Village Nature, the only Center Parcs in the Paris region, welcomes you just a few kilometers from Disneyland Paris. What can you find there, how does it work and what precautions are taken in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic? We tell you all about it.
Villages Nature Paris opened its doors in September 2017 just outside Paris and a stone's throw from Disneyland Paris. Want to go green without necessarily driving hundreds of kilometers? Here's a spot that should appeal to you.
The Park:
The park has been designed around 5 recreational universes:
- TheAqualagon with its pools, slides and year-round outdoor lagoon with water at 30°C thanks to geothermal energy.
It features :
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- 6 giant slides
- A climbing wall
- Wave pool
- An experience river
- A toddler pool: 2 indoor paddling pools, 2 outdoor paddling pools and 1 water tree
- 3 Jacuzzis
- A spa with 5 treatment rooms, including one double room, 1 sauna, 1 hamman, 1 salt grotto
- A semi-aquatic lazing area in the outdoor lagoons
- An outdoor lagoon heated all year round to 30°C
Activities include
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- Baby swimmers
A bonding moment to share with your child and discover the pleasures of the water.
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- Swimming lessons
Supervised by a lifeguard, children learn the basics of swimming.
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- Aquabike
Tone your body by pedaling in the water at varied cadences and to music.
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- Deep Nature Spa
Expert treatments from our partner Deep Nature.
- BelleVie Farm, with its farm animals, ponies, vegetable garden and workshops.
BelleVie Farm, with its characteristic Briarde farmhouse architecture, features a huge porch surrounded by high walls and a moat, opening onto a courtyard around which are organized the entertainment and discovery areas. There are barnyard animals, cows, goats, ponies, a vegetable garden, a greenhouse...
In workshops, guests can learn about farm activities such as feeding the goats or preparing barnyard meals, cooking seasonal vegetables or baking bread...
Ferme BelleVie also boasts a large outdoor and indoor play area, featuring a milk-themed trail.
For a gourmet break during the day, visit the BelleVie Farm tea room. Dairy products and seasonal vegetables are on sale at the BelleVie grocery store.
Activities include
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- Apprentice farmer
During a workshop, children become farmers: feeding the cows and their calves, collecting eggs, cleaning the pens... So many experiences to share with their parents afterwards.
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- L'Atelier du pain
Play the baker's apprentice and discover the secrets of bread-making.
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- Beekeeping
A fun approach to the world of bees for young and old.
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- Pony rides
Put your feet up in the stirrups, and let's go for a ride, mane in the wind!
- The Forest of Legends, with its tree houses, tree nests, tales and legends.
Set in 2.5 hectares of woodland, the Forest of Legends, inspired by the legends of the forest, will delight children aged 2 to 12. A forest of tales, games and magic, with hiding places and hanging nests. Among the trees, play areas will enchant the little ones. For older children, there's the opportunity to build huts, hang bridges and explore mysterious paths. At the heart of this forest space, children experience the story of myths and characters from the world of the forest.
Activities include
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- The Forest Show
A fun, interactive show that immerses children in the history of the Forest of Legends and introduces them to its characters.
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- Les légendes de la forêt
A life-size adventure where children have to solve games and riddles about the magical world of the forest and its inhabitants.
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- My fairy house
Create your own fairy house and help bring the Forest of Legends to life.
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- Cabin building
Supervised by an animator, this activity invites children and their families to create and decorate their own cabin.
- Extraordinary Gardens, with its multitude of possible wanderings around Earth, Fire, Air and Water.
Les Jardins extraordinaires are the landscaped expression of the harmony between Man and Nature at Villages Nature Paris. Designed by Thierry Huau, the 2.1-hectare gardens celebrate the four elements of nature, planted with species selected to flower in all seasons. Life-size games, curiosity cabinets and a scent organ punctuate the 4 gardens.
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- The first garden, dedicated to Earth, offers a stroll through blossoming pear orchards and colorful vegetable gardens, a labyrinth of greenery, magnolia blossoms and old apple trees.
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- The second, dedicated to Fire, is illustrated by the density of vivid autumn colors in the foliage of liquidambars, maples, oaks... as well as the intense blooms of lagerstroemia, prunus and parrotia.
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- The Jardin de l'Air offers a stroll through a meadow of undulating grasses, where tall weeping willows and conifers graphically evoke the air that surrounds them.
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- Finally, theWater garden is characterized by the evergreen foliage of holm oaks and willow-leaf pear trees, as well as the tall palms and Scots pines that accompany the water features.
Activities include
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- Meeting with the gardener
Discussions on the upkeep of the kitchen garden and its secrets.
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- Fireside evening
An evening of music in the heart of the Jardins extraordinaires.
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- Family exploration game
A real family treasure hunt to unravel the mysteries behind the creation of the Extraordinary Gardens.
- The Promenade du lac with its restaurants, stores and entertainment.
In the shadow of the Hanging Gardens, the Promenade du Lac is the heart of Villages Nature Paris. It offers a place to stroll, dine and shop with Villages Nature Paris partner brands. Fresh, tasty produce and gourmet, well-balanced dishes can be enjoyed on the spot or "on the go".
The food store offers a variety of ingredients. A wine bar welcomes connoisseurs and neophytes alike for a tasting session and an introduction to oenology! Finally, the Villages Nature Paris market square offers all the friendly distractions (petanque court...).
Activities include
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- Initiation to oenology
From the aromas game to wine tasting, a privileged moment to discover wine tasting techniques, vocabulary, food and wine pairings...
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- Explorers' Club
Activities designed in partnership with Disney Nature to help you learn about the wonders of nature.
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- Le Club Bébés
Located on the Promenade du lac, the Club welcomes children aged 4 months to 3 years, Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
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- Mini disco
The little guests have fun on the dance floor, where they can express their talent as young dancers!
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- Concerts at the Eau amphitheater
In fine weather, open-air concerts in a spectacular setting facing the Aqualagon are organized.
The Cottages :
As in other Centerparcs, you can book one of 3 cottages: Cocon VIP, Country Premium and Clan Comfort. Located in the center of the Village, by the lake or in the heart of the forest, Villages Nature Paris accommodation can sleep from 2 to 12 people.
The apartments and cottages were designed by architect Jean de Gastines and decorated by three renowned designers, Ana Moussinet, Beverley Bayes and Sophie Jacqmin.
- L'ESPRIT COCON VIP: A haven of well-being
- 5 to 10-minute walk from the Village center.
- 1 to 2-bedroom apartments.
- Cottages with 2 to 6 bedrooms.
- Areas from 44 min 2 s to 170 m2
- Facilities: fireplace, king-size bed, separate toilet, second TV in master bedroom, welcome coffee and tea kit, music station, Nespresso coffee machine, bathroom with whirlpool bath and massage shower, Spa kit (bathrobe, slippers and toiletries), private balcony or terrace with garden furniture.
- Services: cleaning during stay (on request once per stay and only for mid-week and week stays).
- L'ESPRIT COUNTRY PREMIUM: The charm of a country retreat
- 5 to 10-minute walk from the village center.
- 1 to 2-bedroom apartments.
- Cottages with 2 to 4 bedrooms.
- Areas from 37 min 2 s to 102 m2.
- Features: fireplace in cottages, queen-size bed, separate toilet, second TV in master bedroom, private balcony or terrace with garden furniture.
- L'ESPRIT CLAN COMFORT: The factory of family memories
- 15-minute walk from the village center.
- Cottages with 2 or 3 bedrooms.
- From 54 min 2 s to 65 m2.
- Features: queen-size bed, private terrace with garden furniture.
When it comes to length of stay, it's also possible, as in other Centerparcs, to book for a full week, for a weekend running from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, or for a mid-week running from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.
Ecology:
But a huge center like this needs to be supplied with water, electricity and supplies... so how do you do that while preserving nature?
The conceptual approach of Villages Nature Paris is based on a Sustainable Action Plan drawn up in partnership with the Biorégional association, in application of the 10 objectives of "One Planet Living":
- zero carbon
- zero waste
- sustainable transport
- local and sustainable materials
- local and sustainable food
- sustainable water
- natural habitats
- culture and community
- equity and economic development
- quality of life and well-being
In Villages Natures Paris you can :
- Outdoor swimming in warm water, even in winter!
Thanks to geothermal energy, 9,000 tonnes of CO2 are avoided every year. 100% of the site's heating needs (bathing water for the Aqualagon, heating and domestic hot water for all buildings) are covered by this renewable and sustainable energy, which produces no greenhouse gases.
- Witness the natural purification of water through biological filtration
Water from the Aqualagon's swimming pools, passing through two vertical and two horizontal gardens, is naturally purified by plants. The treated water is then returned to the lake, where it is used for watering.
- Discovering the local cultural and gastronomic heritage
Villages Nature Paris offers food produced locally or organically. Excursions to Paris and the Seine-et-Marne region are also available.
Of course, as in other Centerparcs, Villages Nature Paris is a place where you can get around on foot, by bike or even in an electric buggy, but forget about your polluting car or 4x4, which will remain parked for the duration of your stay.
Interview with Olivier Morin, Director of Operations at Villages Nature:
In short, why don't you go and discover?
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