Outdoor activities

Unusual wild animal experiences at the Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix zoo

What would you say to the chance to watch the sun rise over a still misty plain where deer happily frolic while sipping your coffee on the terrace? When it comes to unique experiences away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix knows its stuff! 



Parc animalier de Sainte Croix

As one of the top five parks and zoos in France, Sainte-Croix in Lorraine is more than a tourist attraction: it’s an adventure, providing a complete change of scenery among wild animals. It’s a must-visit in Grand Est if you want to reconnect with nature!

Sleep surrounded by wild animals

Discover the private lives of large predators and other majestic animals! Through a floor-to-ceiling window, immerse yourself in the hectic nightlife of little-known wildlife from your bed or sofa.

“It’s a real feast for the eyes and ears. Howling wolves, yipping coyotes, bellowing rutting stags, and more. Lots of our guests say ‘we didn’t sleep a wink, but that wasn’t what we came for’!” – Lisa Benini, Accommodation Manager

Enjoy a ringside seat in the heart of the territory of these legendary animals to watch their social interactions without disturbing them. All the lodges in the park have been designed to naturally integrate into their environment.

But at the Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix, observation is just the start of the immersive experiences! The lodges are all carefully decorated, offering a fascinating experience in welcoming environments that provide a change of scenery.From the charming Hobbit-hole with views of the wolf pack to the wood and canvas lodge in the deer plain, via the treehouse with all the mod cons, the park’s lodges will leave you with lasting memories where cocooning meets adventure!

The added bonus? For an even more immersive experience, stay in winter! The park remains open for lodge guests during winter for out-of-the-ordinary yet peaceful stays.

Activities and accommodation at the park

Escape to the wide open spaces of North America

It’s hard to believe that you’re still in Lorraine when looking at the American bison, black bears and coyotes in an environment that is a perfect recreation of North America! But the “Nouveau Monde” area, which opened in 2019, has done just that. 

Between typical Canadian covered bridges, traditional lodges and log cabins, human activity is a feature of the landscape without being imposing. Amazing? Not really: in North America, wild animals are used to humans, and many of them visit towns to feed. Peaceful cohabitation is possible, including between animals, and the Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix invites you to understand how by debunking certain clichés.

“Lots of people think it’s the strength of an animal that matters when it’s mainly its personality. Our 15 kg female coyote won’t hesitate to bite the bum of 150 kg bears when they get too close! Cohabitation is possible, and it encourages the behaviour we observe in nature.” - Nicolas Coussi, Nature Activity Coordinator

Parc animalier de Sainte Croix

At dusk, the atmosphere in the park changes completely, offering a memorable immersive experience. The animals become more active, and the noises more mysterious. In the distance, you hear the howl of a coyote...

The added bonus? Fancy extending your North American experience? Spend the night in an exceptional, welcoming nature hotel with views of the coyotes, bears and raccoons, or a private lodge on stilts opposite the black bear and bison plain.

Discover the riches of endangered biodiversity

We promise you won’t look at wildlife the same way! The Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix is strongly committed to respecting animals and the environment, making it the perfect destination for ecotourists in Lorraine.

 “Chatting with park staff makes visitors feel more responsible for biodiversity and dispels certain received wisdom. For example, some people see us as superheroes because we’re not scared to go into the vulture and wolf enclosures. But these animals are not at all aggressive, quite the opposite: they’re the ones who are afraid of us!- Carine Gendronneau, Zookeeper

Be a zookeeper for the day and look after prairie dogs, skunks and raccoons. On the “Voyage de Néo” trail, set off on a fun sensory adventure to discover the incredible extent of global biodiversity. And why not stroke domesticated animals in the “Ferme de Gérald”, a sanctuary of rare and endangered species?

Nourrir les highlands

With its 130 species living semi-free and various educational activities involving the animals, the park has plenty to amaze young and old alike and develop everyone’s environmental awareness!

The added bonus? As well as its zero waste policy, the park obtained the European Ecolabel for its nature accommodation offering: a first in Europe for a zoo!

Planning a trip to Lorraine?

There are plenty of other things to discover in Grand Est before or after your visit to the Parc Animalier de Sainte-Croix!

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