New in 2019
The park is home to 350 rare and threatened animals from 65 different species. Here's what's new this year to discover on your visit.
Mushu, a young two-year-old female, has joined our male, Ibet. Hopefully she'll give birth to some adorable little balls of fur in 2019.
Mushu and Ibet live with Mango, a tufted deer.
The tufted deer is one of the smallest species of the Cervidae family. It is near threatened in its natural environment in the forests of northern China.
Also known as a bearcat, the binturong is a mammal native to Southeast Asia. It is threatened in the wild and is part of a breeding program. Binturongs are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. We have a couple of binturongs: Fifi the female and Bangka the male.
Our Prevost's squirrels live together with the binturongs. Prévost's squirrels are found from southern Thailand to Malaysia and in Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo. It is a tree-dwelling, diurnal animal.
Noéa and Saphir have a new, much larger habitat with a pond, a waterfall, a cave and exceptional views!
The enclosure was co-financed in part by the European Union in the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Abe and Fiona, the park's wolverines, have a brand-new habitat! They can now peacefully lounge by their new pond. You can better observe them thanks to two new observation windows.
Our opening hours
Ticket prices
Prices include admission for a full-day, self-guided visit to the park. Entry is free for children under 3 with valid identification.
Tip: buy your ticket online for quick access to the park!
Children ages 3 to 9: €15 (1€ donated to conservation efforts)
Ages 10 and up: €21 (1€ donated to conservation efforts)
Guests with reduced mobility with valid identification: €14.50
Children ages 3 to 9: €12.50 (1€ donated to conservation efforts)
Ages 10 and up: €18 (1€ donated to conservation efforts)
Guests with reduced mobility with valid identification: €14.50
Visit the park whenever you want for a year!
- Children under 3: free
- Children ages 3 to 9: €29
- Adults and children 10 and up: €41
Discover all the advantages of the annual passport and come to the park for Easter, Halloween, Christmas and more.
For every annual passport, 2€ are added to the Goal 100,000€ fund for the protection of threatened species.
Tickets:
- Checks
- Credit cards
- Cash
- ANCV holiday vouchers
Dining:
- Credit cards
- Cash
- Checks
For the train, please pay the driver directly in cash (€2)
Pets are not allowed in the park.
You can bring your own outside food for a picnic.
We cannot keep any personal objects at reception.
We do not know the weather in advance.
Annual Passport
With your annual passport, come see the park’s latest residents and newborns, take a little stroll after lunch surrounded by the animals, and participate in all our events!
- Unlimited access to the park for a year
- Exclusive emails about births and new arrivals to the park
- 10% off all year long in the boutique
- Invitation to Wild Saturdays in the park: one hour per month just for pass holders. Free with advance booking.
Getting here
Parc Animalier d’Auvergne
Route d’Anzat le Luguet , 63420 Ardes, France
40 minutes south of Clermont-Ferrand, via the A75 motorway
• Exit 15 southbound, coming from Issoire and Clermont-Ferrand
• Exit 17 northbound, coming from Saint-Flour
• Follow the signs for the Parc Animalier d’Auvergne and Ardes-sur-Couze
Free parking is available in the large car park right next to the entrance.
Where to stay?
The park is easily accessible via the A75 motorway, near Issoire, Clermont-Ferrand, and the Sancy Mountains. Find accommodation in our exceptional region on the website of the Tourist Office.
In Issoire, discover Saint Austremoine Abbey Church, one of the major sites of the southern Puy-de-Dôme! A not-to-be-missed visit. You can also climb to the top of the Puy de Dôme. Enjoy an incredible view of the Chaîne des Puys volcanoes and the Limagne Plain, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 2 July 2018! Take advantage of our partnership with the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway.
Our partners
Show your ticket from the Parc Animalier d'Auvergne when purchasing a ride on the Panoramique des Dômes for a 20% discount on an adult or family round-trip ticket.*
Want to go the Panoramique des Dômes first? No problem: the offer works both ways! Keep your train ticket and show it at the park, and the discount will be granted for the purchase of an Adult/Children 10 and up ticket (excluding reduced rates and passes, ticket purchased during the current calendar year, excluding online tickets). Offer valid until 31/12/2019.
* valid for the current calendar year, excluding online tickets, reduced rates and passes
Ikea Family card holders enjoy a discount of €2
Frequently asked questions
See our prices section.
See the hours section.
Depending on your pace, the visit takes between 4 and 5 hours.
No, for hygiene reasons and for the safety for our animals, dogs and other pets are not admitted to the park.
Yes! We have two dining areas, at the top and bottom of the park. Delight your taste buds with local products like truffade, aligot or an assortment of local cheeses and meats.
Absolutely! You can bring your food to the park and eat at one of the picnic tables throughout the park. We also offer food made from local products.
Of course! Whether for an end-of-the-year trip or for a workshop, the Parc Animalier d’Auvergne is the perfect place for a school outing. Find all the information on our school groups page.
Yes! Find out more about our seminars, Christmas parties and team building workshops on our groups page. An unforgettable day for your employees!
The park covers an area of 28 hectares.
The Parc Animalier d’Auvergne was created in 1984 by Maurice White. It was taken over in 2012 by Pascal Damois and Rémy Gaillot, two entrepreneurs who decided to change their lives and protect endangered species.
No! The animals in animal parks are all born in captivity. When a new animal arrives at the Parc Animalier d’Auvergne, it comes from a free transfer from another zoo. Our female red panda Mushu for example, comes from the Réserve Zoologique de la Haute Touche.
Discover all the missions of a zoological park..
We act to ensure their safety in the park, by participating in European reproduction programs. The purpose of these programs (EEP) is to protect animals in order to reintroduce them to their natural environment in the wild, when they are no longer threatened.
We also support associations that protect wild animals, by working with the local populations and raising awareness with children. This year, we are going to donate 100,000 euros!
Discover the programs we support .
Depending on the time of year, we look for interns in different fields: communication, catering, education and animal care. See all our offers for internships.
There are 5 schools in France with training courses to become an animal keeper:
- Les Etablières – La Roche Sur Yon (85) www.etablieres.fr
- CFA A – Gramat (46) www.formation-lot.fr
- CFPPA in Loir-et-Cher – Vendôme (41) perso.wanadoo.fr/cfppa.vendome
- L’Institut rural de Carquefou (44) www.ireo-carquefou.com
- Le Lycée Agricole Saint André – Sury Le Comtal (42) www.lycee-saintandre.com
Depending on the time of year, we hire employees in various sectors: communication, catering, education and animal care. See all our job offers.
