Parc des Oiseaux — Zoo in Villars-les-Dombes

Parc des Oiseaux and its collection

Parc des Oiseaux is a zoo in Villars-les-Dombes, France.

More than 3,000 birds from across the world are kept within a 380-hectare reserve in the Dombes, of which 35 hectares are open to the public. Average annual attendance is 250,000. It ranks among the oldest bird parks in France.

History

The park opened in 1970; the large aviary went up in 1977 and the penguin house two years later. Falling attendance from the 1990s led the Ain departmental council to commission studies. On 16 June 2003 the culture ministry confirmed its entry in the general inventory of cultural heritage.

Exhibits

Its exhibits include Escale en Amérique du Sud, Escale en Océanie, Escale en Europe, Escale en Asie and Escale en Afrique.

Things to do

Things to do include Bird show, Keeper for a Day, Les Etincelantes (contemporary art trail) and The Park's Musicales (music festival).

What the venue says

• specialized walk-in aviaries
• daily flight demonstrations
• 37-meter panoramic tower
• The park features on-site catering and food service options to grab meals, snacks, and drinks.
• A spacious, on-site parking lot is available directly outside the park and is free of charge for visitors.
• wheelchair-accessible pathways
• wheelchair-accessible entrance
• designated parking spaces