Vendresse leisure park - Marion Guiot - Chroniques d'une ardennaise

 a day of family fun in the Vendresse leisure park

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Marion - Chroniques d'une ardennaise

Member for 3 years 11 months

100% Ardennes, between Belgium and France

Both young and old were delighted by their day out.

 I enjoyed a day of family fun in the Vendresse leisure park

1 day  in the heart of nature

In the Vendresse leisure park, in the French Ardennes, you will find a museum, but also a fabulous green space, a fish farm, a place of historic and cultural heritage, a playground, a restaurant, a place where environmental awareness is raised and adults can relive childhood holidays…But above all things it is a fabulous place to enjoy a fun-packed family day out!

Domaine de Vendresse Leisure Park - Marion Guiot - Chroniques d'une ardennaise

Discovering the Domaine de Vendresse Leisure Park

As soon as we arrive the park guides - who by the way are very attentive to our needs- give us a tour and explain the working of the site. A huge slate at the site entrance is there to remind us of today’s highlights: feeding the fish, meeting Bob the sturgeon, start of the sound and light show inside the blast furnace and a wide array of other activities. After a quick family powwow, we jot down the activities we have set our heart on. The children are impatient to meet Bob and are desperate to feed the fish, and maybe – with a bit of luck – get to touch a few. While we are waiting for our next activity, we head for the trees, where a number of athletic and strategic games are set up. The games are dotted all over the site, so we saunter around, take a short break, play some games…and then start all over again. We enjoy a spot of archery, play a game of Hook a Duck straight from a brook, then we test our balance, do some building, you name it, we tried it! Time flies by as our family roars with laughter. Finally, it’s time go to the trout pond and feed the fish. The instructor shows us how to tell the males from the females swimming in the tank, and while doing so he inadvertently drops a smidgeon of food into the tank.Immediately, the fish rush towards the edge of the pond! I can only imagine how hectic it will be when we throw the tiny pellets that we are preciously holding in the palm of our hands in the water. One, two, THREE…throw! And the game is on…watching the school of colourful little fish frantically fighting for food makes the children shriek with laughter. Some of the younger children are even slightly startled by the fishes’ feeding frenzy and take a step back…

 

Domaine de Vendresse Leisure Park- Marion Guiot - Chroniques d'une ardennaise

Hush, we're trying to catch a fish!

Fishermen for a day

After all this excitement, it’s time for some peace and quiet, so we head towards the fish farming ponds where we can enjoy a spot of fishing in the sun. There are several ponds each with a different degree of difficulty. The children pick the largest one, which is of course also the most difficult one. Uncharacteristically calm and patient, the children impassively wait for a trout to take the bait. Unfortunately, even though we are more than willing and patient, we do not catch a single fish. Oh well, we decide to console ourselves in the park's restaurant, where we will enjoy the catch of much more experienced fishermen! On the menu: Ardennes trout with almonds and wild garlic, absolutely delicious. Our bellies full and our spirits lifted, we take a break on the playground, where the children  - in high spirits - enjoy getting splashed by water features, playing in the sand and whooshing down slides, while we kick back and relax, listening to the relaxing sounds of nature.Once we’re done enjoying our break, we go and cool down inside the aquarium, where you can admire many different fish and aquatic animals. The building also houses a museum where you can see what schools were like in times gone by. The children are astonished to discover a classroom that is like nothing they have ever seen, but quickly settle down and play with the wooden games from olden times scattered throughout the classroom. Ten rounds of giant connect 4 later, it is time to enjoy the sound and light show inside the blast furnace. 

Blast Furnace - Domaine de Vendresse - Marion Guiot - Chroniques d'une ardennaise

The blast furnace

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Beast, the pride of the Ardennes in the 19th century…", this is how the sound and light show begins. And the “Beast” looms just in front of us, towering over 10 meters high, impressive and glowing with light. It is in fact one of the last blast furnaces in the area. The sound and light show tells the story of Jean-Nicolas Gendarme, a master of the Ardennes forges. We witness how metal is extracted and gasp as we watch what looks like almost real molten cast iron flowing towards our feet. It allows you to imagine the harsh conditions of the metal workers labouring in a dark and stifling hot environment, sometimes at the risk of their lives. Twenty minutes later, the lights go back on, the air is more breathable and we return to the 21st century, surrounded by the lush Ardennes countryside.

A fireworks show to cap off this lovely day

 

The sound and light show in the historical site of Cassine

Vendresse is only a couple of kilometres away from the historical site of Cassine, which comes alive every year in July and August with a stunning sound of light show. We decide to cap off our day with this show that is unique in its kind in Europe. This year, a troupe of more than 100 amateur comedians will be treating us to a lively rendering of Victor Hugo’s world famous masterpiece “Les Misérables”.  What makes the show unique is the huge mobile platform on which spectators embark and that travels forward as the story unfolds. As the acts follow each other, we discover stage decors that are each more stunning than the one before, until we reach the final scene which takes place in the ruins of Cassine Castle. The grand finale is absolutely stunning, a mind blowing show with spectacular pyrotechnic effects and fireworks we will remember for a long time to come!

Mobile platform - Cassine sound and light show - Vendresse - Céline Lecomte GEIE

Enjoy this experience 

 

Domaine de Vendresse Leisure Park
11 rue du Haut fourneau
08160 Vendresse - France
www.domaine-de-vendresse.fr
Tel. +32(0)324 35 57 73
infos@domaine-de-vendresse.fr
Open from 6 April to 29 September