Pierre & Vacances (P&V), the holiday resort operator, is to develop a new Center Parcs village north east of Paris, following its acquisition of MidOcean’s stake in Center Parcs Continental Europe, making P&V the sole owner.

The new park, located on Lac De L’Ailette, is expected to be a prototype for the next generation of Center Parcs resorts in Europe, with stronger emphasis placed on thematic development.

The main attraction at the resort, the 6,000sq m Aqua Mundo is to be designed by Canada-based design and planning company, Forrec.

“The stated theme for the design was Lake Muskoka, a Canadian vacation region located two hours north of our offices in Toronto,” said Forrec vice-president, Steve Phys.

“We are quite familiar with the distinctive geography and architecture of the region and are delighted with the opportunity to express something so quintessentially Canadian in the design of a European resort.”

Forrec also worked with Center Parcs Continental Europe in 2001, on the redesign of the De Eemhof resort in The Netherlands which had been destroyed by fire.

The 800-bungalow Lac De L’Ailette resort is expected to open in 2005. Details: www.forrec.com or www. pierre-vacances.fr