Bergerie des Malassis, Petting zoo in Bagnolet, France
Bergerie des Malassis is a petting zoo set on a former children's playground in eastern Paris, where sheep and goats graze within an urban setting surrounded by residential buildings. The animals inhabited this green space within the city, creating a small rural pocket in an otherwise built-up area.
The project was founded in 2011 by Gilles Amar and allowed Parisians to experience animals in their immediate neighborhood. It closed in 2023 to make room for new urban facilities.
This place brings together local residents as a meeting point where children can feed and care for the animals. It offers a rare opportunity to experience farming and animal care within a city environment.
The site was open from Monday through Saturday from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM and was located in an easily accessible neighborhood. The place was accessible to walk-in visitors without prior booking needed.
The sheep and goats were regularly led through the neighborhood's streets, where they grazed at crosswalks and throughout the urban quarter. These daily processions were an uncommon sight in this densely populated area.
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