Zoo de Maubeuge, Zoo and park in Maubeuge, France.
Zoo de Maubeuge is a zoological garden in the city of Maubeuge in northern France, housing animals from five continents across around 70 species. The grounds are laid out within 17th-century military fortifications that are still standing and shape the paths visitors follow through the park.
The land where the zoo now stands was fortified in the late 17th century by the military engineer Vauban as part of a larger defensive network. The zoo itself was founded in the 20th century and has used those existing structures as its framework ever since.
The zoo sits inside old fortification walls, and visitors can clearly see the earthworks and ditches as they walk between animal enclosures. This setting gives the place a different feel from an ordinary animal park.
Visiting during the warmer months is a good idea, as the animals tend to be more active and the grounds are easier to explore. Wear sturdy shoes since the paths wind through uneven terrain shaped by the old fortifications.
The zoo is a permanent member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and takes part in its European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP), so it contributes to conservation work outside the animals' natural habitats. It also belongs to the French association of zoological parks (AFdPZ).
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