By David Del Valle
Published on
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Thousands of people visit Puy du Fou España, near Toledo in central Spain, every day. With unique shows amidst walks, queues and waits, it is a test of patience and physical endurance. We set out to find out what it is like and experienced an intense day full of excitement.
The entrance to the park is quick despite the crowds, who are eager to enjoy an unforgettable day on a journey through time in a natural setting just a few kilometres from Toledo.
Couples, families and groups of friends gather around a map to organise themselves and decide what to see first.
There are several performances of each show during the 12-hour day of the visit. To avoid fatigue, many divide it into two days: one to see the daytime performances and another for the night show and the jewel in the crown: ‘El sueño de Toledo’ (Toledo’s Dream).
More than 10,000 steps
Our initial plans are soon thwarted when we discover that the first performance is sold out. It’s time to retrace our steps and take a different path. It isn’t hard to do 10,000 steps in a day, and the heat, sun and long waits also take their toll.
The next show is also full. Third time’s the charm, even with an hour’s queue ahead of us.
Some complain about the lack of organisation. The ‘green sleeves’, park employees dressed in period costume, shout loudly to bring order. Impromptu conversations begin.
A group of retired women from Almería laughingly comment that, after this visit, they will need a week to recover. “It doesn’t hurt to eat what you like”, says one of them, excited to enter the venue in search of a roofed seating area to avoid the sun.
The show delights the audience. It ends, and then it’s on to another one, without interruption. Beforehand, a snack, a sandwich and a chat with the group. More queues and waiting at the drinks stall, at the toilet and to get a place in the shade.
More steps and again we’re in line to see another performance. To liven up the wait, a group of eight friends start a word game with songs. “Fiesta”, says María José, to which Carol begins singing “Allí me colé…(I snuck in there)”, the chorus of a popular Spanish song by Mecano. Some laugh and others look on in horror at how out of tune they are.
“The hour has flown by”, confesses Yolanda, one of the members of the group, while her friend María Jesús gets up the courage to dance.
Each show leaves its mark, although the promise of the next performance motivates the crowd to keep walking in the sun. By mid-afternoon, the rhythm doesn’t let up.
The desire to be amazed pushes the visitors to continue without a break. Dinner arrives at nine o’clock in the evening. The park is buzzing with music in every corner, and many are encouraged to take more steps, in this case, dancing.
El Sueño de Toledo’ (Toledo’s Dream)
To top it all off, at 10 pm the lights go up for ‘El Sueño de Toledo’ (Toledo’s Dream), the star show. Irene, a young psychologist and dance teacher, confesses to having made the casting to take part in it.
“I had to train in fencing, dance and acting. It’s an incredible production, although I turned it down because the salary was €900 a month.”
Other attendees agree that this last show condenses all the emotion of the day, a finale that leaves thousands of spectators speechless.
Little by little, the visitors leave the park with a tired step, shuffling their feet but with a smile on their faces. It has been an intense 12 hours of walking, endless queues and moments of tiredness, but also of shared laughter, theatrical surprises and indelible memories.
Puy du Fou España tests anyone’s endurance, but rewards you with a historical and sensory journey that is hard to forget.
