Vikings, saints and sales

A performance of the Cinescenie, a show on the edge of the Puy du Fou theme park that depicts centuries of French history, in Les Epesses, France. — William Daniels/The New York Times

IN a historical theme park set among the wheat fields of rural western France, Viking boats and pianos emerge from ponds, and knights ride on horseback.

Now France’s most popular theme park after Disneyland’s sites near Paris, it has opened an outpost in Spain and aims to build one in England soon.