The animal and botanical park of Branféré is located in Guerno, in the Morbihan, 35 km east of Vannes, enjoying a temperate climate thanks to the proximity of the Atlantic coastline.
Open to the public since 1965, it was founded by Paul Jourde and his wife Elena Castori, a naturalist painter, in the 40-hectare estate surrounding the castle acquired by the Jourde family in 1884.
Passionate about travel, Paul and Elena decided to create an "animal paradise" after returning from a trip to India.
Now owned by the Fondation de France, the park is home to 1,200 animals from five continents, including many specimens of endangered species, the site associated with international programs for the preservation of endangered animals. Primates, red pandas, giraffes, rhinos, flamingos, ostriches are especially presented to the public. On the plant side, in addition to redwoods, eucalyptus or cypresses, the park has a 300-year-old Oriental weeping plane tree, 40 m wide, which is classified as a "remarkable tree".
Branféré Park welcomes some 250,000 visitors each year. The public can attend bird shows (raptors, parrots), visit a space dedicated to large animals of the African savannah (giraffes, hippos, zebras) and in addition, to walk in the trees, at altitude, via a system nets, the Parcabout.
A partnership between the Fondation de France and the Nicolas Hulot Foundation has also led to the creation of a Nicolas Hulot School for Nature, which hosts young trainees. More simply, it is possible to follow the healers during a day (on reservation).
The park Branféré is open every day from mid-February to the end of Toussaint holidays (the African plain is open from April). Entry: from 10 to 21 euros depending on the season. Information on +33 2 97 42 94 66.