Masked spectators but crowded stands, with no free seat. While events bringing together more than 5,000 people are prohibited in France until at least August 31, the famous Cinéscénie du Puy du Fou (Vendée) did take place on Friday evening in front of 12,000 people. The images of these thousands of people, filmed by France 2, have been widely commented on on social networks since and they question the illegal nature or not of this outdoor show.
📺 REPLAY # JT13h @ infofrance2 #PuyduFou pic.twitter.com/iUsFuNb2nU
- Anne-Claire Poignard (@anneclairep) July 25, 2020The management of the amusement park ensured that it was completely within the regulations, the parade residing in the division of the stands into three blocks which could accommodate 4,000 people. Each part was divided by a plexiglass protection and all spectators were required to wear a mask.
"We distributed to each of our spectators hydroalcoholic gel at their entrance", added the president of Puy du Four Nicolas de Villiers, questioned by France 2. "We took the temperature of each of these spectators, so that we guarantees against the situation we are in to ensure the safety of all. "
"The prefect did not accept anything at all"
A device validated by a municipal decree taken Wednesday "after passage of a security commission chaired by the prefect of the department", said Nicolas de Villiers, quoted by Ouest France. The first article of this decree specified that the park could accommodate "a total staff of 13,069 people" from July 24.
Friday, before the Cinéscénie, the prefect of the Pays de la Loire region Claude d'Harcourt did not seem to be on the same line. “The prefect (of Vendée) did not accept anything at all. The operator is aware of the regulatory texts and he is liable if he does not comply with them, ”he warned.
Faced with the controversy, Nicolas de Villiers announced this Saturday that the Puy du Fou show would review its copy. "It is obvious that this opening was public knowledge and that the prefect would not have failed to prohibit it in the event of disagreement," he told Ouest France. However, we do not want to suggest that the Puy du Fou would be ready to put the public in danger. As of this Saturday, we are announcing our intention to welcome 5,000 people in a single stand, starting next weekend. "