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Throughout 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 certainly one 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. When you’re in France and visiting Lourdes, it is a place you need to go to with youngsters.
The place 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 Nationwide Park. That is a completely beautiful space that we spent a number of days exploring.
What We Cherished Concerning the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées
1. The intentional format of the zoo.
Quite a lot of zoo layouts are just like theme park layouts. You stroll via the doorway solely to be bombarded by ten completely different doable 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.
Whereas this would possibly sound limiting, it was truly 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 way in which.
2. The subtleness from the highway.
When you drove from Lourdes into the Nationwide Park of the Pyrenees, it could be very straightforward to overlook the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées. From the highway, you’ll be able to principally see a big, well-designed constructing nestled proper up towards the steep hillside. Nonetheless, when you’re inside it feels the alternative of small. There’s loads of room within the displays and far more animals than we anticipated inside.
3. Your zoo go to will double as a exercise.
Whereas this was our favourite zoo we’ve ever visited, it was additionally the steepest (by a LOT).
By the tip of the day I enormously regretted carrying my flip-flops. We introduced a double stroller (an excellent thought) because it allowed us to simply transport the children alongside. If we hadn’t, we might have ended up with a double exercise from carrying the youngsters.
4. Essentially the most wonderful views from a zoo.
Since you climb so excessive, you’ve got an unimaginable vantage level all through a lot of your zoo go to. You’ll be capable of see out for miles when you attain the highest of the zoo earlier than winding your approach again down. (We additionally beloved the views we obtained from a few of our campsites in France, should 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 just a little alarming at first, however the bear exhibit was exhilarating. You rise up shut and private. Quick. 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, should you aren’t in a rush you’ll be able to truly keep the night time with the bears (or wolves) in lodging offered by the zoo. If we hadn’t been in our RV I might have significantly thought-about doing this. Opening your window to some bears within the morning seemed like a enjoyable journey.
How Lengthy Does it take to Go to 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 may 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?
Once 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 should you go on a weekend or throughout summer season 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 straightforward morning snacks, relying on the time of day you go to.
Touring to Parc Animal Park of the Pyrenees
It was a very simple 10-Quarter-hour to the Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées from our campground in Lourdes. We weaved via some lovely and winding mountain roads earlier than arriving.
Parking at Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées
The parking zone at Parc Animalier Des Pyrénées was very massive. They even had motorhome parking for 2 RVs close to the again of the parking zone.
Planning a Go to 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. Keep in mind to put on strolling footwear, carry a stroller if in case you have younger youngsters, and produce water and snacks. You’ll be mountain climbing uphill for many displays and be grateful that you simply ready!