If you are close to the island of Oleron, visit the Zoo de Palmyre on the occasion of a beautiful family day!
Do you want to spend a pleasant family time? Visit the Palmyra Zoo and guarantee a day! Amaze yourself before the greatness of nature and the animals it offers us to see. Small and large will find their happiness in the diversity of species that the park has.
Great mammals, birds, and reptiles, you will be marvelled throughout your visit. And, in addition to this fantastic vision in a magnificent setting, the Palmyre Zoo — one of the most beautiful in France — has many other surprises.
Want to know more? Wanderlix presents its small horizon on one of the most famous zoological parks in France!
History of the Zoo de la Palmyre
Photo credit: Facebook – Zoo de La Palmyre
Originally, the Zoo de la Palmyre was only a small walking zoo — created by 1957 par Claude Caillé - presented in schools across France. Claude Caillé was not predestined for this job. It is only about the age of 35, following many experiences in his brother-in-law’s animal park, that he embarks on this adventure and falls under the charm of animals and studies zoology with enthusiasm.
In the 1960s, he left for vacation in Africa and brought back animals such as chimpanzees or gorillas. Always in his quest for development and his passion, Claude once again leaves France to leave this time Kenya . But taxes to bring giraffes and other mammals back to French territory are far too high. Claude Caillé is back in the bush, but keeps his dream in mind. Three years later, his goal still in sight, he returned to the African continent and managed to repatriate animals through his association with Carr-Hartley, a man who captures and supplies animals to zoos around the world.
So it’s only in 1966 that the Zoo of the Palmyra officially opens its doors with more 60 animals about 3 hectares. From the very beginning, the Zoo has more than 129,000 visitors per month. Zoo residents are considered family members and babies are very often raised in nursery, especially when parents do not care. ♪ 1978 , the zoo knows a happy event, since it is here that the first gorillas in France are born. Of this happy birth will follow many others as a white bear in 1984 or cheetahs in 1992.
♪ 2005 , Claude Caillé finally retired and leaves his place to his son, Patrick Caillé. Since that day, the zoo has been growing and prospering. It has become one of the most popular sights in Charente-Maritime. It is located in the heart of a forest of 18 hectares of pines and counts approximately every year 700,000 visitors .
Let us also take into account the scientific aspect of this zoo since it plays a great role in the conservation of animals, but also in scientific research. Each year, there are two,200 to 300 births.
What to see and do at the Zoo de la Palmyre
Photo credit: Flickr – Jérôme S
The Palmyra Zoo has a lot to offer. Visitors get busy looking at their aisles and contemplating more than 1600 mammals, birds and reptiles 110 species different.
Workshops
Come and visit the Palmyra Zoo and discover animal life but also their education. Indeed, the zoo offers educational workshops - mainly school groups - which open the public areas to which it generally does not have access.
The aim of these workshops is to do discover the particularities a species, as well as understand its way of life and all the dangers that unfortunately threaten the survival of a species in nature. Each workshop takes place in the enclosure of the park, in front of the animal enclosures.
The shows
The zoo also offers 2 shows , only in a period that goes from Easter at the Toussaint :
- The spectacle of the sea lions
- The parrot show
L’Espace Grands Singes
Photo credit: Facebook – F.Perroux/Zoo de La Palmyre
Coming to visit the Zoo de la Palmyre is also discovering the Espace Grands Singes. Inaugurated in 2009 , this site of more than 3 hectares houses:
- 2 groups of chimpanzees
- 1 group of orang-outans
- 5 pins
During the beautiful days you can see them evolve in a very nice environment composed of 4 large islands of about 1000 m2 each and a pretty waterfall of 5 meters high.
Animal families
You will be able to meet six large families of animals:
- The carnivores : tigers, lions or leopards
- Marine mammals : lions and otters
- Birds: large volières with parrots and other beautiful tropical birds
- The waves: go to the discovery of hippootamus, elephants, giraffes and even rhinoceros!
- Primates: Lemurians, or even bicolored tamarins. Not to mention the monkeys of the Espace Grands Singes!
- Reptiles: crocodiles or giant turtles await you at the Palmyra zoo!
How to visit the Palmyra Zoo?
To visit the entire Palmyra Zoo, count about 4h . If there is no real sense of visit, we still recommend that you obtain a plan When you arrive at the zoo. In the park you will also find arrows indicating the sense of visit, and staff is always present to answer your questions.
How to go to the Palmyra Zoo?
To visit the Zoo de la Palmyre, located 6 Avenue de Royan – 17570 The Mathes, you can go:
By bus
From Royan you can borrow:
- line 31The ticket will cost you 2€ and count about 30 minutes
By car
- Sense Paris-Bordeaux
If you choose to go to the Palmyra Zoo by car, take the A10 motorway , then the exit n°35 — Saintes .
- Sense Bordeaux-Paris
In the sense Bordeaux-Paris, take the Exit #37 — Mirabeau .
By taxi
If you decide to borrow a taxi from Royan to get to the Palmyra Zoo, you will have to count between 30€ to 45€ for 15 minutes.
In Uber
A Uber for your trip Royan — Zoo de la Palmyre will cost you between 24€ and 35€ .
Camping and bus
If you arrive on a camper or bus, know that parking P2 — with large-sized vehicle locations — is at your disposal to park yours.
Schedules and prices of the Zoo de la Palmyre
Photo credit: Flickr – Stéphane-Hervé
HORARI
General timetable
The Palmyra Wildlife Park is open all year round, including holidays.
- 1 April to 30 September: the park opens from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- October to March: opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Attention : the last entries are made 1h30 before closing and know that animals begin to return 30 minutes before closing.
Hours of shows
The shows of the seas and parrots also have well-defined schedules.
- The sea lions: from Easter to the Toussaint at 15h and 11h10 and 16h45 according to the affluence
- The parrots: from Easter to the Toussaint at 11:40, according to number of spectators, then at 15:30
RATES
For the 2019 rates of the Zoo de la Palmyre :
- Entrance adult : 17€
- Child entry (3 to 12 years old): 13€
- Free entrance children under 3 years of age
- Adult with reduced mobility* : 15€
- Child with reduced mobility (3 to 12 years old)* : 11€
*Sub presentation of the IJC card or disability card
Several discounted rates for groups are available upon reservation. You can learn more by consulting official website .
Good to know.
Here are some useful information if you come to visit the Zoo de la Palmyre:
- Dogs, even on a leash, are not allowed. A shelter is located not far from the zoo.
- It is forbidden to bring food to feed animals, for reasons of hygiene.
- You have shops and a snack to eat in the park’s enclosure.
- Attention: although accessible to persons with reduced mobility, the park is located in a massif of more than 18 hectares and the aisles are sometimes a little steep. renting a wheelchair is possible at the pharmacy of Palmyra and under reservation.
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