World

France plans 'Napoleonland' theme park

Plans are underway to build a theme park just south of Paris to honour French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte at the site where he defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Montereau about 200 years ago.

Famous battles would be re-enacted south of Paris

American Mark Schneider plays the role of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte as he re-enacts the Battle of Three Emperors in the Czech Republic a few years ago. (Czech News Agency/Associated Press)

Plans are underway to build a theme park just south of Paris to honour French military and political leader Napoleon Bonaparte at the site where he defeated the Austrian army in the Battle of Montereau almost 200 years ago.

The six-day battle was France's last military victory over the Austrians.

French politician Yves Jégo is backing the park project and hopes construction can begin in 2014, with the doors opening sometime in 2017. But first he has to raise £180 million ($278 million).

The complex is expected to include a museum, a hotel, shops and restaurants.

On the more ghoulish side, the Daily Mail reports that park employees would recreate the 1792 beheading of Louis XVI, who was executed following the French Revolution.  

In another attraction, visitors would be able to ski around the bodies of soldiers and horses frozen on the battlefield.

Another daily re-enactment could be the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, in which the Duke of Wellington ended Napoleon's rule in France.

There could be a similar nod to the Battle of Trafalgar, fought in 1805 off the Spanish coast. It was a major defeat for the Franco-Spanish fleet and a win for the British. Lord Nelson's fleet didn't lose a single vessel. However, Nelson later died of injuries from a French musket shot.

It's reported visitors to "Napoleonland" could watch a water show recreating the famous sea battle.

The park would reportedly create 3,000 jobs. Its creators hope it would emerge as a solid rival to Euro Disneyland, which is east of Paris.