ZooParc de Beauval, 4 km south of St. Aignan, is one of the most celebrated zoos in France and draws visitors from across Europe. The collection includes giant pandas — among the handful of zoos outside China to house them — as well as white tigers, gorillas, beluga whales, and a vast bird park that traces the zoo's origins as a private collection of tropical birds. The grounds are landscaped to a high standard, with themed sections representing different biomes, and are large enough to require a full day.
The panda enclosure is the headline attraction, and rightly so — giant pandas on European soil remain genuinely remarkable. But the zoo's scope is broad enough that even visitors who are not particularly drawn to pandas will find the day well spent. It is expensive by French standards and very popular in summer; booking tickets in advance and arriving early is strongly recommended.