Puy du Fou

This enormously popular theme park is the second favourite attraction of visitors to France, after Euro Disney, but it is many times more educational, and far less nausea inducing (because there are no roller coasters). Initially conceived in 1977 by Philippe de Villiers as a 'Cinéscénie' stage show—displaying around seven hundred years of the history of France. The park now comprises a whole village, evolved out of the ruins of the Renaissance-era castle of Les Epesses.
You'll be able to watch gladiators sparring and chariot races in a replica of an amphitheatre in Roman Gaul, the 15th century 'chivalry festival' of jousting and trick riding erupting into a battle with English knights, some Vikings arrive in a longboat to attack a fortress, an impressive falconry display, 17th century musketeers sword fighting and gypsies dancing, as well as shop in a medieval French village. Stay in a Gallo-Roman villa and lunch at a banquet as one of Francois I's courtiers! Plenty of the restaurants are non-themed, though, and the hotel rooms provide every modern comfort, despite all the staff being dressed in togas.