Suddenly, a llama’s curious gaze meets yours. This marks the start of our visit to the Parc animalier de Janvry. This green space is hidden in the village. It spans six hectares.
The Parc animalier de Janvry is a special place. It is open every day of the year from 8 AM to 8 PM. Entry is free. The park welcomes over forty thousand visitors each year. Schools and leisure centers also visit.
The park is home to around one hundred animals. You’ll find lamas, geese, kangaroos, chickens and roosters here. There is also a playground for children. Picnic tables are available. You can enjoy snacks here. Please take your trash with you.
The Parc animalier de Janvry has a fascinating history. The town bought the Bois de Montmarre from the castle owner. This green area covers six hectares. It was a playground for generations of children. Adults gathered wood there. Lovers met in secret.
Before the sale, many trees were cut down. Brambles grew quickly. The area became hard to enter. People tried to clean it up. But the brambles grew faster than they could clear them. The idea came up to bring in deer. The deer would clear the brambles.
So, the first enclosure was built. The first deer came from the EU. That’s how the Parc animalier de Janvry began. Christian Schoettl, the Mayor of Janvry, shared this story.
The park includes two ponds. More than one hundred animals live here. There are lamas and sheep. You can also see a camel and Nubian goats. Grey and albino wallabies live here as well as deer and ducks.
Please do not feed the animals. The keepers feed them daily. Some foods are bad for them. There is even a wooden house called an isba where you can sleep.
The Parc animalier de Janvry is not just a park. It’s a place where many children experience their first slide. They might also try to feed a piece of bread to a cautious llama. It is a place of tranquility.
The Parc animalier de Janvry continues to delight. It offers a unique experience for everyone. It is a testament to community spirit.