Vulcania
Vulcania is a French theme park and science center in the Auvergne volcanic region that combines interactive volcanology and Earth-science education with family entertainment attractions, serving approximately 389,000 visitors annually across family, school, and tourist segments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSaint-exupéry-les-roches, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vulcania does
Vulcania is a for-profit theme park and science center located on a 57-hectare site in the Chaîne des Puys volcanic range in Auvergne, France, operated by SEM Volcans (a Société d'Économie Mixte owned primarily by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council). Opened on February 20, 2002, the park combines scientific mediation about volcanology, Earth sciences, and natural phenomena with family entertainment, using interactive technology including 3D/4D cinema, motion simulators, giant-screen projections, holographic displays, touch-screen exhibits, and France's largest planetarium (opened 2023). Its signature attraction is the Namazu, a drop coaster themed around seismology and recognized as Best New Attraction in Europe in 2021; other core attractions include Machine Terre (an interactive Earth-discovery experience), Planète Dévoilée (a satellite-image-based space voyage), and Premier envol (a flight simulator over Auvergne volcanoes).
The park generates revenue through a diversified mix of channels: tiered day admission tickets (€27-33 adult, €22-27.50 child) including season passes (€54), premium evening event products such as Soirées Volcaniques (€39-119 per person with concerts and VIP hospitality), guided tours (€4 adult), catering across five on-site restaurants, retail merchandise, and stay packages combining accommodation with park entry through a network of partner hotels and campsites. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via owned ticketing (billetterie.vulcania.com) and stay booking (holiday.vulcania.com) platforms, supplemented by a shuttle service from Clermont-Ferrand and group reservations for schools, companies, and CSE committees.
Vulcania served 389,000 visitors in 2024 (75% from outside the Auvergne region) and has accumulated more than 8 million visitors since opening, with a stated €10 million turnover in 2018 and an estimated €45 million in annual indirect economic impact on the region. The park is embedded in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Chaîne des Puys–Limagne Fault Tectonic Arena (inscribed 2018) and validates its scientific content through an external International Scientific Council.
Vulcania firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vulcania
- Legal name
- SEM Volcans
- Website
- https://vulcania.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Vulcania is a French theme park and science center in the Auvergne volcanic region that combines interactive volcanology and Earth-science education with family entertainment attractions, serving approximately 389,000 visitors annually across family, school, and tourist segments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vulcania industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theme Park / Amusement Park
- NAICS
- Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Destination Theme Parks (Large-Scale, Multi-Attraction Parks) (THAJAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG), Geotourism & Geology/Volcano/National Monument Tours (THAAAEAG)
Keywords
Where Vulcania is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint-exupéry-les-roches
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vulcania business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Theme park admission tickets: Primary revenue stream from day tickets, evening tickets, multi-day passes, season passes, and special event tickets for Volcanic Evenings and Astronomiales. Tickets sold online and at the gate with tiered pricing based on season (green, yellow, purple periods) and advance booking.
- Catering and food services: Multiple on-site restaurants and cafés including Le Comptoir du cratère, La Cafétéria des Puys, Le Magma café, Kiosque Namazu, and Snack du planétarium. Also includes click & collect service.
- Retail and merchandise: On-site boutiques and online shop selling Vulcania-branded products, scientific games, space-themed items, and souvenirs.
- Stay packages: Packages combining accommodation (hotels, gites, campsites) with park entry tickets. Partners include hotels of various ratings (1-4 star), certified Logis de France properties, guesthouses, campsites, and hotel residences. Includes breakfast and park entry.
- Evening event packages: Special evening events including Soirées Volcaniques with concerts (e.g., KEZIAH JONES, SELAH SUE & THE GALLANDS), VIP packages with privileged access, parking, private space, and catering included.
- Guided tours and additional services: Discovery guided tours (1 hour) at €4 per adult and €2 per child, Cité des enfants (children's lab), Rivière des minéraux activities, campervan area with 65 pitches.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pack Duo - 2 adults day ticket |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pack Tribu - Family package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Smart ticket (Green period) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Billet daté (Dated ticket) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Billet 2 jours (2-day ticket) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Billet Liberté (Undated ticket) |
| Subscription | Annual | Pass Saison 2026 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Evening tickets - Summer evenings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Astronomiale tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Soirées Volcaniques Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Soirées Volcaniques Evening only |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Soirées Volcaniques 2 soirs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Soirées Volcaniques |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Guided tour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Campervan area |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Vulcania product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vulcania operates a scientific theme park in the Chaîne des Puys, Auvergne, France, combining entertainment rides and interactive attractions with educational content about volcanology, Earth sciences, and space exploration. Core offerings include the Namazu drop coaster, Machine Terre interactive Earth exhibits, Planète Dévoilée space voyage, Premier Envol flight simulator, and France's largest planetarium, complemented by ticketed admission, stay packages, guided tours, restaurants, and an on-site retail shop.
Product overview
Vulcania is a theme park and science center located in the heart of the Chaîne des Puys in Auvergne, France. The park combines entertainment attractions with scientific education about volcanoes, natural phenomena, and space. Key attractions include the Namazu roller coaster (drop coaster themed around earthquakes), Machine Terre (interactive Earth exploration), Planète dévoilée (satellite-based space discovery), and the Planetarium (France's largest, opened 2023). The park offers various ticket types (day tickets, multi-day tickets, season passes, event tickets), stay packages combining accommodation with park entry, guided tours, and children's activities like Cité des enfants. Additional services include on-site restaurants, a campervan area, and an online shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Namazu Roller Coaster
- Machine Terre
Quantifiable outcome
- 389,000 visitors in 2024
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Vulcania
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vulcania technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Vulcania partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SEM Volcans (Société d'Economie Mixte)coreMixed Economy Company managing Vulcania on behalf of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council. Public service delegation with private law governance. Capital: 3.6 million €. Led by Director Sophie Rognon and chaired by Frédéric Bonnichon, Deputy Chairman of Regional Council. Public shareholders include Regional Council, 4 departments (Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, Haute-Loire, Allier), and Clermont-Auvergne-Métropole. Private shareholders include CDC, Crédit Agricole, Caisse d'Épargne Auvergne Limousin, Michelin, Limagrain, Société des eaux de Volvic, RAPP9/Groupe Orange, and ASM/Compagnie Aérienne.
- Partner Hotels and AccommodationminorNetwork of accommodation partners including 1-4 star hotels, Logis de France certified properties, guesthouses, campsites, and hotel residences. Provides package stay offerings combining lodging with park tickets through holiday.vulcania.com.
- Chaîne des Puys - Limagne Fault UNESCO SitecoreVulcania is a major interpretation site for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Chaîne des Puys-Limagne Fault Tectonic Arena (inscribed July 2, 2018). Park committed to preserving and valorizing this exceptional geological heritage.
- International Scientific CouncilcoreExternal Scientific Advisory Board comprising Europe's leading Earth Sciences specialists who validate all scientific content delivered to park visitors.
- Blaise Pascal University (Clermont-Ferrand)minorMany Vulcania scientific mediators are graduates of volcanology courses offered by Blaise Pascal University, establishing legitimacy within Auvergne volcanic research community.
- Cité des Sciences (Paris)minorPartnered in designing the Cité des enfants (Children's lab) space with specially designed activities for children aged 3-7.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vulcania competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vulcania social profiles
Digital presenceVulcania financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vulcania leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Vulcania funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vulcania M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vulcania
What does Vulcania do?
Vulcania operates a scientific theme park in the Chaîne des Puys, Auvergne, France, combining entertainment rides and interactive attractions with educational content about volcanology, Earth sciences, and space exploration. Core offerings include the Namazu drop coaster, Machine Terre interactive Earth exhibits, Planète Dévoilée space voyage, Premier Envol flight simulator, and France's largest planetarium, complemented by ticketed admission, stay packages, guided tours, restaurants, and an on-site retail shop.
Is Vulcania a public or private company?
Vulcania is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Vulcania founded?
Vulcania was founded in 2002. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Vulcania based?
Vulcania is headquartered in Saint-exupéry-les-roches, France, in the Europe region.
How does Vulcania make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Theme park admission tickets are the primary driver. The others are catering and food services, retail and merchandise, stay packages, evening event packages and guided tours and additional services.
Does Vulcania have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vulcania.
What industry is Vulcania in?
Vulcania's product category is Theme Park / Amusement Park. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAA, Destination Theme Parks (Large-Scale, Multi-Attraction Parks), with a secondary code of THAJAEAG, Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks). Its NAICS code is 7131 and its SIC code is 7900.