{{short description|French amusement park}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox amusement park | coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title}} |image = La Mer de sable 01.jpg |caption=Entrance to the park |opening_date=1963 |location=Ermenonville Forest, Oise, France |homepage={{URL|https://www.merdesable.fr/|Official Website}} |area_ha=55 |visitors=358,538<ref name="echotouristique">{{Cite web|language=Fr|title=La Mer de Sable bat son record de fréquentation|url=https://www.lechotouristique.com/article/la-mer-de-sable-bat-son-record-de-frequentation|trans-title=La Mer de Sable sets a new visitor record|date=21 November 2018|website=lechotouristique.com|accessdate=29 March 2019}}.</ref> (2018) |operator = Looping Group }} '''La Mer de Sable''' is an amusement park founded in 1963 and is located in Ermenonville Forest. The park is close to the commune of Ermenonville in the Oise department of northern France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/walks/articles/50756-la-mer-de-sable-2019/lang/en|title=La Mer de Sable 2019 - Sortiraparis.com|website=www.sortiraparis.com}}</ref> The park is owned and operated by the Looping Group.<ref name="echotouristique"/>

== History == The park was founded by the French actor Jean Richard in 1963 on lands leased by from the Institut de France.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Robert-Henri |last=Bautier |authorlink1=Robert-Henri Bautier |title=Nouveaux documents sur l'état du parc d'Ermenonville au début du XIXth et sur l'origine de la mer de sable |trans-title=New documents on the state of Ermenonville Park in the early XIXth century and the origin of La Mer de Sable |publisher=Comptes rendus et mémoires de la Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Senlis |year=1995–1997 |pages=365–370}}</ref> The park was bought by Compagnie des Alpes in July 2005, who at the time owned Parc Astérix, another amusement park only 5&nbsp;km away.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/oise/asterix-se-paie-la-mer-de-sable-09-08-2005-2006193965.php |date=August 9, 2005 |first=Marie |last=Persidat |title=Astérix se paie la Mer-de-Sable |trans-title=Astérix buys the Mer-de-Sable|newspaper=Le Parisien}}</ref> The park was then sold to its current owner, the Looping Group in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2015/05/22/20005-20150522ARTFIG00340-la-compagnie-des-alpes-se-polarise-sur-ses-meilleurs-sites.php |title=La Compagnie des Alpes se polarise sur ses meilleurs sites |trans-title=Compagnie des Alpes is focusing on its best sites |date=22 May 2015 |first=Mathilde |last=Visseyrias |newspaper=Le Figaro}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mer De Sable}} Category:Amusement parks in France Category:Amusement parks opened in 1963 Category:1963 establishments in France Category:Tourist attractions in Oise

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