The 10 best zoos in France
19 September, 2022
If you are looking for a nice excursion during your holiday, you will find lovely zoos, aquariums and safari parks in France. Some of the zoos in France are even some of the most beautiful in the world. Admire stunning animals such as white tigers, colourful fish and rare giant pandas. Or get extremely close to giraffes during a thrilling safari. These are 10 wonderful zoos spread throughout France.
- Zoo de La Palmyre (Charente-Maritime)
- Aquarium La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
- Zooparc de Beauval (near Orléans)
- Zoo d’Amnéville (near Metz)
- Nausicaá (near Calais)
- Réserve Africaine de Sigean (between Narbonne and Perpignan)
- Zoo de la Flèche (Pays de La Loire)
- Zoo Safari de Thoiry (close to Paris)
- La Cité de la Mer (Normandy)
- Le Parc Polaire (Jura, near Lake Geneva)
1. La Palmyre Zoo – spider monkeys at play and much more
In the beautiful La Palmyre Zoo, you will find over 110 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. You will be standing face to face with capybaras, crocodiles, lions and no fewer than eight monkey species. The park is beautifully landscaped. At the flamingo enclosure for example, a waterfall flows down from a few metres in height. And the monkeys have a spacious playground where they can swing and climb to their heart’s content. The seal shows and bird shows held daily at the park are also fun. La Palmyre Zoo is committed to breeding programmes for the conservation of endangered animal species.
Watch the monkeys playing at La Palmyre Zoo
Location: Les Mathes (Charente-Maritime)
More info: zoo-palmyre.fr
Campsite tips near La Palmyre Zoo
2. Aquarium La Rochelle – meet octopuses and sharks
The popular Aquarium La Rochelle is by the Atlantic coast in France, in the city of La Rochelle. Here, you can admire over six hundred species of marine animals from oceans and seas across the world, such as colourful fish, octopuses, sea turtles and sharks. There is an audio tour and a special route for children. The aquarium is committed to projects that protect the life in the seas and oceans.
Admire the colourful fish and sea creatures in Aquarium La Rochelle
Location: La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime
More info: aquarium-larochelle.com
Campsite tips near La Rochelle
3. ZooParc de Beauval – giant pandas and an indoor ecosystem
ZooParc de Beauval is considered to be one of the most beautiful zoos in France and even in the world. And rightly so! The park is beautifully and spaciously landscaped so that the animals can enjoy large enclosures. This zoo is exceptional due to the many special animal species you can see there, such as giant pandas, koalas and white tigers. Since 2020, they also have a large indoor ecosystem under a glass dome. Additionally, Zooparc de Beauval has one of the largest animal clinics in Europe.
You can see the giant panda in real life at Zooparc de Beauval.
Location: Saint-Agnan, Centre
More: zoobeauval.com
Campsite tips: Camping Sandaya Château des Marais, Camping Sandaya Les Alicourts Resort
4.Zoo d’Amnéville – from Siberian tiger to giant anteater
In the popular Zoo d’Amnéville, not far from the Luxembourg border, you will find exceptional big cats such as the rare snow leopard, the black panther and Siberian tiger. And there are many more animals, from giant anteaters to rhinoceros and polar bears. The shows, like the sea lion and bird show, are highly recommended. You can also watch the zookeepers feed the animals, for example the hippopotamuses and penguins.
At Amnéville Zoo, you will find exceptional big cats, such as this lion.
Location: Amnéville, between Luxemburg en Metz
More info: zoo-amneville.com
Campsite tip: Camping Les Bouleaux
5. Nausicaá – petting stingrays
Nausicaá, on the North French Opal Coast, is the largest aquarium in Europe. Here, you are taken on a complete journey through oceans and along the coasts. Discover what lives in the deep ocean abysses and spot the caimans in the mangrove forest. There is also a fun sea lion show and you can even pet stingrays. If you want to get among even more marine animals, you can at the 3D show. It can be very busy here in the holiday period and weekends.
Location: Boulogne-sur-Mer, near Calais
More info: nausicaa.fr
6. Réserve Africaine de Sigean – on safari in the South of France
A visit to this zoo in Southern France is a unique experience because you can drive through the safari park in your car. During your drive, you could encounter lions, bears, rhinoceros and zebras. It is just like being on safari in South Africa. Besides the car section, there is also an area you can explore by foot. There, you will find cheetahs, flamingos and much more! It is a really great day out for the entire family.
You can watch the lions during a safari. Or are they watching you? Luckily, you are sitting safely in your car.
Location: Sigean, between Narbonne and Perpignan
More info: reserveafricainesigean.fr
Campsite tips near Réserve Africaine de Sigean
7. Zoo de la Flèche – white tigers and birds of prey shows
Over 1,500 animals from throughout the word live in the beautiful Zoo de la Flèche, including exceptional species such as the white tiger. During the bird show you can see enormous eagles and vultures in action. Learn more about the giraffes, elephants, penguins and hippopotamuses when they are fed. The zoo is also committed to conservation through projects in Africa and Indonesia, among others. Zoo de la Flèche is located in the green natural undulating Pays de La Loire, where you can also find stunning castles.
Location: La Flèche, Pays de la Loire
More info: zoo-la-fleche.com
Campsite tip: Camping Sandaya Château des Marais
8. Zoo Safari de Thoiry – zip line above the lions
In this exceptional zoo at a stone’s throw from Paris, you can get very close to the animals. The safari takes you past elephants, zebras and giraffes. But that’s not the biggest thrill! See if you dare to walk through the glass tunnels that go through the lions, tigers and hyenas’ enclosure. And there is much more to experience. For example, there is a castle, a maze and a climbing forest with the highlight being a zip line that whizzes you above the lions. You can see how that feels in this video. During the winter months, the light festival at the zoo is an amazing experience.
Location: Thoiry, close to Paris
More info: thoiry.net
Campsite tip: Camping Sandaya Paris Maisons Lafitte
9. La Cité de la Mer – in the departure lounge of the Titanic
Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg, Normandy is much more than just an aquarium. It is also a museum, housed in an old departure lounge for boat trips across the Atlantic Ocean. It was here that passengers boarded the Titanic. In this exceptional Art Deco building, you will also find a great exhibition about the Titanic. Furthermore, you can walk around a real submarine and see various films, for example about D-Day.
Location: Cherbourg, Normandy
More info: citedelamer.com
Campsite tips near La Cité de la Mer
10. Le Parc Polaire – huskies, yaks and bison
Normally you see lions, giraffes and elephants in a zoo, but that is not the case at Le Parc Polaire Zoo. Here you will find huskies, yaks, reindeer, bison and many more animals that like the cold and snow. The animals feel at home here because the zoo is in the French Jura Mountains, close to the border with Switzerland. Led by a guide, you first see the huskies close up and then go on to visit the other animals at the park. The best time to visit the park is in the winter when there is a thick layer of snow, and you can admire the animals in their natural habitat.
You could encounter bison and reindeer in the French mountains.
Location: Chaux-neuve in de Jura, near Lake Geneva
More info: parcpolaire.com
Campsite tips near Le Parc Polaire
Which is your favourite zoo?
Have you ever been to a zoo in France during your holiday? If so, let us know in a response!
More excursions in France
There is plenty more to do in France. For example, read our tips for fun activities near Lake Annecy.
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