of the event offering.1

Geographical and Environmental Impact

As a major economic player (the amusement park sector represents 71% of Oise's tourist attendance), Parc Astérix is essential for regional dynamism. However, this expansion takes place within a constrained environmental framework. The plan uses the last 9 hectares of developable land within the perimeter, an area bordered by the Natura 2000 site of the Picardy forests and the Oise Pays de France Regional Natural Park.

The increase in capacity and the development of the last available natural reserves require rigorous impact studies and avoidance and compensation measures. The park, while pursuing its growth, must therefore manage a delicate balance between tourist development and environmental responsibility in this sensitive area.

Preserved Heritage and Post-2028 Perspectives

The Gallic Resistance: Maintaining the Old Park

Despite the wave of modernization, the management makes a strong symbolic choice by preserving emblematic elements. The cult show Main basse sur la Joconde will be kept identical in its theater, even if it is now off-center relative to the new Londinium zone. The sustainability of this show, as well as its seasonal use (like Qui Veut la Peau du Père Noël), ensures a link with the park's history and heritage.

Projects on the Horizon (Unofficial): The Future is Being Written

The 2026-2028 investment plan is only one phase. Administrative documents and interviews with general management reveal considerations for the post-2028 period:

Renovation of Classic Attractions: After 2028, the park plans to refurbish aging infrastructures such as Épidemaïs Croisières, Menhir Express, and the iconic roller coaster Goudurix.

The Complete Resort Model: To compete with the most comprehensive multi-day destinations, the CDA is considering the addition of a fifth luxurious hotel and, above all, the development of a "specific leisure offering for the hotel area," such as an aquatic center. The addition of a water park could be the final step to transform Parc Astérix into a resort capable of retaining visitors for longer stays, even outside the main theme park.

Conclusion and Strategic Summary

Parc Astérix's 250 million euro investment plan by 2030 is more than just an expansion; it is a strategic re-foundation aimed at transforming the national amusement park into a leading European tourist destination.

The approach is doubly effective: on the one hand, it addresses current saturation by a massive increase in reception capacities (doubling of the 4-star hotel offering with L'Odyssée and addition of prestigious dining points like La Table de Dionysos). On the other hand, it elevates the attraction offering towards technological and immersive luxury (Londinium and its Intamin Multi-Dimension Coaster and Alterface Dark Ride). By focusing on indoor attractions and extending the seasonal offering, the park is concretely preparing for the objective of 270 annual opening days.

While logistical challenges and construction management until 2028 will require careful navigation, especially to maintain the quality of intermediate seasons (like Peur sur le Parc in 2026), the entire project confirms that Parc Astérix is committed to a trajectory of excellence. The scale and quality of the announced novelties guarantee that the Gallic establishment in Oise is on track to achieve its strategic goal of joining the Top 5 most visited and respected leisure destinations in Europe.