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Mirapolis: the forgotten amusement park of Île-de-France
Opened in 1987 in Cergy-Pontoise, Mirapolis was supposed to become the great French amusement park, the local answer to Disneyland Paris.
With its giant statue of Gargantua and futuristic rides, it promised to attract millions of visitors.
But after only five years of operation, Mirapolis closed its doors in 1991.
Its rides were sold off, some dismantled… and a part of them would start an unexpected new life.
From Cergy-Pontoise to Berlin: the resurrected rides
Several rides from Mirapolis didn’t disappear completely: they were transferred to Berlin, to the Spreepark amusement park (formerly Kulturpark Plänterwald).
Among them:
- Family rides,
- Roller coasters,
- Iconic structures.
This is how pieces of Mirapolis ended up more than 1,000 km away from their original location.
Spreepark Berlin: from glory to abandonment
In Berlin, Spreepark also followed a singular path.
After being a festive place in the 1970s and 80s, it eventually closed in 2002.
Since then, its rusty rides and giant dinosaurs overgrown by vegetation have turned it into an essential urbex spot.
A symbol of European urbex
Today, Spreepark is one of the most famous urbex sites in Europe.
It attracts photographers, curious visitors and explorers fascinated by:
- Its giant Ferris wheel frozen above the trees,
- Its forgotten dinosaurs,
- Its ghostly funfair atmosphere.
But few people know that its roots trace back… to Île-de-France.
Explore Spreepark with MapUrbex
Good news: this spot is included in our Free Map!
You can discover the exact location of Spreepark and other iconic places right now:
Conclusion
From Mirapolis in Cergy-Pontoise to Spreepark in Berlin, these abandoned rides tell a unique story in Europe.
A double symbol: the past glory of amusement parks and the fascination of urbex.
And if you also want to explore Spreepark and other iconic places, download your Free Map from MapUrbex today.
