Parc de Clères

Clères Zoological Park is located in Seine-Maritime only a few minutes away from Rouen by car. This big park covering 13 hectares (32 acres) delights both children and grown-ups thanks to its 1,400 animals including a thousand that roam freely the park. Enjoy an original family experience offering a change of scene as well as educational activities and cultural events.

Off we went for a nice family afternoon! Friends told us that the Park de Clères was an ideal place to treat both children and adults. When we told the children that we were going to see animals roaming freely in a park, their eyes widened and they were already excited. We nailed it!

We entered the park through a huge gate and we were impressed by the beauty of the site. We arrived in a vast expanse of grass and we inhaled deeply. Not only we were taking a breath of fresh air but we were also enjoying a treat for the eye. In the distance, we saw some cranes and pink flamingos... oh no, they were red flamingos! They were indeed roaming freely in the park and we wondered what other animals we would see… We reached the "terrace”. This English-landscape garden was splendid and looked like an organised mess with all is beautiful pastel colours and its rare species… There were benches in the sun or in the shade of the flower beds. We sat there for a moment while the children sauntered around the flower beds, and were stunned by the 16th century château! It is incredible and seems to be coming straight out of a fairy tale with its Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Behind the château, we could see the ruins of a former keep as well as a manor house. We were definitely experiencing a journey back in time, it was fantastic.

While we were exploring the park, the children were running ahead and we heard them laugh and shout with surprise. Here they were, looking at the animals lounging around the lawn. “A kangaroo!” In fact they are wallabies, which are smaller than kangaroos. We observed them silently and smiling, they were playing and didn't seem to pay attention to us. Suddenly we heard “Léooooooon, Léoooooon !”, but who is calling this Leon? We were standing only a few metres away from several peacocks, including one that was displaying its tail feathers. The sun reflected on their plumage and treated us to dazzling colours, what an unexpected sight! We continued our walk and went to see birds with colourful and shimmering feathers. Some of them put on a real singing show for us. It was as if they were chatting together, which made the children laugh. After a bend in the path, a big statue that looks like an ostrich. The children seemed intimidated by this prehistoric bird! We learnt thanks to a small information panel that this species disappeared in the 13th century. Surprised, the children asked us why it had disappeared. We told them that if we were not careful, some animals could disappear. Zoos are thus meant to protect endangered species by providing them with a safe and suited living environment. "The zookeepers take care of the animals," they were told. “So when I grow up I'll be an animal keeper too!” With this statement, we continued our beautiful walk. We saw little monkeys and antelopes, and.... surprise! A red panda! We heard that a baby was born recently, but it was hard to see, it was certainly hidden.

As we continued our visit, we saw majestic trees, giant sequoias. We felt so small next to these imposing conifers. We also walked along a stream, where birds were keeping us company. We made the most the benches available to sit down and look at the animals and the beautiful reflections of the sun on the water.

We left with a lot of beautiful memories and delighted by this unusual and authentic visit. As soon as we left, the children were already asleep in the car, no doubt dreaming of colourful feathers and other extraordinary animals...



Clères Zoological Park is part of the event Flaubert 2021.

Additional information concerning the opening after the lockdown:
- Keep a distance of at least 1m.
- Follow the designated route
- Wearing a face covering recommended.
- Hand sanitiser available.
- Online booking required.
- Reduced price instead of full price.
- Online booking required, credit card payment on site.
- Shop, Comptoir d'Hector and picnic area closed