Do you want to know the 10 best animal parks in France? Then this article is for you!

Going out to an animal park is one of the favorite activities of the French. And it is not for nothing! First of all because we want to please our dear children. And what a joy to see their eyes marvel at wild animals! But, this hobby also delights the older children that we are.

Combining culture and entertainment, isn’t that a good way to spend a pleasant day? Not to mention the important role these parks play in the protection and preservation of certain animal species. Here is a list of the best animal parks in France. And they are many !

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12. Wild Planet

Photo credit : Planète Sauvage Facebook page

The Planète Sauvage animal park is located in Port Saint Père, in Loire-Atlantique, a few kilometers south of Nantes. This park has a lot of animal species and a lot of activities! Among the animals present, you can find dolphins in the marine city, giraffes in the safari corner, a multitude of species of monkeys in the temple of the Incas.

The park also offers a healer package. You, or your child, have the opportunity to spend a day in the shoes of a healer, and take care of certain animals! In addition, the park now offers to sleep on site in bivouacs, or outright in lodges, as in Africa! Change of scenery guaranteed! This park amply deserves its place in the best animal parks in France.

11. Sainte-Croix animal park

Photo credit : Facebook page of the Animal Park of Sainte Croix

Located in Rhodes, in Lorraine, the Sainte-Croix animal park specializes in European fauna. It is one of the largest vision parks in France, that is to say, a park where we present to the public and breed native wild animals while reconstituting their natural environment as much as possible.

The Parc de Sainte-Croix was created in 1980 by Gérard Singer: it is now run by his two sons. It covers approximately 120 hectares and has more than 1,500 animals of 130 different species. You can also stay there: the park has a hotel with unusual accommodation.

10. Haute-Touche reserve

Photo credit : Flickr – belgianchocolate

The Haute-Touche zoological reserve is located in the Center-Val de Loire in the Indre region. It is part of the National Museum of Natural History. Of the 500 hectares of this park, 100 hectares are open to the public, to preserve the species and their natural habitat. It remains nevertheless one of the largest animal parks in France.

The Haute-Touche Reserve not only offers the public the possibility of admiring species in their natural environment, but also a source of scientific research. Indeed, it has its own laboratory specializing in reproductive biotechnologies and thus contributes to the development and preservation of animal species.

9. Peaugres Safari

Photo credit : Flickr – Manu Redcheex

If you go through the Ardèche, then you will have the opportunity to go on a safari! You do not believe me ? And yet, yes! The Peaugres safari, which is located near Annonay, offers you the possibility of going on a real safari over more than 80 hectares. You will be able to walk among more than 1000 animals of about 127 different species.

This park is one of the best animal parks in France, and is a member of WAZA: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is divided into several areas: the park on foot which measures approximately half of the park; the South American space and its giraffes, tapirs and giant anteaters; the underground passages of the manor house which are home to species such as bats and rats; the aquatic area and its penguins or turtles; the space of the monkeys; the greenhouse with a thousand hiding places and its vivarium; the claws and fangs area which houses among other lions and tigers and the car park which presents more than 140 animals in their natural environment.

8. The mountain of the monkeys

Photo credit : Monkey Mountain Facebook page

The mountain is a unique concept of animal parks in France. It is located in Alsace and allows you to observe more than 240 magots, the Barbary macaque, in complete freedom. You can therefore walk with the monkeys, feed them with popcorn which will be provided to you at the entrance of the park. A great way to study them up close.

The park also has a center for the study of magots whose mission is the conservation of the species as well as their reintroduction into nature.

7. Safari Zoo de Thoiry

Photo credit : Flickr – Jérôme THEROND

Located in the Yvelines, the Thoiry zoo safari is a huge 380 hectare zoological park, 150 of which are open to the public. Permanent member of EAZA, European association of zoos and aquariums and of WAZA, world association of zoos and aquarium, it is one of the most important animal parks in France.

The little extras of this animal park are undoubtedly its educational and educational part. The guided and commented tours are very comprehensive. Whether for the park but also for its castle. Real meetings take place with the caretakers during the feeding of the animals.

6. Alligator Bay

Photo credit : Alligator Bay Facebook page

To diversify a little the world of zoos, Alligator Bay is an animal park entirely devoted to alligators, which is located on the road to Mont Saint Michel. It is made up of three areas: the dragon maze where you will meet lizards and snakes, the turtle farm where land and water turtles are grouped together, and the alligator greenhouse which brings together the largest group of alligators in Europe! This park is definitely one of the most original animal parks in France!

5. Sigean African Reserve

Photo credit : Sigean African Reserve Facebook page

You will find this animal reserve in the southwest, between Narbonne and Perpignan. This park is one of the largest animal parks in France! Its surface area of ​​over 300 hectares is home to approximately 3,800 animals. Between birds, mammals and reptiles, at least 160 species are present in this park. The animals are in semi-freedom which allows them to live in a more sociable way and in much larger spaces. The environment is also very pleasant since during your visit you will cross ponds, pine forests and will be able to walk in the hills.

4. Zoo de la Flèche

Photo credit : Flickr – Patrick Bouquet

The Zoo de la Flèche is an emblematic animal park. He even has his own TV show! It is located in the Sarthe and was founded by the naturalist Jacques Bouillault in 1946. On an area of ​​approximately 18 hectares, it hosts 1,600 animals of more than 160 different species. This zoo is also known for its involvement in animal protection, conservation and rehabilitation programs in their natural habitat.

Since 2013, it has been possible to sleep there in pretty, fully furnished lodges. The Flèche zoo is obviously one of the best animal parks in France.

3. Doué-la-Fontaine Bioparc

Photo credit : Doué la Fontaine BioParc Facebook page

Located in the Pays de la Loire, not far from Saumur, this animal park is located in a former quarry for the extraction of shell stones. This particular environment gives it an original character.

On its 15 hectares, it presents around 1,200 animals of 130 species and is one of the rare French zoos to house black rhinos and okapis. The Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine is the first private zoo in France and is also part of the European and world associations of zoos and aquariums.

2. Beauval

Photo credit : Flickr – Adrien Sifre

Direction Loir-et-Cher for one of the most famous (if not the most famous) zoological park in France. The Beauval zooparc covers 35 hectares. It offers visitors the chance to discover around 3,000 mammals and birds and some 7,000 insects, fish and reptiles. Its reputation is well established: animals have large spaces on which they can flourish. Since 2008, the management of the Beauval zoo has offered a hotel selection of 364 rooms. Beauval Zoo is also very famous for hosting giant pandas, rented from China. Two baby pandas were born there in 2017, by artificial insemination. Only one of the two survived.

1. Vincennes

Photo credit : Flickr – Jeanne Menjoulet

Let’s close this top with the Vincennes Zoological Park. Including the list of the most popular zoological parks in France, that of Paris is today an emblem. With its ecosystems, it invites you to travel while respecting animals. His secret? Biozones, these famous large enclosures as close as possible to the natural environment of origin of animals. A concern for the well-being of the species that can be found in particular in the choice of animals housed in the park. Giraffes, wolves, Humboldt penguins and white rhinos, the Vincennes zoo makes it a point of honor to integrate national conservation and breeding programs.