Animal Parks & Nature Activities
View Holiday Activities Southwest France in a larger map
Fantastic animal parks and natural-world activities for your holiday
Choose from a hige range of animal and nature-related activities
Monkey Valley (Vallée des singes)
 |
If you are an animal lover this park is a MUST SEE - whether you have children or not. Not a fence in sight - streams and rivulets very cleverly separate all species of primate (including humans) where required and all the little species are free to scuttle around in the trees around you and over your head. You sometimes wonder who is watching whom! Feeding times are staggered for each species several times a day. An excellent day and well worth the drive. |
Ile aux Serpents, Serpent Island, Trimouille
 |
This is a great half-day outing to a zoo with reptiles as well as typical predators (mongoose, meerkat and they also have a family of otters). Closes for lunch, though, so suggest a lunch-over at Montmorillion. |
Zoo - La Palmyre
 |
The zoo at La Palmyre is excellent. Too much to mix with a trip to the beach at La Palmyre (Royan) if you are travelling from far away just for the day - too little time to do it justice. |
Lacs de Haute Charente - Lac Lavaud
 |
The big lakes of the Haute Charente possess nature reserves and some dedicated bird-watching facilities. Fishing licenses are available from the local offices of tourism (or by arrangement with the owners).
|
Horse-riding (accredited, insured providers)
 |
There is a new "Centre Equestre" at Pressignac which takes all-comers for hacks and lessons. With small shetland ponies for smalls, up to mature horses for adults. Open all year-round. Horse-drawn buggy trips are also available. A great morning or afternoon. |
*Parc Animalier Confolens "La colline enchantée"(Animal Park)
 |
A great couple of hours to spend walking around this animal park. The animals are exceptionally friendly and chatty. Good use of a cloudy day. * Guests at accommodations registered with their local tourist office receive a small discount off the admission fee to this park, using their "chequebook" you will receive upon arrival. |
Limoges Aquarium
This small aquarium is situated in an old underground reservoir in the centre of Limoges. Easy to find by following the ring road. Good selection of marine and freshwater fish from piranhas to shark, and Nemo and Dorey for the kids. The aquarium provides small steps for children to take around to be able to see properly into the tank. All labelling and narrative in French only currently. Entrance fee is €6 for adults. Children under 4 are free. Public car parks close by. Good for a wet afternoon or to combine with a trip to the porcelain factories.
For animal, plant and nature holiday activities the Charente, Dordogne and Vienne have so much to offer nature-lovers. From bird watching in the natural park, to horse riding (including horse-drawn buggy) to Valley of the Monkeys (Vallee des Signes) and Island of Serpents & Reptiles (Ile aux Serpents) to the Aquarium at Limoges. Local accommodations can offer everything for animal lovers who want a nature holiday. Everything for a truly memorable cottage holiday in France.
