France · FR

Zoodyssée

Zoodyssée is a 30-hectare animal park nestled in the Forest of Chizé in the Deux-Sèvres department of western France. Opened in 1973 and managed by the departmental council, it focuses almost entirely on European wildlife — wolves, brown bears, bison, lynx, Arctic foxes and more than 800 animals across roughly 77 species — arranged into nine themed walking routes called "Odysseys" that mirror distinct European landscapes from Mediterranean garrigue to Nordic tundra. What sets this park apart is its dual identity: a relaxed family day out with playgrounds, a mini farm and horse-drawn carriage rides, and a serious conservation operation running breeding programmes for the endangered European Mink, Great Bustard and European Pond Terrapin. It was the first zoo in France to earn ISO 14001 environmental certification.