"Les Machines de L'Ile", an amusement park in Nantes, France, is home to moving mechanical animals, including this 48-ton monster: The Great Elephant.
France's mechanical zoo —
"Les Machines de L'Ile", an amusement park in Nantes, France, is home to moving mechanical animals, including this 48-ton monster: The Great Elephant.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
The 12 meter-tall hydraulic mammal tramples his way around the park, carrying almost 50 passengers on its back -- and spraying unsuspecting visitors with water as he passes.
France's mechanical zoo —
The 12 meter-tall hydraulic mammal tramples his way around the park, carrying almost 50 passengers on its back -- and spraying unsuspecting visitors with water as he passes.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
The ecosystem of complex animatronic animals have emerged from the warehouses of Nantes' dilapidated shipyards, the visions of street theater creators Francois Delarozière and Pierre Orefice.
France's mechanical zoo —
The ecosystem of complex animatronic animals have emerged from the warehouses of Nantes' dilapidated shipyards, the visions of street theater creators Francois Delarozière and Pierre Orefice.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
Delarozière and Orefice lead a team of craftsmen and "machinists" who aim to draw in in tourists with their fantastical animals.
France's mechanical zoo —
Delarozière and Orefice lead a team of craftsmen and "machinists" who aim to draw in in tourists with their fantastical animals.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
With Les Machines, the duo say they aimed to create an adventure park that would awe parents and children alike, by allowing visitors to interact with their gargantuan creations.
France's mechanical zoo —
With Les Machines, the duo say they aimed to create an adventure park that would awe parents and children alike, by allowing visitors to interact with their gargantuan creations.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
In the newly opened Marine Worlds Carousel three levels of marine life -- including flying fish, a giant squid, and a manta ray -- circle the 25 meter-tall merry-go-round.
France's mechanical zoo —
In the newly opened Marine Worlds Carousel three levels of marine life -- including flying fish, a giant squid, and a manta ray -- circle the 25 meter-tall merry-go-round.
Jean-Dominique Billaud
The undersea creations take inspiration from the area's maritime history, the park's location, enclosed by two branches of the Loire River, and the fact that Nantes is the birthplace of 19th century author Jules Verne, who wrote "20,000 Leagues under the Sea."
France's mechanical zoo —
The undersea creations take inspiration from the area's maritime history, the park's location, enclosed by two branches of the Loire River, and the fact that Nantes is the birthplace of 19th century author Jules Verne, who wrote "20,000 Leagues under the Sea."
Jean-Dominique Billaud