Page 276 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

The Auvergne – Centre of Volcanic Tourism in France 253

Vulcania • The Vulcania Theme Park will reinforce
One of the major attractions in the park and of scientific direction at the same time as
great significance to our discussion of volcano diversifying the media of presentation.
tourism in France is the theme park Vulcania, • The Vulcania Theme Park will optimize
located about 15 kilometres from the centre of networks and partnerships at various scales.
Clermont-Ferrand. It was created to inform • The Vulcania Theme Park will be a centre of
visitors about volcanoes throughout the world, documentary resources on sets of Earth science
based on the volcanic history of the Auvergne themes.
area. There is also the Puy de Lemptégy close by
Vulcania where visitors can get an alternative In addition, in order to preserve the natural beauty
guided trip through the remains of a ‘real’ volcano of the site most of the park facilities are
(a heavily mined small cinder cone in reality), part underground, with one major exception being the
of which is by train and sometimes made more 28-metre cone at the centre that is shaped like a
interesting by pyrotechnic displays (see Figure 17.3). volcano. Vulcania is therefore largely concealed in
Vulcania is also a major site for the diffusion of the volcanic subsoil of a former lava flow and its
scientific information on the geology of the Earth deepest point is 20 metres under the surface.
and the Universe, and espouses the following Volcanic stone from the local region was used in
objectives of a scientific and tourism nature: the construction of the buildings, enhancing the
harmony between the park and its environment. A
• The Vulcania Theme Park will assume an 35-metre deep crater, caldera and lava tunnel are
educational role by diffusing information some of the architectural features inspired by the
about Earth sciences, which will include the surrounding vulcanism. The theme park offers
majority of the current environmental major multimedia attractions in the Adventure of
debates. Planet Earth and Planets and Volcanoes (the
• The Vulcania Theme Park will be a mediator changing history of volcanoes from the Solar
between specialists in Earth sciences and the System to Planet Earth), scientific discovery trails,
public, with the assistance and the guarantee of scale models of the Auvergne volcanoes, associated
a scientific council made up of European geothermal activity and other interesting
specialists validating its contents. geotourism features of the region, information on
• The Vulcania Theme Park will position itself at the fauna and flora of the region’s natural heritage,
the same time on a regional, national and scientific information on the development of
European scale. volcanology and risk management in relation to
• The Vulcania Theme Park will put in place this extreme environment (Man and Volcanoes
diversified tools allowing visitors to make exhibit), the Rumbling Chamber, dug out of
discovery of the Earth an activity, in accordance 30,000-year-old lava flows and incorporating
with the principle ‘of learning while recreating’. volcanic sound effects and films, The Planisphere
• The Vulcania Theme Park will regularly (updated information on the 1300+ active
develop and bring up to date its attractions and volcanoes on the planet, either dormant, on alert
information, by conceiving new animations or erupting), and a Volcanic Garden portraying the
adapted to different publics. volcanic environments of other countries such as
• The Vulcania Theme Park will promote the New Zealand.
regional natural environment and its use.
• The Vulcania Theme Park will create a place Special tourist facilities at Vulcania
for experiments and scientific discussions of The park is not only an attraction for day trippers
subjects of topicality in Earth sciences. and longer-stay visitors in the Massif Central
• The Vulcania Theme Park will take part in region:
reflection on volcanic landscape evolution
(design/installation of scenographic innovations 1 It has from the start welcomed disabled
and new communications media). visitors, individually and in groups. The theme

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