The ZooParc de Beauval, in Saint-Aignan (Loir-et-Cher), is open every day of the year from 9 am until nightfall, so closing time follows the season. An adult ticket costs €43 at the gate, or from €39 for a dated ticket bought online, and the zoo recommends two days to see everything. We calculated the sunset time over the park for each month, cross-referenced with Météo-France normals, as well as the distances to the big neighboring châteaux. Near Paris, our page on Thoiry zoo: safari and prices covers a park where you drive through the reserve.
Beauval combines easily with a tour of châteaux: our guide to visiting the Loire Valley details the stops, distances and best season.
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ZooParc de Beauval: key facts
- Hours: open every day, public holidays included, from 9 am until nightfall; on October 16, 2026, for example, last entry at 5:30 pm, ticket office closing 30 minutes earlier — checked on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Standard price: 1-day adult ticket (age 11 and over) €43 at the gate, child (ages 3–10) €36; dated online ticket from €39 adult and €32 child; 2-day ticket €70 / €59 at the gate — checked on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Booking: not mandatory (tickets at the gate, at the Contact Center or online); a free ticket is required for children under 3 — checked on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Closing day: no weekly closing day; exceptional closures possible (private events), for example October 10 and 11, 2026 — checked on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Time needed: a full day at the very least, two days recommended by the zoo — checked on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Prices recorded on 16 October 2026 and subject to change: check before you go.
Beauval tickets: official vs resellers
The official ticket office offers two formats, for 1 or 2 consecutive days:
| Ticket | Adult (11+) | Child (3–10) | Official conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day, dated (web exclusive) | from €39 | from €32 | Date chosen at purchase, up to the day before; price varies by day |
| 1 day, undated | €43 | €36 | Valid for 1 year; same price as at the gate |
| 2 days, dated (web exclusive) | from €63 | from €52 | 2 consecutive days; you choose the 1st day |
| 2 days, undated | €70 | €59 | Valid for 1 year |
| Gate price (1 day / 2 days) | €43 / €70 | €36 / €59 | On site, no reservation |
Destination de Voyage calculation: for a family of 2 adults and 2 children, the gap between the gate (€158 for 1 day) and the best dated online price (€142) reaches €16, and €28 on the 2-day ticket (€258 against €230). The dated ticket is only worth it if your date is certain: it cannot be exchanged or refunded. Some very busy dates (May 2026 weekends, for example) were excluded from the web exclusive.
Everything is included in the ticket: both shows (« Les Maîtres des Airs » with the birds, « L’Odyssée des Lions de Mer » with the sea lions, presented from late March to mid-November), the « Le Nuage de Beauval » gondola outside closure periods and the Equatorial Dome. Only discovery activities (keeper for a day, privilege encounters) and the Pass Zen fast-track option (€15 per person per day) cost extra.
Official discounts: free for children under 3 (with a free ticket), a specific rate for visitors with disabilities and one companion on proof (French documents: CMI, MDPH, RQTH, or an invalidity or priority card), and €2 off at the gate on presentation of an SNCF train ticket or a Rémi bus ticket. According to the FAQ, there is no student, large-family or jobseeker rate. Resellers and works councils also sell tickets: compare with the official dated price before buying.
Opening hours and closing days
Beauval publishes no fixed seasonal schedule: the official rule is opening at 9 am and closing « at nightfall », specified day by day on the hours page. Example published for Friday, October 16, 2026:
| Place | Hours on October 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| ZooParc (South entrance) | Opens 9 am, last entry 5:30 pm |
| North entrance (Equatorial Dome) | Closed that day |
| Equatorial Dome, tropical greenhouses, hippopotamus reserve | 9 am – 6 pm |
| Le Nuage de Beauval gondola | 10 am – 6 pm |
| Les Maîtres des Airs show | 3:30 pm |
| L’Odyssée des Lions de Mer show | 2:30 pm |
| Animals going back inside | 5 pm |
Check the page the day before: the North entrance does not open every day, some areas may be closed and show times change. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before last entry. According to the official access page (checked on 11 November 2026), the South entrance is closed from November 16, 2026 to February 5, 2027 (with some exceptions), and access is then only through the North entrance, near the Equatorial Dome.
Best time to visit Beauval
Since the zoo closes at nightfall, the length of the day sets the available visiting time. We calculated the sunset time over the park on the 15th of each month and cross-referenced it with the Tours normals, the nearest Météo-France station published on our Loire Valley page. In the Sarthe, our page on La Flèche zoo: seasonal hours covers another large animal park in western France.
| Month (15th) | Sunset | From 9 am to sunset | Max temp, Tours | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:31 pm | 8 h 31 min | 7.7 °C (46 °F) | 63.0 mm (2.5 in) | 11.0 |
| February | 6:17 pm | 9 h 17 min | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 52.4 mm (2.1 in) | 9.8 |
| March | 6:59 pm | 9 h 59 min | 12.9 °C (55 °F) | 48.7 mm (1.9 in) | 9.3 |
| April | 8:43 pm | 11 h 43 min | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 53.0 mm (2.1 in) | 8.9 |
| May | 9:23 pm | 12 h 23 min | 19.6 °C (67 °F) | 57.7 mm (2.3 in) | 9.0 |
| June | 9:52 pm | 12 h 52 min | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 53.2 mm (2.1 in) | 7.6 |
| July | 9:47 pm | 12 h 47 min | 25.9 °C (79 °F) | 46.6 mm (1.8 in) | 6.7 |
| August | 9:06 pm | 12 h 06 min | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 44.0 mm (1.7 in) | 6.6 |
| September | 8:07 pm | 11 h 07 min | 22.1 °C (72 °F) | 51.8 mm (2.0 in) | 7.5 |
| October | 7:07 pm | 10 h 07 min | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 66.0 mm (2.6 in) | 9.8 |
| November | 5:19 pm | 8 h 19 min | 11.4 °C (53 °F) | 69.3 mm (2.7 in) | 11.4 |
| December | 5:04 pm | 8 h 04 min | 8.1 °C (47 °F) | 72.1 mm (2.8 in) | 11.5 |
How to read it: from May to August the sun sets after 9 pm and the potential visiting day exceeds 12 hours; in December it barely exceeds 8 hours. June combines afternoon highs of 23.4 °C (74 °F), fewer than 8 rainy days and the longest days. In winter, the four tropical greenhouses and the Equatorial Dome offer shelter, but the bird and sea lion shows are only presented from late March to mid-November.
Crowds: Beauval publishes a forecast attendance calendar (linked from its FAQ); we could not extract its data, so check it directly. The zoo states that it applies no maximum capacity, visitors being spread over 46 hectares (114 acres).
What to see and a suggested route
- In 1 day: arrive at 9 am through the South entrance, see the areas in the morning (animals are more active at opening, official advice), a show in the early afternoon, the gondola to cross the park, then the Equatorial Dome at the end of the day.
- In 2 days: the format recommended by the zoo; both shows, the educational activities and the greenhouses without rushing. The 2-day ticket is valid for two consecutive days.
- With young children: playgrounds near the « Le Serengeti » and « Le Kilimandjaro » restaurants, a carousel, microwaves to heat meals, baby-changing facilities in the restrooms.
- Finding your way: the « 100 % Beauval » app offers a geolocated visit, a schedule of activities and preset routes.
The zoo announces more than 800 species and 35,000 animals. Animals may stay in their indoor spaces depending on the weather, but remain visible behind glass.
Distances from Beauval to the châteaux
| From Beauval to | Distance as the crow flies |
|---|---|
| Château de Chenonceau | 23 km (14 mi) |
| Château de Cheverny | 29 km (18 mi) |
| Clos Lucé (Amboise) | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Royal château of Amboise | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Château de Blois | 38 km (24 mi) |
| Château de Chambord | 43 km (27 mi) |
The official website gives Blois as 45 minutes away via the D675 and Tours as 1 hour via the A85. A typical stay combines Beauval (1 to 2 days) with the Château de Cheverny, the Château de Chambord and the Clos Lucé in Amboise.
Getting to the ZooParc de Beauval
- Car: about 2 hours 15 minutes from Paris via the A10, A71 and A85, exit 12 Saint-Aignan; free parking, including a motorhome space — checked on 11 November 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Train: Blois station (45 minutes by road), Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (55 minutes) and Saint-Aignan – Noyers-sur-Cher TER station (8 km / 5 mi), then taxi, shuttle bus or carpool — checked on 11 November 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Rémi bus from Blois: departs Blois station at 9:15 am, arrives at the zoo at 10:15 am, return at 5:20 pm; €3.40 each way — checked on 11 November 2026 on zoobeauval.com
- Bus from Paris: BlaBlaCar Bus from Paris Bercy (about 3 hours 40 minutes) and Orléans (about 1 hour 55 minutes), on weekends and school holidays only — checked on 11 November 2026 on zoobeauval.com
Address: avenue du Blanc, 41110 Saint-Aignan.
Accessibility and services
According to the practical information page, most of the park is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, apart from some very steep paths, marked on the map and in the app; the amphitheaters have ramps and wheelchair spaces. Wheelchairs can be rented (€12 a day, booked by phone, €200 deposit) and strollers too (€9 a day, children up to 15 kg / 33 lb). Guide dogs and assistance dogs are admitted, except in the free-flight aviaries of the Equatorial Dome.
Common mistakes (official rules)
- Arriving without a ticket for a child under 3: entry is free, but a ticket is still required.
- Planning a picnic in the park: it is not allowed inside; there are two sheltered areas at the entrances (300 seats at the South entrance). You can leave and come back with a hand stamp.
- Bringing a hard cooler, wine bottles, beer packs, a scooter, a balance bike, a drone or a suitcase: not allowed.
- Bringing your dog: admitted, but not in the greenhouses, the Dome, the shows, the gondola and several areas; the zoo advises against it and lists nearby kennels.
- Arriving in the afternoon in winter: last entry is set early (5:30 pm in mid-October) and the ticket office closes 30 minutes earlier.
- Buying a dated ticket without being sure of the date: non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
What to see nearby
Beauval is the family stop of a stay in the Loire Valley. Within an hour: the Château de Cheverny and its gardens, the Clos Lucé, Leonardo da Vinci’s last home, then the Château de Chambord. For more family trip ideas, see our France travel guide.
Where Beauval is and a few facts
The ZooParc de Beauval is in Saint-Aignan (41110), in the Loir-et-Cher department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region, on the banks of the Cher. It was created in 1980 by Françoise Delord; the Delord family still runs it. On the Atlantic coast, our page on La Palmyre zoo in Charente-Maritime covers another large French animal park, easy to combine with a seaside holiday.
- Area: 46 hectares (114 acres), according to the official FAQ (which states that no maximum capacity is applied).
- Animals: about 35,000 animals of 800 species, according to the Loir-et-Cher tourist office.
- Giant pandas: the pair Huan Huan and Yuan Zi, lent by China, arrived in 2012; Yuan Meng was born at the zoo in 2017, then the twins Huanlili and Yuandudu in 2021. Huan Huan and Yuan Zi went back to China in November 2025, Yuan Meng in July 2023; the twins Yuandudu and Huanlili will leave for China on December 17, 2026, with the All Saints’ holidays presented as the last chance to see them (checked on 18 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com).
Where to stay near the zoo: the Beauval hotels
For a two-day visit, the zoo runs its own hotels in Saint-Aignan, bookable with tickets on zoobeauval.com. On October 16, 2026, the official website listed eight: Les Jardins de Beauval, Les Pagodes de Beauval, Les Hauts de Beauval, Les Hameaux de Beauval, Les Rivages de Beauval, the Grand Hôtel, the Hôtel Beauvilliers and Le Relais Touraine Sologne. Prices vary by date: compare with accommodation in Saint-Aignan and the neighboring villages.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get into Beauval zoo?
The 1-day ticket costs €43 for an adult and €36 for a child aged 3 to 10 at the gate, and from €39 / €32 as a dated ticket bought online (recorded on 16 October 2026 on zoobeauval.com). Free for children under 3.
What are the opening hours of the ZooParc de Beauval?
The zoo opens every day at 9 am and closes at nightfall; on October 16, 2026, last entry was at 5:30 pm. The day’s hours are published on the official website.
Do you need to book for Beauval?
No: tickets are sold at the gate. The dated online ticket is simply cheaper, but non-refundable.
How long does it take to visit Beauval?
A full day at the very least; the zoo recommends two days to see the areas, both shows and the greenhouses.
When is the best time to visit Beauval zoo?
From May to August for the longest days (sunset after 9 pm according to our calculation); June combines moderate heat and little rain. The shows run from late March to mid-November.
Where is Beauval zoo?
In Saint-Aignan (41110), in the Loir-et-Cher department (Centre-Val de Loire region), south of Blois.
Our sources
- ZooParc de Beauval (zoobeauval.com): ticket office, daily hours, access, practical information, FAQ, consulted on 16 October 2026; access page checked again on 11 November 2026; « Baby pandas 2021 » page and panda news, consulted on 18 October 2026
- Météo-France: 1991–2020 normals, Tours station (maximum temperature, precipitation, rainy days), taken from our Loire Valley page
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the Wikidata coordinates of the ZooParc de Beauval (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Wikidata: coordinates of the ZooParc de Beauval (Q3576007) and of the châteaux mentioned
- ZooParc de Beauval (zoobeauval.com): list of Beauval hotels, FAQ (area), consulted on 16 October 2026; Val de Loire – Loir-et-Cher tourist office (val-de-loire-41.com): ZooParc de Beauval page, consulted on 16 October 2026; Wikipedia: « ZooParc de Beauval » article (creation in 1980, arrival of the pandas), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.