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During our go to to Lourdes, France, we stumbled upon a hidden gem, the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées (in English: the Animal Park of the Pyrenees).
This was one in every of our favourite stops on our monthlong motorhome journey throughout France. We’ve visited a handful of zoos with our children, however this one was the favourite for a number of causes. If you’re in France and visiting Lourdes, it is a place it’s essential to go to with children.
Where is the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées?
The Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées is positioned only a 10-minute drive from the city of Lourdes, France. We used Lourdes as a house base for visiting each the Animal Park of the Pyrenees in addition to the Pyrenees National Park. This is a fully attractive space that we spent a number of days exploring.
What We Loved About the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées
1. The intentional structure of the zoo.
Numerous zoo layouts are much like theme park layouts. You stroll by the doorway solely to be bombarded by ten totally different potential routes. Which path is the most effective? If we go see the giraffes first will we nonetheless make it to the ocean lion present at 11 AM?
This wasn’t a dialog on the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées as a result of there is just one path.
While this would possibly sound limiting, it was really nice. We by no means needed to query if we have been lacking out on one other space of the zoo, we simply merely loved every exhibit alongside the best way.
2. The subtleness from the street.
If you drove from Lourdes into the National Park of the Pyrenees, it could be very simple to overlook the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées. From the street, you may largely see a big, well-designed constructing nestled proper up in opposition to the steep hillside. However, when you’re inside it feels the other of small. There’s loads of room within the reveals and far more animals than we anticipated inside.
3. Your zoo go to will double as a exercise.
While this was our favourite zoo we’ve ever visited, it was additionally the steepest (by a LOT).
By the tip of the day I vastly regretted sporting my flip-flops. We introduced a double stroller (an excellent thought) because it allowed us to simply transport the youngsters alongside. If we hadn’t, we’d have ended up with a double exercise from carrying the kids.
4. The most wonderful views from a zoo.
Because you climb so excessive, you may have an unimaginable vantage level all through a lot of your zoo go to. You’ll have the ability to see out for miles when you attain the highest of the zoo earlier than winding your method again down. (We additionally cherished the views we bought from a few of our campsites in France, in case you’re visiting in a motorhome!)
5. The BEARS have been insane.
I’ve by no means been so near a bear in my life. EVER. It was somewhat alarming at first, however the bear exhibit was exhilarating. You rise up shut and private. Fast. I needed to do a double look to ensure there was sufficient barrier between us and them. They have been shockingly shut!
As an added bonus, in case you aren’t in a rush you may really keep the evening with the bears (or wolves) in lodging offered by the zoo. If we hadn’t been in our RV I’d have severely thought-about doing this. Opening your window to some bears within the morning appeared like a enjoyable journey.
How Long Does it take to Visit Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées?
We spent roughly three hours strolling across the zoo and felt like we’d seen all the pieces we hoped to see. We might have simply spent extra time there, however we visited within the low season and the eating places have been closed. We needed to depart for lunch!
What are the meals choices?
When we visited, the restaurant on the entrance of the zoo was open, however the eating choices contained in the zoo weren’t. We visited in October throughout a weekday so I assume in case you go on a weekend or throughout summer time you should have a number of choices for eating. The restaurant on the entrance of the zoo had a number of sizzling meals choices or simple morning snacks, relying on the time of day you go to.
Traveling to Parc Animal Park of the Pyrenees
It was an easy 10-Quarter-hour to the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées from our campground in Lourdes. We weaved by some stunning and winding mountain roads earlier than arriving.
Parking at Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées
The car parking zone at Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées was very giant. They even had motorhome parking for 2 RVs close to the again of the car parking zone.
Planning a Visit to Animalier Des Pyrénées
You don’t want to purchase tickets forward of time or reserve a time to go to. We visited in late fall and it wasn’t crowded in any respect and the climate was good. Remember to put on strolling sneakers, convey a stroller when you’ve got younger children, and produce water and snacks. You’ll be mountain climbing uphill for many reveals and be grateful that you simply ready!