🐘 The 25 Zoos and Animal Parks in Western Switzerland in 2020
🐘 The 25 Zoos and Animal Parks in French-speaking Switzerland in 2020
Sommaire
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Categories
- 3 Zoos
- 4 Aquariums
- 5 Tropical Spaces
- 6 Animals parks
- 7 Unclassifiables
- 8 Comparative table
- 9 Cartography of zoos in Western Switzerland
- 10 Questions
- 10.1 Which zoos and animal parks allow children to pet animals?
- 10.2 Which zoo has the most beautiful playground?
- 10.3 Which animal park has the most beautiful playground?
- 10.4 What’s the most original zoo?
- 10.5 What to take from the zoo?
- 10.6 Which animal park attracts the most visitors in French-speaking Switzerland?
Introduction
There are many places in French-speaking or Western Switzerland where it is possible to observe animals, especially for small children. La Torpille presents here the places where they can be watched all year round in the cantons of Geneva, Fribourg, Valais, Vaud and Neuchâtel.
Categories
There are five main categories of animal spaces listed below:
- 7 Zoos
- 4 Aquariums
- 6 Exotic spaces
- 9 Animal parks
- 3 Unclassifiable
Several animal parks or zoos are present in two or three categories:
- Bois du Petit-Château Zoo and vivarium (zoo and vivarium)
- Aquatis (aquarium and vivarium)
- Papiliorama (exotic space, animal park and aquarium)
Legend:
📍 Location
👍 Interesting point
🆓 Free attraction
💡 Attractions in the same location or in close proximity
👶 Interactivity with animals
🎢 Playground
ℹ️ Useful information
⭐ Torpille rating (max 3 ⭐)
Zoos
Zoos present many animals in enclosures that visitors can observe with information about them. These are animals from our regions with the exception of Servion Zoo, which has animals from Africa and all over the world such as lions and tigers. The Challandes Park near Geneva also has some exotic animals.
The difference between zoos and animal parks is that zoos are larger and present wild animals while animal parks present domestic and farm animals.
List of the seven zoos:
- Servion zoo
- Garenne zoo
- Marécottes zoo
- Bois-de-la-Bâtie zoo
- Petit-Château zoo
- Juraparc
- Challandes park
Servion Zoo
- ⭐⭐⭐
- 📍 Servion VD
- 🔗 Détails about the Servion Zoo
- 👍 Large wild beasts unique in Western Switzerland
- 🎢 Large playground in the zoo
- 💡 Tropiquarium of Servion
The Servion Zoo is the largest in French-speaking Switzerland. Situated north of Lausanne, it has the particularity of having large wild animals such as tigers and lions.
The famous tigers of the Servion zoo, here visible from close up through the glass walls during their meal.
A video on the visit of the Servion zoo.
Garenne Zoo
- ⭐⭐
- 📍 Le Vaud VD
- 🔗 Détails about the Garenne Zoo
- 👍 Large aviaries with birds of prey
- 👍 Highest aviary in Europe (28 m)
- 🎢 Playground in the zoo
- 👶 Goats in the large aviary
The Garenne Zoo is located on the Vaud Coast. It has only animals from our region and it is well-known for its large aviaries.
The large aviary at the Garenne Zoo.
A video on the Garenne Zoo.
Marécottes Zoo
- ⭐⭐
- 📍 Salvan VS
- 🔗 Details about the Marécottes Zoo
- 💡 Alpine swimming pool adjacent in summer
- 🎢 Small playground outside the zoo
The Marécottes Zoo in the Trient Valley offers animals from temperate regions and above all has the particularity of being located next to a particularly original swimming pool inside the rock of an ancient moraine. Open in summer, you can enjoy it at the same time as the visit of the zoo.
Aerial view of the Marécottes zoo and pool.
A video about the pool and Marécottes zoo.
Bois-de-la-Bâtie Zoo
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Geneva GE
- 🔗 Détails about the Bois-de-la-Bâtie Zoo
- ℹ️ In the city of Geneva
- 🎢 Playground next to the zoo
The Bois de la Bâtie Zoo exhibits local fauna free of charge and participates in the preservation of endangered regional species.
The aviary of the Bois-de-Bâtie zoo with the concrete roof.
A descriptive video of the Bois-de-la-Bâtie animal park.
Bois du Petit-Château Zoo
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 🔗 Details sur the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo
- 🎢 Playground at the top of the zoo
- 👶 Enclosed with goats
The Bois du Petit-Château Zoo is located in the heart of the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds. It offers free visits of animals from our regions.
The wooden bridge when entering the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo.
video about the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo.
JuraParc Zoo
- ⭐
- 📍 Vallorbe
- 🔗 Details about the Juraparc Zoo
- 👍 Raised walkway for a better view of the animals
- 👶 Accessible enclosure with donkeys and goats
- 🎢 Playground at the entrance and outside the zoo
The Juraparc is a small park offering the visit of bears, buffaloes and wolves along an elevated route. For children up to 10 years old the park offers to pet donkeys, goats or ponies in their enclosure.
Buffaloes and the elevated course at Juraparc.
A promotional video about the Juraparc zoo.
Challandes Park
- ⭐🆓
- 🔗 Details about the Challandes Park
- 👍 Enclosure where you can be next to the wallabies
- 📍 Bellevue GE
The Challandes Park is located just before the runway at Geneva airport in Bellevue. It contains wild and domestic animals and has the particularity of offering a walk in the wallaby enclosure.
The path next to the wallabies.
A video about the Challandes Park Zoo.
Aquariums
There are only four places where it is possible to look at fish in aquariums in French-speaking or Western Switzerland. The largest of them is of course Aquatis, which has the largest total volume of fresh water in Europe. Fish from all over the world can be found there. In the Léman Museum, the aquariums present species from Lake Geneva and in the River House, fish from rivers and streams. The Papiliorama presents a few fishes, some of which are salt water fish, a unique case in French-speaking Switzerland.
List of the 4 aquariums:
Aquatis Aquarium
- ⭐⭐⭐
- 📍 Lausanne Vennes VD
- 🔗 Details about Aquatis
- 👍 Europe’s largest freshwater aquarium
Aquatis is the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe. Located in the heights of Lausanne in Vennes, it allows you to discover the aquatic fauna of the whole world.
A tunnel under an aquarium at Aquatis on the heights of Lausanne.
A video on Aquatis.
Léman Museum
- ⭐
- 📍 Nyon VD
- 🔗 Details about the Leman Museum
- ℹ️ Lake Geneva fishes on the ground floor of the museum
Located in Nyon at the edge of the lake, the Léman Museum presents on the ground floor some aquariums containing fish from Lake Geneva.
The five aquariums of the Léman Museum.
River House
- ⭐
- 📍 Tolochenaz VD
- 🔗 Details about the River House
- ℹ️ Freshwater Aquariums of Lake Geneva
The River House is an educational centre on the theme of nature. It offers several aquariums showing fish from Lake Geneva and aquatic river animals.
The aquariums of the River House.
Papiliorama
- ⭐
- 📍 Kerzers FR
- 🔗 Details about Papiliorama
- ℹ️ Fish in various greenhouses.
A few ponds in the Nocturama and Papiliorama greenhouses are home to a variety of fish species.
The Papiliorama’s greenhouses.
A video on the Papilorama.
Tropical Spaces
Tropical areas include species such as turtles, crocodiles, snakes, amphibians and insects.
List of the 6 tropical spaces:
- Papiliorama
- Tropiquarium of Servion
- Vivarium of Aquatis
- Vivarium of Bois du Petit-Château
- Turtles Protection and Recovery
- Vivarium of Meyrin
Papiliorama
- ⭐⭐⭐
- 📍 Kerzers FR
- 🔗 Details about Papiliorama
- ℹ️ Butterfly, night and tropical animals zone
The Papiliorama is the most visited animal park in French-speaking Switzerland with 400’000 visitors per year. Tropical animals can be observed in its three greenhouses: the Papiliorama, the Nocturama and the jungle trek.
The greenhouses of the Papiliorama. This is by far the most visited animal park in Western Switzerland.
A video on the Papilorama.
Tropiquarium of Servion
- ⭐⭐⭐
- 📍 Servion VD
- 🔗 Details about the Tropiqarium of Servion
- 🎢 Outdoor Playground in the tropiquarium
- 💡 Servion Zoo
The Servion Tropicarium is located right next to the Servion Zoo. You will find all the usual tropical species such as snakes, insects or turtles, as well as penguins that the visitors will come to observe at the time of their fish meal.
The entrance of the Tropiquarium of Servion.
A video on the Tropiquarium of Servion.
Vivarium of Aquatis
- ⭐⭐
- 📍 Lausanne Vennes VD
- 🔗 Details about the Vivarium of Aquatis
- ℹ️ Animals taken from the former vivarium of Lausanne
The Aquatis Vivarium has taken over the animals from the former vivarium in Lausanne under Sauvabelin. All the usual tropical species are presented.
A space for monitor lizards at Aquatis.
A video about the arrival of a Komodo dragon in the Aquatis vivarium.
Vivarium of Bois du Petit-Château
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 La Chaux-de-Fonds NE
- 🔗 Details about the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo
- 💡 Part of the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo.
A little crocodile in the vivarium of the Bois du Petit-Château zoo.
A little crocodile in the vivarium of the Bois du Petit-Château zoo.
A video about the vivarium part of the Bois du Petit-Château Zoo.
Turtles Protection and Recovery
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Chavornay VD
- 🔗 Details about the Turtles Protection and Recovery Space
The turtles protection and recovery space in Chavornay is a centre for the care and rescue of abandoned turtles. One will be able to observe in new spaces all kinds of turtles from the smallest to the biggest like alligator turtles.
The new turtle basins.
Vivarium of Meyrin
- ⭐⭐
- 📍 Meyrin GE
- 🔗 Details about the Vivarium of Meyrin
The Meyrin vivarium is located after the take-off runway at Geneva airport. It presents species typical of a vivarium such as snakes, insects, turtles or small crocodiles.
The terrariums on the ground floor.
A video of the Vivarium of Meyrin.
Animals parks
Animal parks feature farm animals such as geese and ducks or domestic animals such as donkeys, goats or pigs. The Gavotte’s Farm offers the best place in Western Switzerland to interact directly with animals such as donkeys, ponies, sheep or goats. These areas are well suited for children up to 8 years old.
List of the 8 animal parks:
- Gavotte’s Farm
- Crétillons Arch
- Petit Oiseau Snack Bar
- CSC Foundation Farm
- Papiliorama Small Zoo
- Sauvabelin Park
- Relais Panoramique des Crosets
- Signal of Bougy
- Botanical Garden of Geneva
Gavotte’s Farm
- ⭐⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Lancy GE
- 🔗 Details about the Gavotte’s Farm
- 👍👶 The most interactive space of Western Switzerland
The Gavotte farm is an old-fashioned farm which has the big advantage of offering a large park where children can pet sheep, alpacas and other sheep and goats. It is the farm that offers the best interaction with the animals of Western Switzerland.
The juniors of la Torpille team walk around the enclosure of the Gavotte’s Farm where children can pet sheep, ponies, alpacas, donkeys and goats.
A video about the Gavotte’s Farm.
CSC Foundation Farm
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Saint-Barthélémy VD
- 🔗 Details about the CSC Foundation Farm
- 💡 Castle of Saint-Barthélémy (cannot be visited)
The farm of the CSC Foundation is located below the castle of Saint-Barthélémy in the Gros de Vaud region. Many animals are visible but without any possible interaction.
The duck area at the CSC Foundation Farm.
Crétillons Arch
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Chalais VS
- 🔗 Details about the Cretillons Arch
- 💡 Stroll along the bisse above the Arch
The Crétillons Arch allows you to discover in its enclosure the typical animals of the farm with a nice view of the Rhone valley. it is possible to feed the animals but there is no interactivity with them.
The enclosures of the Crétillons Arch near Sierre.
A video about the Crétillons Arch.
Petit Oiseau Snack Bar
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Châtel-Saint-Denis Rathvel FR
- 🔗 Details about the Petit Oiseau Snack Bar
- 💡 Little train tour with a view of the Lake Geneva area
- 👶 Goats in their enclosure
The Petit Oiseau Sanck Bar (cabane du petit oiseau) presents some farm animals such as ducks but above all it allows small children with a ladder to come and stroke the goats in their enclosure.
The goat enclosure at the Petit Oiseau Snack Bar.
Papiliorama Small Zoo
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Kerzers FR
- 🔗 Details about Papiliorama
- 👶 Interactivité avec les animaux qui viennent vers le visiteur
- 🎢 Playground
Outside the Papiliorama is a mini-zoo that allows children to see some farm animals up close for free.
Children near goats. Photo: blognouveauparent.com
A video on the Papilorama.
Sauvabelin Park
- ⭐⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Lausanne VD
- 🔗 Details about the Sauvabelin Park
- 💡 Sauvabelin Tower and Lake
Sauvabelin Park offers the visit of some domestic species such as rabbits, wild pigs or cows. At the same time, don’t forget to climb up the magnificent wooden tower of Sauvabelin from which you can enjoy, above the trees, a beautiful view of the Lake Geneva basin and the Alps.
Lake Sauvabelin.
The mini zoo of the Sauvabelin park.
Relais Panoramique des Crosets
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Les Crosets VS
- 🔗 Details about the Relais Panoramique des Crosets
The Relais Panoramique des Crosets is an animal park containing about 50 animals for less than 10 species. Its natural environment is the magnificent Dents du Midi.
The Relais Panoramique and the Dents du Midi.
Signal of Bougy
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Villars-Bougy VD
- 🔗 Details about the Signal of Bougy
- 💡 Very large playground and accrobranche
The signal of Bougy proposes a very small park with some animals like ducks or geese.
The Mini-zoo of the signal of Bougy.
A video presenting the numerous activities of the Signal of Bougy.
Botanical Garden of Geneva
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Genève GE
- ℹ️ Botanical Garden of Geneva
- 🔗 Details about the Botanical Garden of Geneva
The conservatory and botanical garden of the city of Geneva include in their park a mini-zoo with traditional domestic species such as ducks, chickens, deer, sheep or geese.
The duck area of the mini-zoo of the Geneva Botanical Garden.
A video about the conservatory and botanical garden of the City of Geneva.
Unclassifiables
Parks that do not fall into the first three categories.
List of the 2 unclassifiables:
Barryland
- ⭐
- 📍 Martigny VS
- 🔗 Details about Barryland
- ℹ️ Saint Bernard dogs
- 👶 Little interactivity
The Barryland makes it possible to see Saint Bernard dogs sleeping in cages and small enclosures. The only interesting moment may be when the staff takes out a dog for the children to pet, but unfortunately the dog will be quickly assaulted by the children who will come out disappointed.
An accompanying person allows a few children to pet a dog at the Barryland in the town of Martigny.
A video about the Barryland of Martigny
Marmottes Paradise
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Rochers-de-Naye terminus station
- ℹ️ Groundhogs (Marmottes) hibernate from about October to May.
- 🔗 Details about the Marmottes Paradise
- 💡 Rochers-de-Naye summit and alpine garden
The Marmottes Paradise is a groundhog park at the Rochers-de-Naye train station just below the summit. It offers a few parks on the side of the mountain and one next to the train station. It is not possible to observe the marmots from October to April which hibernate at that time. You can enjoy the exceptional view by climbing to the top of the Rochers-de-Naye 10 minutes from the station.
The marmot enclosure next to the Rochers-de-Naye station.
A video about the attractions at the Rochers-de-Naye.
Gab’s Farm
- ⭐ 🆓
- 📍 Champoussin
- ℹ️ Goat milking from 4.15 pm in summer
- 🔗 Details on the Gaby’s Farm
- 💡 Accrobranche of Champoussin
The Gaby’s farm is an agro-touristic structure which offers a small museum and a goat farm. Every day in summer from 4.15 pm, it is possible to see the goats in the barn and their milking.
The goats in the barn.
Comparative table
Drag the table to the right to see the entire contents.
| Canton | Lieu | Création | Nombre d'animaux | Surface | Interactivité | Place de jeux | Prix [francs] | Site Web | Webcam | Visiteurs en 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOOS | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 | 🐘 |
| Zoo de Servion | Vaud | Servion | 1974 | 200 70 espèces | 55'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️✔️ | Adulte: 12 AVS/AI/étudiant: 10 6 à 15 ans: 7 | Site Web | 159'000 | |
| Zoo de la Garenne | Vaud | Le Vaud | 1965 | 300 | 37'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️ | Adulte: 21 AVS/AI: 18 18-24 ans: 16 16-17 ans: 15 6 à 15 ans: 10 | Site Web | 62'000 | |
| Zoo du Bois de la Bâtie | Genève | Petit-Lancy | 450 | 25'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️ | 🆓 | Site Web | |||
| Zoo du Bois du Petit-Château | Neuchâtel | La Chaux-de-Fonds | 1889 | 220 | 31'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️ | 🆓 | Site Web | ||
| Zoo des Marécottes | Valais | Salvan | 1956 | 80-100 20 espèces | 35'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️ | Adulte: 12 Étudiant/AVS/AI: 11 5 à 14 ans: 8 | Site Web | 105'000 | |
| Zoo JuraParc | Vaud | Vallorbe | 1987? | 84'000 m2 | ✔️ | ✔️ | Adulte: 7 6 à 16 ans: 5 | Site Web | https://www.juraparc.ch/webcams/ | 31'000 | |
| Parc Challandes | Genève | Bellevue | 1991 | ❌ | ❌ | 🆓 première visite | |||||
| PARCS TROPICAUX ET AQUATIQUES | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 | 🐬 |
| Tropiquarium | Vaud | Servion | 25'000 m2 | ❌ | ✔️ | Adulte: 12 AVS/AI/étudiant: 10 6 à 15 ans: 7 | Site Web | ||||
| Aquatis | Vaud | Lausanne | ❌ | ❌ | Prix unique: 19 | Site Web | 104'000 | ||||
| Protection et Récupération des Tortues | Vaud | Chavornay? | ❌ | ❌ | 🆓 | Site Web | |||||
| Papillorama | Fribourg | Kerzers/Chiètres | 2003 | 10'000 m2 | ✔️ | ✔️ | Adulte: 19 AVS/AI/étudiant: 16 4 à 15 ans: 9.50 | Site Web | 260'000 | ||
| Musée du Léman | Vaud | Nyon | ❌ | ❌ | Adulte: 8 AVS/AI/étudiant: 6 Enfant: Gratuit | Site Web | |||||
| Vivarium du zoo du Bois du Petit-Château | Neuchâtel | La Chaux-de-Fonds | ❌ | ✔️ | 🆓 | Site Web | |||||
| Vivarium de Meyrin | Genève | Meyrin | ❌ | ❌ | |||||||
| PARCS ANIMALIERS | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | 🐐 | |
| Arche des Crétillons | Valais | Chalais | ❌ | ❌ | 1 consommation | ||||||
| Ferme de la Gavotte | Genève | Lancy? | 1984 | ✔️ | ❌ | 🆓 | Site Web | ||||
| Signal de Bougy | Vaud | Villars-Bougy? | ❌ | ✔️✔️ | 🆓 | ||||||
| Ferme CSC | Vaud | Saint-Barthélémy | ❌ | ✔️ | 🆓 | ||||||
| Cabane du Petit Oiseau | Fribourg | Châtel-Saint-Denis | ✔️ | ✔️ | 🆓 | ||||||
| Parc de Sauvabelin | Vaud | Lausanne | ❌ | ✔️ | 🆓 | ||||||
| Mini-zoo du papillorama | Fribourg | Kerzers/Chiètres | 15'000 m2 | ✔️ | ✔️ | 🆓 | Site Web | ||||
| AUTRE | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | 🐶 | |
| Barryland | Valais | Martigny | ✔️ faible | ❌ | Adulte: 11 Enfants/ étudiants: 6 Dès 60 ans: 9 Audioguides (DE/FR/EN): 3 | Site Web |
Cartography of zoos in Western Switzerland
The following link shows the geographical location of the zoos in Western Switzerland.
Questions
What are the attractions recommended by la Torpille?
- Servion Zoo (wild animals)
- Papiliorama (butterflies)
- Gavotte’s Farm (interactivity with the animals)
- Marécottes Zoo (with the pool)
- Marmotte Paradise (with view from the Rochers-de-Naye)
What is the most beautiful zoo in French-speaking Switzerland?
- Servion Zoo presents the most impressive animals in Western Switzerland.
Which zoos and animal parks allow children to pet animals?
- Gavotte’s Farm
- JuraParc Zoo
- Petit Oiseau Snack Bar
- Barryland (low)
- Garenne Zoo (low)
- Papilorama Mini-zoo (low)
- Bois du Petit-Château Zoo (low)
Which zoo has the most beautiful playground?
- Servion Zoo (inside the zoo)
Which animal park has the most beautiful playground?
- The Bougy signal (free)
What are the zoos where you can see Bears?
- Servion Zoo
- Marécottes Zoo
- JuraParc Zoo
- Bois du Petit-Château Zoo
What are the zoos where you can see crocodiles?
- Aquatis
- Bois du Petit-Château Vivarium
- Tropiquarium of Servion
- Meyrin Vivarium
What’s the most original zoo?
- The Zoo des Marécottes is right next to the pool nestled in the rock of an ancient moraine.
What to take from the zoo?
- It may be useful to bring a pair of binoculars to the zoo to better observe the animals in the large enclosures.
Which animal park attracts the most visitors in French-speaking Switzerland?
- The Papiliorama welcomes more than 400’000 visitors every year.
What are the 3 most visited zoos in the whole of Switzerland?
- Zurich Zoo. About 1.75 million visitors/year.
- Basel Zoo. Approximately 1.75 million visitors/year.
- Bern Zoological Park Dählhölzli. Approximately 1.0 million visitors/year.
What are the free zoos and vivariums in French-speaking Switzerland?
- Bois-de-la-Bâtie Zoo
- Zoo and vivarium of the Bois du Petit-Château
- Challandes Park
- Turtle Protection and Recovery Space