ZooParc de Beauval Museum

Address: Rue du Petit Charnier, 41110 Saint-Aignan, France

Website: https://www.zoobeauval.com/

ZooParc de Beauval is a large zoological park in Saint-Aignan, Centre-Val de Loire, France, recognized nationally for its breadth of species and major conservation programs. It is particularly well known in France for housing giant pandas on international loan.

Exhibits span mammals, birds, reptiles and aquatic species with a mix of indoor and outdoor enclosures and several animal presentations and demonstrations each day. The pandas are a central attraction, supported by conservation messaging and dedicated viewing areas.

Founded in the late 20th century, the park expanded over decades into one of France’s most-visited zoos through successive development of exhibit complexes and participation in international breeding and conservation programs. Its collection and visitor facilities have grown steadily since opening.

Located in the village of Saint-Aignan in the Loire Valley, the zoo sits within the Loir-et-Cher department of central France and is accessible by road from nearby towns and the broader Loire region.

• Giant pandas: Noted for hosting giant pandas on loan from China, which are among the zoo’s headline animals and conservation partners.
• Animal demonstrations: The park stages daily demonstrations and shows, including birds and marine mammal presentations that highlight species behavior and conservation.

By car: ZooParc de Beauval is near Saint‑Aignan in the Loire Valley - about a 1‑hour drive south from Tours and roughly 2.5-3 hours from Paris. From the motorway network follow signs for Saint‑Aignan/Beauval (A85 and connecting departmental roads from Tours; from Paris use the A10/A71/A85 corridor). Ample on‑site parking is available.

By public transport: the closest local rail stops are Saint‑Aignan-Noyers and Montrichard (regional TER services). From either station take a taxi or local transfer service (the zoo is a short drive - typically 10-20 minutes - from those stations).

• Buy timed-entry tickets online and aim to arrive at opening-Beauval fills up quickly, especially at the giant panda enclosures, and early arrival gives the best chance to see active animals before midday crowds and heat.
• Check the daily schedule for keeper talks and animal presentations when you enter; planning your route around those short events lets you see highlights without backtracking and avoids peak-line times for popular enclosures.
• If you want quieter viewing, visit on a weekday outside French school holidays-weekends and July-August are the busiest periods and the park can be significantly more crowded then.