French Atlantic Coast: La Palmyre and the famous zoo
La Palmyre, a picturesque town in the Charente Maritime region of France, is known for its highlights and diverse attractions, among them the Zoo de La Palmyre, which attracts visitors with its rich collection of exotic animals and active conservation efforts and educational programs that promote biodiversity conservation
The town of La Palmyre is famous for its picturesque landscapes, cultural attractions and numerous opportunities for outdoor activities and tourism. Let's dive into the history, learn about modern entertainment and tourist attractions of this magical place!
History of La Palmyre
The history of La Palmyre is closely connected with the development of the Maritime Charente region. This small town has long been known for its favorable climate and rich natural resources. Located on the Atlantic coast, La Palmyre played an important role in the development of fishing and maritime industries.
In the 19th century, the town began to gain popularity as a resort destination due to its beautiful beaches and mild climate. With the development of railroad transportation, La Palmyre became accessible to tourists, which contributed to its rapid growth. The city began to actively develop its infrastructure, new hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues appeared.
The famous Zoo de La Palmyre
Founded in 1966, the Zoo de La Palmyre is one of the largest and most popular zoos in France. It is located in a dense pine forest, which gives its grounds a natural beauty, tranquility and pine scent.
The zoo covers an area of over 18 hectares and is home to over 1,600 animals representing over 115 species.
Visitors have the unique opportunity to see rare and exotic animals from all corners of the world, including lions, giraffes, elephants, penguins and many others.
The zoo recently welcomed a new addition, a baby giraffe.
Besides its impressive collection of animals, the zoo is known for its conservation and preservation efforts. It actively participates in international breeding programs for rare and endangered species, and runs educational programs for visitors to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Thanks to its environmental initiatives, Zoo de La Palmyre has earned a reputation as a model institution that cares about the environment and animals.
For children and adults, the zoo offers numerous attractions and interactive activities. Visitors can enjoy feeding the animals, shows of trainers: shows with seals and parrots, as well as special programs that allow you to get a closer look at the life of the zoo's inhabitants.
They even have a special section with incubators for premature baby animals.
The zoo has cozy cafes and picnic areas, making it an ideal place for families. In addition, there is a vending machine where you can buy coins with different denominations, extremely popular in France, on the back of which will be the emblem of the zoo.
Ticket price
Adult — 22€
Children under 3 years old are free, from 3-12 years old — 17€
Wear comfortable shoes because the average duration of a visit to the zoo is about 4 hours, and the average length of the visited route is just over 4 km. Hats and goggles are also welcome, and you can bring a snack for yourself and the animals. Some of them like tasteless popcorn — you can buy it at the ticket office at the entrance to the zoo for 3 euros.
La Palmyre Golf Clubs
La Palmyre is a true paradise for golf lovers thanks to several high-class golf clubs offering excellent playing and relaxing conditions.
LA PALMYRE GOLF LINKS
This club offers a compact 9-hole course suitable for beginners and those looking to improve their skills. The course is located close to the coast, allowing players to enjoy the fresh sea air while playing. Golf de La Palmyre has instructional programs for children and adults, and also offers equipment rentals.
Camping La Palmyre
La Palmyre is also famous for its great campsites, which are perfect for those who love to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature.
Camping Bonne Anse Plage****
Camping Bonne Anse Plage is just a dream, it is a four-star campsite that is located near the beaches of La Palmyre. This campsite offers a wide range of services and facilities including spacious camping sites, mobile homes with everything you need inside, parking, stores, restaurants and cafes. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are swimming pools, sports fields, tennis courts and animation programs, as well as convenient bike rentals. Especially attractive for families with children is the water park, which is part of the campground.
La Palmyre Beaches
These beaches are famous for their beauty and cleanliness. Therefore, you can often spot the tracks of wild boars that live here.
Côte Sauvage beach — one of the most popular, stretches for several kilometers and is considered an ideal place for surfers and beach lovers. Here you can enjoy sunbathing, walking along the shore or water activities.
A surf school and board rentals await you. A huge parking lot awaits your car and a buffet awaits your stomach.
The beach at La Palmyre
And there are plenty more beautiful beaches waiting for you to explore, whether it's picking oysters off the rocks at low tide or flying kites with the whole family.
One such beach is Plage du vieux phare is special in that it's located near the lighthouse. There's parking and a car buffet here, too.
La Palmyre Lighthouses
Lighthouse de la Coubre (Phare de la Coubre)
Lighthouse de la Coubre, located near La Palmyre, is one of the region's most famous lighthouses. Built in 1905, this 64 meter high lighthouse is one of the tallest lighthouses in France. Its light can be seen up to 50 kilometers away, helping ships navigate the difficult waters of the coast. During World War II, the lighthouse played an important role in navigating warships. Today, the lighthouse is open to visitors who can climb to its top and enjoy panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding forests.
Cordouan Lighthouse (Phare de Cordouan)
Although the Cordouan Lighthouse is a bit farther away from La Palmyre, it is also worthy of mention because of its historical significance. Built in 1584, this lighthouse is one of the oldest in the world. During World War II, it also served as a landmark for military vessels. Today, the lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can learn more about its history and enjoy breathtaking views.
La Palmyre Racetrack
The Racetrack is another unique place in the city that offers visitors exciting competitions and entertainment. It is a place where you can enjoy the atmosphere of sporting competitions and watch exceptional horse races.
Luna Park YOUPILAND in La Palmyre
Luna Park YOUPILAND is a place where you can forget about everyday life and enjoy unforgettable entertainment and rides. From merry-go-rounds to roller coasters, from roller coasters to rides for children — there is everything for a fun holiday.
Also, near the Luna Park you can rent interesting transportation for the whole family, rest assured - you will remember this experience for a lifetime, and the smile will not leave your face for a long time.
La Palmyre Bunkers
In World War II, the coast of France, including La Palmyre, was an important strategic zone. German troops built numerous bunkers here, often found on the beach or along the road, and they were part of the Atlantic rampart, a powerful defense line that stretched along the west coast of Europe.
Legend and folklore
Ganipote (Ganipote) is a character from French folklore, he is a kind of werewolf or evil spirit that can take many forms, most commonly a wolf or a dog. An evil and multifaceted creature associated with the world of witchcraft, it haunted dark forests, roamed the countryside on moonless nights or prowled around populated areas in the morning before light and in the evening after sunset. It liked to terrorize passersby by viciously jumping on their backs, digging its claws into them.
Tales of the Ganipote are generally meant to warn people against nighttime walks and remind them of the dangers that can lurk in the dark. These legends were taken very seriously in the late 19th century press, as evidenced by this advertisement published in La Lune (Fouras newspaper) on November 10, 1895:
"The Bigurn (ganipote or werewolf) has just appeared in Fouras, and we have not seen it for ten years. This horrible beast comes to stay in the woods near the railroad track every evening around eight o'clock. It manifests itself in various forms and frightens people who pass by. Mothers, beware!"
Avenue de la Ganipote was named after this mythical creature in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, which is 9 km from the zoo.
La Palmyre is a city that has everything to make your vacation unforgettable. From historical sights to entertainment attractions, from beautiful beaches to exciting events, there is something for everyone's taste. Whether you come here for a few days or for a long vacation, La Palmyre is sure to leave you with only the most positive impressions and unforgettable memories, regardless of your preferences and age.
