Compagnie des Alpes is a French leisure and tourism group founded on January 26, 1989, and headquartered in Paris. Listed on Euronext Paris under the ticker CDA, the company built its original business around operating some of the largest ski resorts in the French Alps, including La Plagne, Tignes, Les Arcs, Chamonix, and Val d’Isère.
In 2006, Compagnie des Alpes expanded well beyond the slopes by acquiring the Walibi chain of amusement parks, which had previously changed hands from Six Flags’ European division to private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners before landing with the company. That deal transformed Compagnie des Alpes into a year-round leisure operator, adding household-name attractions like Parc Astérix and Futuroscope to its portfolio and setting the stage for its role as one of Europe’s leading amusement industry players.
Stats at a Glance
- Founded: January 26, 1989
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Stock Listing: Euronext Paris (CDA)
- Walibi Acquisition: 2006
- Leisure Parks Operated: About 12 parks, including Parc Astérix, Futuroscope, and Walibi locations in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands
- Annual Visitors (Leisure Parks): About 10.6 million (2022/2023 fiscal year)
- Employees: About 6,300 (FTE)
- Parent Group: Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations
From Ski Slopes to Theme Parks
Compagnie des Alpes started life as a mountain-resort operator, consolidating management of some of the busiest ski areas in the French Alps under a single company. That mountain business remains a core part of its identity, with resorts like Tignes and Les Arcs drawing skiers each winter.
The 2006 acquisition of the Walibi parks marked a turning point, pushing the company into the amusement park industry and diversifying its revenue away from a purely seasonal, weather-dependent ski business toward attractions that operate for much of the year.
A Portfolio of Iconic European Attractions
Today, Compagnie des Alpes’ leisure park division includes Parc Astérix near Paris, the multimedia park Futuroscope, and Walibi-branded parks in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, along with smaller attractions like France Miniature. Together these parks welcomed about 10.6 million visitors in the 2022/2023 fiscal year.
As one of the largest amusement operators in Europe, the company’s decisions on investment, ride additions, and expansion at its parks carry weight across the wider industry.
Explore more: Explore more amusement industry companies.
Compagnie des Alpes FAQs
What is Compagnie des Alpes?
Compagnie des Alpes is a French company, founded in 1989 and based in Paris, that operates ski resorts in the French Alps and amusement parks across Europe, including Parc Astérix and Futuroscope.
Does Compagnie des Alpes own Walibi?
Yes. Compagnie des Alpes acquired the Walibi chain of parks in 2006 and continues to operate Walibi locations in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Is Compagnie des Alpes publicly traded?
Yes, Compagnie des Alpes is listed on Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CDA.
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Photo: Tangopaso / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.