Futuroscope, located near Poitiers in the Vienne department, remains one of the most striking symbols of French innovation and creativity. Designed in 1984 by the Vienne General Council to revitalise the region and promote scientific culture, the park has evolved over the decades while striving to maintain its original ambition: to surprise, amaze and imagine the future.

The opening of the first pavilion, the Kinémax, in 1987 marked the beginning of a daring adventure. The park quickly expanded with new spaces, each offering a different technological experience. 3D films, simulators, interactive shows and themed pavilions gradually shaped a place where science, art and entertainment come together to create a world of its own.

Futuristic buildings

The architecture of Futuroscope remains one of its most striking features. Its buildings, with their bold lines and shimmering reflections, evoke technology, light and imagination. Designed by architects inspired by crystals, sparkles and the movements of nature, the glass, steel and concrete pavilions seem to float in a landscape that is both poetic and visionary.

The Kinémax, with its shapes reminiscent of giant quartz crystals, and the Futuroscope Pavilion, perfectly embody this alliance between art and science. The park thus offers an astonishing visual journey, where each building seeks to bring its own touch of originality by imagining the world of tomorrow.

The Upside-Down House

One of the most accessible experiences, the Upside-Down House perfectly illustrates the original spirit of Futuroscope: playing with perception, challenging assumptions and inviting visitors to see things differently. This upside-down house, standing on its roof, transforms a simple walk into a fun and unsettling experience. It’s the perfect place to take unusual photos.

You enter through the attic, climb down to the ground floor, and the furniture suspended from the ceiling creates a striking illusion. It is at once a work of art, a game and a reflection on our relationship with space. This type of attraction reminds us how Futuroscope remains a place where curiosity and imagination come together to awaken a sense of wonder.

The turn of the 2000s

After a period of slowdown in the early 2000s, Futuroscope sought to reinvent itself. Accompanying a change in ownership, the park chose to embrace new directions and offer attractions similar to those of other amusement parks with which it competes.

For example, the Objectif Mars attraction, presented as an educational space adventure, has no scientific content whatsoever; it is simply a roller coaster ride.

What does the future hold for Futuroscope?

The park’s management is now mainly driven by visitor numbers. Today, Futuroscope is once again looking to the future with ambition. Developments include the creation of new themed areas, hotels to extend stays and even a high-speed train station to attract visitors from further afield.

The aim is no longer just to spark curiosity about technology, but also to entertain, in order to create a true tourist ecosystem. Unfortunately, the new attractions currently on offer are more reminiscent of a family funfair than Futuroscope’s unique focus on the future technologies.