ZooParc de Beauval, in the Loir-et-Cher department, is home to more than 10,000 animals across 24 themed territories.
This guide was updated in June 2026. Beauval has just welcomed its first elephant calf in over 13 years, born in February 2026, with a second calf following the next month. Two brand-new territories, Bucolia and the Great South American Aviary, have also opened since many existing guides were written. You can book through GetYourGuide to secure your ticket before you travel.
Beauval Zoo Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Avenue du Blanc, 41110 Saint-Aignan, France |
| Hours | Open every day of the year, from 9am until dusk |
| 1-day adult ticket (at the gate) | €43 |
| 1-day child ticket (3–10, at the gate) | €36 |
| Children under 3 | Free |
| Nearest train station | St Aignan–Noyers-sur-Cher, 8km away |
| Typical visit | 1–2 days |
Why book Beauval Zoo tickets?
- 🏛️ More than 10,000 animals: spread across 24 themed territories, from China to the Amazon.
- 🎟️ Book online to save: dated online tickets cost noticeably less than paying at the gate.
- 🌿 Fly over the zoo: the Nuage de Beauval cable car crosses 35 metres above the ground.
- 📜 France’s only giant pandas: Beauval is the sole zoo in the country to keep them.
- 💰 Under-3s go free: the youngest visitors don’t need a ticket at all.
Beauval Zoo Opening Hours
Beauval opens at 9am every day of the year, including public holidays. Closing time shifts with the season, from around 6.30pm in early summer to dusk in winter; the ticket office always closes 30 minutes before last entry. The zoo will be exceptionally closed to the public on 10 and 11 October 2026 for a private event. Outside these dates, Beauval doesn’t close for any other reason, even on Christmas Day.
Beauval Zoo Ticket Prices
| Ticket | Price (at the gate) |
|---|---|
| 1-day adult (11 and up) | €43 |
| 1-day child (3–10) | €36 |
| 2-day adult | €70 |
| 2-day child | €59 |
| Children under 3 | Free |
These are the standard gate prices in euros for a single visit. Online dated tickets are usually cheaper, starting from around €39 for an adult and €32 for a child, though a handful of peak dates are excluded from the discount. Booking in advance through GetYourGuide is worth doing in busy periods, when queues at the gate can be long. The entry ticket already includes the bird show, the sea lion show, the cable car and the Equatorial Dome, so there’s nothing extra to pay once you’re inside. Children under 3 always enter free.
Getting to Beauval Zoo
By car: Around 2hr15 from Paris (A10, A71, A85), 1hr from Tours (A85), 45 minutes from Blois (D675), or 1hr from Vierzon (A85).
By train: The nearest mainline stations are Blois (45 minutes away) and St Pierre-des-Corps (55 minutes via the A85); the small St Aignan–Noyers-sur-Cher station is just 8km from the zoo. A €2 discount on entry applies with a valid SNCF ticket.
By shuttle bus: A seasonal shuttle, running March to November, links Blois SNCF station with the zoo in about an hour; a €2 discount on entry applies with a valid bus ticket too.
By taxi: Several local taxi firms serve the nearby train stations and the zoo itself.
Beauval Zoo Parking
Beauval has eight free car parks, plus a free motorhome parking area, with spaces reserved for visitors with disabilities and for bikes and motorbikes. Arrive early in peak season, since the car parks closest to the entrance fill up first.
How Long to Spend at Beauval Zoo
Beauval’s own advice is to allow two days to see everything across its 24 territories. A single day is enough to cover the main highlights, though you’ll likely miss some of the further territories. Families with young children often find a half-day pace more comfortable than rushing a full day.
Beauval Zoo Accessibility
The ZooParc’s paths are generally suitable for strollers and visitors with reduced mobility, though some areas involve gentle slopes. Reserved parking spaces sit close to the entrance for visitors with disabilities. The Nuage de Beauval cable car and several territories, including the Equatorial Dome, are step-free.
What to See at Beauval Zoo
The Equatorial Dome: This 38-metre-high glasshouse recreates an equatorial jungle, with around 200 species living together under one roof, from hornbills to giant otters.
Le Nuage de Beauval: This silent, fully electric cable car crosses 35 metres above the zoo, linking the elephant and lion territories, with glass-floored cabins for those who want the full view.
The Heights of China: Giant pandas, red pandas, snow leopards and golden snub-nosed monkeys share this territory, the only place in France to keep pandas.
The Great South American Aviary: One of Beauval’s newest spaces, this aviary is crossed by a footbridge 10 metres up, putting visitors at eye level with the birds.
Bucolia: The zoo’s newest territory is dedicated to heritage domestic farm breeds, a change of pace from the wilder corners of the park.
Les Maîtres des Airs and L’Odyssée des Lions de Mer: Beauval’s two included shows, a bird display and a sea lion show, run from late March to mid-November and are covered by the standard entry ticket.
Beauval Zoo Practical Visitor Tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book a dated ticket online | Online prices are usually lower than the gate price, especially outside peak dates. |
| Plan for two days if you can | Beauval itself recommends two days to see all 24 territories without rushing. |
| Arrive at opening time | The car parks and the entrance queue both build quickly once the gates open. |
| Watch the shows early in your visit | Showtimes are set for the day and don’t repeat, so check the schedule on arrival. |
| Use the discounted train or bus fare | Present a valid SNCF or Rémi ticket at the gate for €2 off your entry. |
Beauval Zoo FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Beauval open every day? | Yes, every day of the year, including public holidays, except for a private event on 10–11 October 2026. |
| How much does a ticket cost? | €43 for an adult and €36 for a child at the gate; online dated tickets are usually cheaper. |
| Are the shows included in the ticket price? | Yes. The bird show, sea lion show, cable car and Equatorial Dome are all included. |
| Is Beauval suitable for strollers and wheelchairs? | Mostly, yes, with accessible parking and step-free access to most main territories. |
| How long should I plan to stay? | Beauval recommends two days; one full day covers the main highlights. |
Things to Do Near Beauval Zoo
St Aignan-sur-Cher old town: The medieval streets and Romanesque collegiate church sit just a short walk from the zoo.
Château de Montrichard: A short drive away, this ruined 11th-century keep overlooks the Cher from a hilltop.
Château de Chenonceau: About 25 minutes away, this Renaissance château famously spans the river itself.
Cheverny: A short drive away, this still-inhabited château keeps a celebrated pack of hunting hounds in its kennels.
Loire à Vélo cycle route: This long-distance cycling route passes close to St Aignan, ideal for an easy ride along the Cher.
What to Visit Tomorrow Near Beauval Zoo
The Loire Valley has several other wildlife parks worth the drive, alongside one good option for spotting animals in the wild.
Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine: About 90 minutes away, this zoo is built into old stone quarries, with animals living among cliffs and tunnels.
Réserve de la Haute Touche: Around an hour away, this 500-hectare wildlife reserve is run by Paris’s Natural History Museum and focuses on rare and threatened species.
La Vallée des Singes, Romagne: About two hours away, this park is dedicated entirely to primates, with hundreds of monkeys and apes living in open enclosures.
Zoo de la Flèche: Around two hours away, this long-established private zoo is known for its immersive lodges set inside the animal enclosures.
Brenne Regional Nature Park: About 90 minutes away, this “land of a thousand lakes” is one of France’s best spots for watching wild birds, including ospreys and herons.
More France travel
Other France travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
- French castle guides: Foix Castle near Toulouse and Chateau de Castelnaud in the Dordogne.
- Loire Valley castle guides: Chenonceau Castle, the Chateau de Bouges, the Chateau Royal d’Amboise, the Chateau de Saumur, the Chateau d’Angers and Chambord Castle.
- Important visitor information for Chateau de Compiegne and Chateau de Pierrefonds in Hauts-de-France.
- Visitor guides for National Monuments around Paris: The Chateau de Vincennes, the Chateau de Maisons and Villa Savoye.
