It’s easy to think of centuries-old castles and medieval villages when it comes to French tourism. So much history and art lie within its borders. Marna-la-Vallee, located 25 to 30 kilometres east of Paris, has quite a different story. First planned in 1965, this French town is entirely modern.
Marne-la-Vallee’s greatest attraction is undoubtedly Disneyland Paris. One of the most visited tourist attractions in the entire world, Disneyland Paris was originally the Euro Disney Resort. The complex contains two theme parks, the Disneyland Park modelled on Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, and the Walt Disney Studios Park celebrating a broader selection of show biz. Also in the complex are the Disney Village, full of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, and Golf Disneyland, featuring both nine-hole and 18-hole courses. Other landmarks of the Marne-la-Vallee area include Val d’Europe, Universite Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallee, ESIEE Paris, and Ecole des Ponts ParisTech.
Lying to the east, Marne-la-Vallee is about a half hour drive from Paris. The RER A train connects the centre of the French capital to Disneyland Paris. There is also a direct connection from Charles de Gaulle airport by way of the high-speed TGV train.
With only 50 years behind it, Marne-la-Vallee remains relatively small. The town consists of 26 communes, spread among the sectors of Porte de Paris, Val Maubuee, Val de Bussy, and Val d’Europe with a population less than 300,000.