Napoleonic Theme Park Planned Southeast of Paris

Napoleon at the St. Bernard Pass,
painting by Jacques-Louis David (1801)

The name "Napoleon" inspires charged emotions even today among Europeans. For some nations, such as Poland, Bonaparte has positive connotations of political and social liberty. Countries including Russia and Spain consider Napoleon to be nothing short of a destructive, violent agent of suppression. The phrase "Napoleonic complex" has come to signify a certain aggressive belligerence demonstrated by some physically diminutive people -- more coarsely speaking, runts. In short, it's undeniable that the controversial Corsican has made his mark on the world.

However, the notion of a theme park dedicated to Napoleonic fact and legend borders on the astonishing. Well, some enterprising Frenchmen intend to create an historical theme park to the French emperor. According to an article appearing in the online version of the BBC, the "government, tourism officials and the Bonaparte family" have come together to build the facilities. The park will be named "Montereau," after a battle in which Nappy whipped an Austrian force.

You can't make this stuff up: check out the BBC story for the details.