You’d need to be living on Uranus not to know Disneyland Paris, but have you ever heard of Le Parc du Petit Prince?

Set in the Alsace region of France, this lesser-known theme park is primarily aimed at children up to the age of 11, so I went with my husband and five-year-old daughter to see what it was all about.

We’ve been lucky enough to visit the big glitzy Disney parks, and of course, in many ways The Little Prince theme park can’t compare.

But on a different level, it has a wonderfully appealing charm, with a chilled vibe and great rides for a young family.

Think Peppa Pig World with a certain je ne sais quoi. 

Getting our bearings

Parc du Petit Prince is inspired by the book of the same name by the esteemed French author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

It is located in Ungersheim in the Alsace region in France, and is the most-visited theme park in the region.

Hidden away from a city, it might be tricky for some to get to without a car.

But we thought we’d take the challenge, having travelled by train from the North West of England using Interrail passes (kids under 12 travel free with paid seat reservations).

We took an ‘on demand’ shuttle bus from the nearest train station, Bollwiller, which was reasonably priced at around €5 return trip for all three of us, at our requested times.

Overall, this is how it compares to Disneyland Paris on cost.

First impressions

Despite visiting in August, queues for the rides were never more than 10 minutes and usually covered from the sun. 

The park is fairly small, only taking around 20 minutes to walk across, but the rides are beautifully themed around the children’s classic tale.

While having a knowledge of the book would definitely add to the experience (there are lots of themed shows), the park could easily be enjoyed by kids and adults who don’t know the story. 

Away from the outdoor rides such as the log flume (Aeropostale), the asteroid ride (Pierre de Tonnerre) and the Aerobar (L’Aerobar du Buveur), there’s a mini farm with goats, sheep, rabbits and birds, and some indoor rides and shows. 

All the shows are in French or German, but Interstice – an interactive show where visitors are invited to help recover the lost pages of The Little Prince – also has English subtitles.

By following a professor and school girl on screen, the show is hosted in French by a real person who asks everyone to vote using a keypad in front of them.

The park says they are working towards getting more in English to appeal to an international audience.

Despite our limited French, all were easy to understand and fun for my little girl. Interstice was definitely a highlight.

Food and drink

Food in the park consists of typical fast food, such as chicken nuggets and fish and chips for kids, while adults have the option of burgers, hot dogs, salads and pate, as well as more substantial offerings from the restaurant.

If those options aren’t appealing, there’s also plenty of picnic space in the park, and lockers are available at the entrance to store your own.

For those who know the book, the Drunkard was represented by Aerobar, a large circular table, where guests are belted into seats and transported slowly upwards for a spectacular view, across the park while sipping their drinks.

Although most of the park accepts card payments, a few euros cash would be useful.

The Aeropostale (log flume) offered photos at €6 (paid in cash) and food for the animals was available in the mini farm at €1.

Shows and rides

There are several animal shows and activities, but some only happen once a day, so be sure to check out the times before the kids run off to their first ride of the day. 

As well as Interstice, another highlight is the Fox Burrow ride (La Tanière du Renard), inspired by The Little Prince’s friend The Fox who asks to be tamed. 

A bit like George’s Dinosaur Adventure at Paultons Park, the Fox Burrow takes riders on a short trip where we get to see scenes from the book as well as some real rabbits chilling in the shade.

This ride was loved so much by my daughter, she went on it four times, but with short queues it wasn’t a problem. 

For the biggest fans there was a meet and greet, as well as other indoor shows, and a mini splash park – swimming costumes are required. 

As a theme park in its own right, we absolutely loved it for our daughter’s age.

There were no boisterous kids queue jumping and no large lines to contend with.

If you have time to read The Little Prince before visiting, it will add some charm to the already delightful little park. 

Although transport getting to the park can be tricky, fairly regular trains are available from Mulhouse, where there are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels. 

Alternatively, the nearby Hôtel Les Loges offers reasonable family accommodation in a hamlet setting, but a rented car or taxi would be needed to get to the park.

The essentials

Getting there

If you’re travelling by train, an Interrail (pass 4 days in a month) costs £246 for adults in 2nd class. Children under 12 go free.

Chargeable reservations are required for Eurostar and TGV in France. 

You can also fly from most major UK airports to Basel, which is a 30-minute drive from the theme park.

British Airways and easyJet fly there from £151 – £308 per adult. 

Where to stay

An Airbnb in Mulhouse costs around £75 per night; nearby Hôtel Les Loges starts from €93 in September.


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