Barben zoo in Provence South France

In my opinion, one of the best zoos in the South of France is located in the heart of the beautiful Provence countryside. Barben zoo, is located close to the village of Pélissane, in between Salon de Provence and Aix-en-Provence in South France. The zoo is extremely well laid out and encompasses over 30 hectares of woodland, grassland and gardens, as well as over 9kms of trails.

The zoo has a great selection of animals, including the usual suspects (lions, giraffes, bears and elephants) but also some unique animals such as Lynx cats, Fennec foxes, Tufted Capuchin and Alpacas. In total, there are over 130 different species of birds and animals. The zoo also has a Reptile house which is located within a sheep pen that dates back to the Middle Ages.

 

Barben Zoo in France

Barben Zoo - or Parc Zoologique de la Barben, to give it its full title - is a good day out in a lovely parkland setting close to Salon de Provence (about 20km from Aix-en-Provence). Zoos are always a hit with our boys and we easily spent 4 hours walking round and we still didn't see all of the animals. There are bears, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, antelope - you name it. It is some years ago since we went (I think we went for my middle son's 7th birthday and he is 18 now!). I distinctly remember it being as hot as hell and there was not much shade. So I would certainly advise taking plenty of sun block and hats. The bird demonstration was pretty good. You sit in this little amphitheatre and the birds of prey swoop down over your heads.

 

Things to do in Provence with kids: Barben Zoo South France

Barben zoo is located off the A7 autoroute (Exit 15). Then you follow signs for the village of Pélissane. It is pretty easy to find and there are plenty of signs. The zoo is open everyday from 10.00 to 18.00. It costs around €10 for children and €15 for adults.

 

Barben Parc Animalier

Address : Route du Château, 13330 La Barben
Phone : +33 04 90 55 19 12
Website : Barben Zoo Provence

 

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If you are visiting the South of France this summer, then get the inside track on the best Places to see & visit in the South of France in 2026 (written by people who live in Southern France all year around). Read about the best restaurants to eat at, get local information on the best beaches to visit and discover the best tourist sites, markets and festivals to see during your stay.

 

Best beaches in South France Find the best beaches in South France to visit during 2026. From glitzy private beach clubs on the French Riviera to the long sandy beaches on the Languedoc coast.	Best restaurants South France Discover our favourite restaurants to eat at in South France from Michelin star restaurants to beach restaurants and local restaurants where you can still enjoy a Plat de Jour for €13 euros.
Best festivals in South France  The summer comes alive in the South of France with crazy festivals. Discover everything from large music festivals to local festivals celebrating the humble apricot and Water Jousting!	Best markets in South of France Search out the best local markets to visit during your stay in the South of France this summer. We cover everything from local village markets to antique fairs and truffle markets in Provence.
Villas with private pools in South France Book a villa in the South of France for this summer through Go Languedoc and avoid all the hefty additional bookings fees of Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com.	Best tourist sites to visit in South France in 2026 Read about the best tourist sites to visit during 2026. Our articles cover Provence, the French Riviera and the old Languedoc region of Southern France.

 

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