guide
Founded in 1980 by Françoise Delord, first as a bird park, the ZooParc de Beauval lies in Saint-Aignan, in the Cher valley, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Paris, and today brings together some 35,000 animals of 800 species on 46 hectares, spread across 24 areas. A visit to Beauval zoo needs some planning: here is how to organise your day or your stay, what not to miss and where to sleep to enjoy it over two days.
| Information | In short |
|---|---|
| Address | Avenue du Blanc, 41110 Saint-Aignan (Loir-et-Cher) |
| Opening | Every day of the year, public holidays included, from 9 am |
| The park | 46 hectares, about 35,000 animals, 800 species, 24 areas |
| Visit length | A full day at least, two days to see everything |
| Tickets | 1 day, 2 days, annual pass; usually cheaper online than at the gate |
| On site | 16 food outlets, shops, mobile app |
A huge heated greenhouse, the Dôme équatorial recreates a tropical forest where you will meet manatees, pygmy hippos, brightly coloured douc langurs and Komodo dragons. It is the ideal place on cool or rainy days: under the glass roof it is warm all year round.
The Chinese area of the ZooParc de Beauval is home to the giant pandas, as well as golden snub-nosed monkeys, snow leopards, red pandas and takins. The giant pandas have been the stars of the zoo since 2012. The first pair, Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, returned to China at the end of November 2025; their twin daughters, Huanlili and Yuandudu, born at the zoo in 2021, are in turn due to leave for China on 17 December 2026. The park has announced the arrival of a new pair of pandas in 2027: check the zoo’s website before you come if the pandas are your priority.
Three areas opened in 2026: Bucolia, a farm devoted to heritage domestic breeds, Les Terres Rouges, an Australian area, and Les Roches Vives, a water play area that children love in summer.
Two shows, included in the Beauval zoo ticket, punctuate the day: Les Maîtres des airs, with birds flying freely above the audience, and L’Odyssée des lions de mer with the sea lions. Check the times at the entrance or in the app and arrive fifteen minutes early to get a good seat, especially in summer. For an overview, the Nuage de Beauval cable car, the first installed in a French zoo, flies over the park between its areas: a welcome break for little legs.
One day at Beauval zoo is enough to see the essentials if you arrive at opening time, 9 am, and follow a planned route. With children, or to enjoy every show and area without rushing, the two-day ticket is the right choice: it lets you split the visit and come back the next morning feeling fresh. A few tips:
The ZooParc de Beauval online ticket office offers 1-day and 2-day tickets, dated or undated, from age 3, as well as a 1-day Pass Zen and several annual ZooPass options (Classique, Premium, Premium Duo, Famille). Prices vary with the date and where you buy: expect around forty euros for an adult 1-day ticket at the gate in 2026, and book online to pay less. Payment options include digital ANCV holiday vouchers and, for orders from 50 €, payment in three or four instalments.
For a more memorable visit, the park also sells activities to book in advance: Keeper for a Day (adult, junior aged 10 to 15 or as a family), first steps as a keeper for children, special encounters with certain animals and a guided behind-the-scenes tour. Places are limited, especially during school holidays.
The ZooParc de Beauval has 16 food outlets, from snack bars to restaurants with table service, spread across the areas, as well as shops. In high season, have lunch before noon or after 2 pm to avoid queues, and bring water for the whole family.
Yes, but the ZooParc de Beauval does not recommend it. Dogs on a lead are allowed in the park, but not in the tropical greenhouses, the Dôme équatorial, the Hauteurs de Chine, the North American area, the show arenas or the cable car. The zoo advises leaving your dog at a nearby kennel during the visit.
Beauval zoo is open all year, and every season has its advantages. In spring, crowds stay moderate outside school holidays and the days are long enough to see everything. Summer guarantees the shows and water play, but also the crowds: arrive at opening time. Autumn and winter are quieter, with the Dôme équatorial and the greenhouses to warm up in; note that some experiences, such as the immersive encounters with birds and sea lions, end in mid-November.
The ZooParc de Beauval runs eight hotels a few minutes from the zoo: five themed hotels, Les Pagodes, Les Jardins, Les Hauts, Les Rivages and Les Hameaux de Beauval, and three more classic hotels, Le Grand Hôtel, Beauvilliers and Le Relais Touraine Sologne. They are often sold as a package with tickets.
For more space and nature, the campsites of the Cher valley are an excellent alternative, 5 to 20 km from the zoo: sites on the banks of the Cher, four-star campsites with indoor pools, a big lake with a leisure centre or unusual accommodation. Compare them in our selection of waterside campsites near Beauval zoo.
A visit to Beauval zoo is easy to combine with the Loire châteaux: Chenonceau is about half an hour’s drive away, Cheverny, Amboise and Chambord 30 to 45 minutes. In Saint-Aignan itself, the old town, its château and its collegiate church overlook the Cher. The river can be explored by canoe or bike, and the Canal de Berry at Châtillon-sur-Cher is followed by the Cœur de France à vélo cycle route.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.
