Amneville Zoo (Zoo d'Amneville)

The Basics

Experience this expansive zoo by walking through its different geographical sections. Start at the area that interests you most: There's a large African Plains area, a sea lions section, an Amazonian jungle, a gorilla camp, an orangutan jungle, a petting zoo, and a birds of prey area. The zoo's biggest draw is its tiger section, called TigerWorld. To avoid ticket lines, prebook admission.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The zoo is a must-visit for families with kids.

• Kids under 3 visit free and those under 11 get discounted admission.

• The zoo is wheelchair accessible, and each wheelchair user gets a free ticket for one person accompanying them.

How to Get There

Zoo d'Amneville is in the town of Amneville, in between Metz and Thionville and about a 3-hour drive east of Paris, or about 200 miles (325 kilometers) away. It's easiest to arrive by car. The Gandrange-Amnéville train station is about 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) from the zoo or some buses stop nearby.

When to Get There

The zoo is open year-round, from morning through evening April through September (it's open later on Sundays and public holidays). From October through March, the zoo opens closes at nightfall. Crowds are generally smaller on weekdays during the school year. Note that the park also offers live animal shows; check the website for timing.

TigerWorld

The zoo's star attraction is its TigerWorld show, held up to three times per day. The show starts with a short film on tigers, followed by a presentation by a zookeeper or staff member. Seven tigers are on display, two of whom were raised at the zoo since birth. Access to the show is included in zoo admission prices.