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The Sea of Sand as it has a nickname or Park of Ermenonville with
its official name being La Mer de Sable, was the first major theme park that was built
within France and is located on an incredible geological site, that has a perfectly
natural expanse of sand.
This theme park was officially opened in 1963 by Jean Richard and Maurice Chevalier and is
situated only about 45 minutes to the North of Paris, but being that it is purely outdoors
with very little cover, it is only open from around April until September.
This is a family amusement park that will delight and enthral everyone from the youngest
in your family to the oldest and the amusements are put into age categories, from the
toddler rides, through to the thrill seeker rides, but it covers a wide area so a map is
your best option for getting around, which you can pick up when you enter the site, but if
you want to see as much as possible, you may need your walking boots!
Talking of walking, you will end up probably needing to rest those weary legs a few times
and there are several different cafes, brasseries and restaurants that are available for
drinks and snacks, plus the different shows are excellent and anyone that loves horses,
will be enthralled with the equestrian show, plus the cowboy and Indian show with
carriages and chases make another great time out to relax.
The rides vary immensely from the scary, like the Colorado Train to the wet like The Wild
River. There is a Pirate Ship and a Hall of Mirrors, train rides and pony rides, a
Merry Go Round and Canoe Ride for the toddlers or a nail biting toboggan ride for the
older children and adults, a log flume and the Ferris Wheel plus many more attractions for
everyone.
The Mer de Sable is open from April until September and the times do vary, obviously
opening slightly later in the summer months and the schedule of shows also changes.
Normal opening times are from 10.00am through to 6pm and sometimes in the height of summer
this can extend to 7pm and you can purchase a half-day ticket or a full day pass.
Personally, because of the distance you cover and if you are the sort of family that love
amusements and theme parks, then a full day is advisable, although a half day is great if
you only want to experience a few things quickly and only have very young children.
There are plenty of sheltered picnic areas on the site, which are available for anyone to
use, but please note that dogs or any other animals are not allowed, however, wheelchairs
are available, but need to be pre-booked by telephone on 0825 25 20 60 (0.15€/min)
There is a shuttle service from Paris directly to
the Mer de Sable out of the RER station (line B) Roissy CDG1 and you can contact them for
more information and times on telephone number: 1 48 62 38 33.
From Paris if you were travelling by car you would need to take the
Autoroute du Nord A1 (or A1 North motorway) and then take exit 7 in the direction of
Ermenonville and there is free car parking available in the shade.
Address & Contact Details:
La Mer de Sable
Ermenonville
60950
France
Telephone: 0825 25 20 60 (0.15 € / min)
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