Touroparc Zoo - Romanèche-Thorins - Saône-&-Loire

Touroparc Zoo

Stage no. 1: - By Mathieu

Through the eyes of members of the Thomas Family (Mathieu, 37 years old / Marion, 38 / Marius, 13 / Margaux, 10), experience Southern Burgundy's 9 "must-stops" as a sequence of episodes for a total immersion as intense as it is unforgettable…

Les incontournables de Saône-et-Loire
La famille Thomas - © DSL/vectorfusionart

" The idea of spending a whole day at a zoo didn't sound all that appealing at first. I'm the kind of idealist who believes that animals deserve better than being locked up in zoos, their rightful place is in their natural habitat, far from curious human onlookers. But admittedly this position held little sway within the family unit, which relied on Marius to convincingly plead the opposing view (important detail: Marius' dream is to become a veterinarian or ethologist).
 

Romanèche-Thorins : Touroparc Zoo, parc zoologique et d'attractions - Saône-et-Loire Tourisme
© DSL Guênerie Sandrine

The simple fact of the matter is that the kid knew practically everything about Touroparc: I'm not referring here to the various species or number of animals on display (700, divided between mammals, birds and reptiles), but to the philosophy behind the site: its role in preserving threatened species (such as the Arabian oryx antelope, white Bengal tiger or black-and-white ruffed lemur). He's familiar with them all. He's mainly intent on ensuring animal welfare, as discerned in ways like the curiosity in their behaviour and their ability to reproduce even when in captivity. 

In short, this day had all the makings of a friendly duel between idealist and scholar. And who could have thought that the scholar would prevail. How to explain it? Well, from one end of the park to the other, we only saw animals that truly seemed to be in their place. I was amazed.

This park has accomplished the feat of creating a habitat where all the wildlife specimens (and there are many of them) appear to be peacefully coexisting,

in a state of bliss and harmony permeating the various populations.

Two images really stood out: the intensity of the stare on the face of this white-haired marmoset monkey, the way he followed Margaux's forefinger as she drew figure 8's in the sky; and then this crazy scene between the seals and the trainer (by the way, what a great idea to expose trainer sessions to the public), interacting with such a strong bond, a level of mutual trust visible in their relations. The kind of scene that definitely breaks down stereotypes, and the kind of day that can never be forgotten."

Touroparc Zoo - Saône-et-Loire Tourisme
© Touroparc Zoo

You'll also love your Touroparc visit for…

 

  • Entertainment for all-comers: vintage merry-go-round, monorail circuit or tourist train, tree-climbing course for the youngsters, treetop adventure park for the older kids. Shows staged free of charge with unlimited admission to make your day at the park even more stimulating.
  • Sessions with trainers: to get a closer look at the animals while accompanied by professionals who care for them all year round. Special sessions intended to share some authentic and enriching moments learning about the park.
  • Aquatic space: three giant water slides installed amidst an ocean of vegetation to stay cool and enjoy a few thrills (open in July and August - bathing suit required)
  • Original museum visits to incorporate into your day at Touroparc: the René Livet Museum for a genuine discovery tour of the times of the 1930's; the Hôtel des Mines to admire a one-of-a-kind collection of minerals found under the park's grounds.
  • On-site restaurants and shops: several restaurants and theme-based sandwich bars (tacos, burgers, etc.) are available at various spots around the park, along with a store to load up on exclusive souvenirs.

More information on the touroparc site: Touroparc Zoo.

MONORAIL Touroparc-Zoo - Saône-et-Loire Tourisme
© Touroparc Zoo

Discover the other steps of these holidays: