40 kilometers from the capital of France in the Yvelines department, there is a huge safari park Thoiry. The park is a huge safari park in the Yvelines department of Yvelines, 40 kilometers from the capital of France.
Zoological garden in an ancient manor house
The concept of the park was developed by Count Paul de La Panouse, who decided to create a zoo on his land where animals would be kept in natural conditions. For this purpose, he set aside a huge plot of land on his estate, located around the Château de Thoiry, and donated a large sum of money to buy animals and set up the sanctuary.
In 1968, the opening of the Zoological Garden of Thouarie, the first European safari park, took place. The wildlife park has been managed by members of the de la Panouze family since its creation until today.
What does Tuari Park have to offer?
The total area of Tuari is 150 hectares. The whole territory of the park is divided into several sections:
Zoological Park
This part of the Tuari is particularly popular with visitors. It consists of two zones:
- A safari park with a 6.5-kilometer road. Moving on it by vehicles (cars and buses), you can see a variety of animals. Elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, rhinoceroses, ostriches walk around on the “African” section. The inhabitants of the “North American” zone are bears, bison and many birds.
- The pedestrian zone, which is located in the central part of the park. It has two glass tunnels from which you can observe tigers, lions, hyenas, monkeys and many other animals.
The park also features a covered pavilion with a water pond, as well as a terrarium.
Botanical gardens
You can also visit the beautiful gardens, which the de la Palouse family has been cultivating for centuries. You can visit the Autumn Garden, the Aromatic Garden and the huge rose garden. The huge labyrinth, consisting of 2.3 kilometers of paths, 5600 “islands” and 9 bridges, is especially famous.
Lock
The park is home to the Château de Thoiry, built in 1559. This building, a magnificent Renaissance monument, is still home to the de la Palouse family. Tourists can explore the rooms on the first floor, where the most valuable family treasures are displayed: antique furniture, tapestries, family portraits. You can visit the palace on your own or with an organized tour, which starts at a certain time (usually at 11:00 am).
Children’s playground
A special area of the park, l’Île Mystérieuse, is reserved for children. They can play in the playground equipped with slides, bridges and ladders, or go to the “mini-farm” where they can pet and feed the pets.
Practical information
The park is not open from the second half of November through February, and part of February and March. It is better to check the exact opening/closing dates and times on the website, as they are subject to change. A ticket granting entry to all areas of the park, including the castle costs 29 euros for an adult and 23 euros for a child 3-11 years old; children under 3 years old are admitted free of charge. Tickets ordered online are 1 euro cheaper (28 and 22 euros respectively). You can get to the Tuari Park from Paris by private or rented car. It is necessary to enter the highway A13 Porte d’Auteuil (porte d’Auteuil), from which turn to the highway A12, then take the direction Dreux (Dreux) and follow the signs Thoiry. If there are no traffic jams, the road will take 40-45 minutes. From time to time (usually during school vacations) the park runs a shuttle to Thoiry from Montfort l’Amaury station, which can be reached from Montparnasse station in Paris. For exact dates and conditions, please visit the park’s website.
Interesting facts and tips
- The wildlife park is home to about 750 different animals; 46 species of mammals, 26 species of birds and 9 species of reptiles are represented here.
- Some of the rarest species of fauna that can be seen in Tuari include komodo dragons, black antelope, and cheetahs.
- Every season the zoological garden opens additional expositions. In 2017, the park offers a trip to the prehistoric era by visiting the section featuring huge dinosaur figures.
- You can take the tourist train from the Tuari entrance to the central part of the park.
- Since the park occupies a huge territory, it is better to plan a trip here for a whole day. It is important to take care of comfortable clothes and shoes, as you will have to walk a lot.
- Inexpensive and tasty lunch is available at the self-service café next to the castle (open from 12:00 to 15:00). Groceries and fast food are also sold in the playground and in the kiosks located at the entrance to the Tuari.
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