Le PAL is a theme park and a zoo in one, at Dompierre-sur-Besbre, in the Allier (central France): 40 hectares (99 acres), 1,000 animals and 31 rides according to its 2026 brochure. On 23 October 2026, the official calendar showed the park closed for the season, and 2027 ticketing "coming soon". The 2027 Billet Liberté is listed at €41 for an adult and €35 for a child online (€42 and €36 on site); admission is free for children under 1 meter (3 ft 3 in). Here the key criterion is not age but height: below, ride by ride, is what a child can do according to their height.
Le PAL is less than two hours from Clermont-Ferrand. To round out your trip, see our guide to Auvergne and our page on Vulcania, the region’s other big park. See entry requirements for France.
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Le PAL: key facts
- Season: park closed in winter; the 2026 brochure showed a calendar from April to September; 2027 dates to be confirmed on the official calendar — checked on 23 October 2026 on lepal.com
- Hours: depending on the day, 10 am–5:30 pm or 10 am–6 pm minimum; rides from 10:15 am (10:05 am on some busy days in 2026)
- Price: Billet Liberté 2027 €41 adult (age 10 and over) / €35 child (1 m and over, up to age 9) online; dated Billet Malin from €33 / €28; free under 1 m (measured with shoes on) — checked on 23 October 2026 on lepal.com
- Booking: not mandatory with a Billet Liberté
- Duration: two days to do everything according to the park; short zoo route of about 1.5 hours
Tickets and prices
All tickets give access to the theme park, the zoo, the animal presentations and the educational activities. The price depends on height and age:
- Under 1 meter (measured with shoes on): free.
- 1 meter and over, up to age 9 inclusive: child rate.
- Age 10 and over: adult rate.
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billet Malin | from €33 | from €28 | dated, online only, price changes depending on the purchase date, can be changed once |
| Billet Liberté | €41 (€42 on site) | €35 (€36 on site) | undated, valid for one day during the 2027 season |
| Billet Passion | €59 (€69 on site) | €49 (€57 on site) | dated, 2 consecutive days |
Tickets are neither refundable nor resalable. Buy them on the official ticket office (billetterie.lepal.com).
Which rides by child height?
The official FAQ publishes, for each ride, the minimum height and the height below which the child must be accompanied by a person over 16:
| Ride | Not allowed under | Must be accompanied under (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Le Rapido | 100 cm | 140 |
| Les Chaises volantes | 100 cm | 120 |
| Le Tigre de Sibérie | 100 cm | 140 |
| L’Archipel | — | 140 |
| La Rivière du Grand Nord | 100 cm | 140 |
| Les Caravelles | 90 cm | 120 |
| Alligator Baie | 90 cm | 140 |
| La Descente du Colorado | 100 cm | 140 |
| Le Voyage au-dessus du monde | — | 140 |
| Le Train des aventuriers | — | 140 |
| Les Tasses magiques | 90 cm | 120 |
| Le Bateau pirate | 100 cm | 140 |
| Les Ailes du Yukon | 100 cm | 120 |
| Champi’folies | 100 cm | 140 |
| King Kong | 90 cm | 130 |
| La Ronde des grenouilles | — | 120 |
| Le Haras du PAL | — | 120 |
| La Randonnée africaine | — | 140 |
| Le Carrousel | — | 120 |
| La Tour mystérieuse | 100 cm | — (not allowed above 1.40 m) |
| Les Ballons d’Orient | — | 120 |
| L’Escadrille du désert | 90 cm | — (not allowed above 1.40 m) |
| La Rivière des castors | 90 cm | 120 |
| Yukon Trucks | — | 120 |
| Le Twist | 100 cm | 140 |
| Le Disque du soleil | 120 cm | — |
| Azteka | 100 cm | 140 |
| Yukon Quad | 120 cm | 140 |
| Fjord Explorer | 110 cm | 130 |
| Child height | Rides available | of which without an accompanying adult |
|---|---|---|
| 90 cm (35 in) | 15 | 1 |
| 100 cm (39 in) | 26 | 2 |
| 110 cm (43 in) | 27 | 2 |
| 120 cm (47 in) | 29 | 13 |
| 130 cm (51 in) | 29 | 15 |
| 140 cm (55 in) | 29 | 29 |
Our reading: at 90 cm (35 in), a child (still free) already has access to 15 rides, 1 of them without an accompanying adult; at 1 m, that figure rises to 26. You need 1.20 m (47 in) for Yukon Quad and Le Disque du soleil, 1.10 m (43 in) for Fjord Explorer. From 1.40 m (55 in), a child can do alone all the rides open to them, except La Tour mystérieuse and L’Escadrille du désert, which are not open above 1.40 m. The park offers Babyswitch: one parent waits while the other does the ride, then they swap without queuing again.
Nine rides are prohibited for pregnant women (including Fjord Explorer, Yukon Quad, Azteka, King Kong and Le Bateau pirate); a woman more than 3 months pregnant gets priority access to the other rides, on presentation of a certificate from French health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
The zoo
Le PAL presents 1,000 animals and 1,500 plant species over 40 hectares (99 acres). The novelty for 2026 is the Delta des Éléphants. Animal presentations (birds, sea lions…) take place at set times: the map handed out at the entrance shows the day’s times. The park suggests a short zoo route of about 1.5 hours, but you can wander freely. If you enjoy bird shows, our page on the Parc des Oiseaux at Villars-les-Dombes presents a park entirely devoted to birds, near Lyon.
When to go to Le PAL
The FAQ gives precise advice for avoiding the crowds: on the Ascension weekend, favor Saturday and Sunday; on the Pentecost weekend, Monday; around August 15, the least sunny days. The park calls "high season" Ascension, Pentecost, the weekends of June, the period from July 6 to August 25 and the first two weekends of September. For weather, here are the normals from the nearest Météo-France station (Yzeure, near Moulins):
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days ≥ 1 mm | Days ≥ 30 °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 16.8 °C (62 °F) | 4.9 °C (41 °F) | 10.6 | 0.0 |
| May | 20.6 °C (69 °F) | 8.9 °C (48 °F) | 11.3 | 0.7 |
| June | 24.6 °C (76 °F) | 12.4 °C (54 °F) | 8.8 | 4.4 |
| July | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 14.2 °C (58 °F) | 7.9 | 9.1 |
| August | 27.1 °C (81 °F) | 13.9 °C (57 °F) | 7.9 | 9.1 |
| September | 22.4 °C (72 °F) | 10.2 °C (50 °F) | 8.3 | 1.7 |
July and August average 9 days at 30 °C (86 °F) or more: come at opening and bring water; the park notes that some rides may stop in very hot weather, storms or strong wind. April and May are cooler and rainier (10 to 11 rainy days), while June and September offer a good compromise.
Getting there
- By car: A79, exit 28 (Thiel-sur-Acolin) or 27 (Dompierre-sur-Besbre Ouest). The park is 1.5 hours from Clermont-Ferrand and 2 hours from Lyon, Dijon and Saint-Étienne according to its website.
- Shuttles: coach from Moulins railway station (Grillet car park in Yzeure) and from the Vichy bus station, two times in the morning and evening; €2.30 each way, €1.20 reduced rate.
- By train: the nearest station is Dompierre – Sept-Fons, then taxi or shuttle.
- Charging: 10 charging points in car park no. 1.
Practical information and rules
- Exit and re-entry are possible during the day, provided you get your hand stamped before leaving.
- Picnics are allowed, in several areas of the park and near the bus car park.
- Dogs are not allowed (except guide and assistance dogs); kennels exist at Thiel-sur-Acolin and Saint-Didier-en-Donjon.
- Filming on rides: only with a body-mounted camera; selfie sticks are prohibited.
- Paid lockers (€4 or €5) and stroller rental (€9 a day).
- The car parks are closed outside opening days.
Frequently asked questions
When is Le PAL open?
The park closes in winter. The 2026 brochure showed a calendar from April to September; on 23 October 2026, the website showed the park closed and 2027 ticketing coming soon.
How much does it cost to get into Le PAL?
Billet Liberté 2027: €41 for an adult and €35 for a child online (€42 and €36 on site). Free for children under 1 meter.
At what height does a child pay at Le PAL?
From 1 meter (3 ft 3 in), measured with shoes on. They pay the child rate up to age 9 inclusive, then the adult rate from age 10.
How long does it take to visit Le PAL?
Two days to enjoy all the rides, the zoo and the performances, according to the park. The short zoo route takes about 1.5 hours.
Can you get to Le PAL without a car?
Yes, by shuttle from Moulins station or the Vichy bus station, or by train to Dompierre – Sept-Fons and then a taxi.
Which rides for a 1-meter child at Le PAL?
According to the official table, 26 of the 29 rides are open to them, most of them accompanied by a person over 16.
Our sources
- Le PAL (lepal.com): calendar and hours, prices and ticket purchase, access and services, FAQ, 2026 individual visitors brochure and park map (PDF), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Météo-France: climate sheet, 1991–2020 statistics, Yzeure station (03321001, 242 m), donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.