Jardin Animalier de Mialet, Zoo in Mialet, France.
Jardin Animalier de Mialet is a zoo in the small French village of Mialet housing several hundred animals from about fifty different species. The grounds include horses, donkeys, goats, alpacas, zebus, kangaroos, ferrets, and various exotic birds spread across garden areas with Japanese design influences.
A Western-style miniature train from the 1960s survives on the grounds as one of the few remaining examples of its kind in the surrounding region. This relic demonstrates how such railway attractions were once more common in European leisure parks.
Japanese garden sections blend into the European landscaping around the animal areas, creating a mixed approach to garden design. This combination is noticeable as you walk through different parts of the grounds.
A one-kilometer walking path winds through the grounds with designated contact areas where visitors can interact with both domestic and exotic animals. The layout allows you to move through the entire site at your own pace and encounter animals at different stages of the walk.
Many visitors overlook how the Japanese garden sections are subtly integrated into the European layout, offering quiet spaces for exploration apart from animal encounters. These hidden garden areas provide a completely different experience within the same property.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
