Pertinax, I owe you an answer, just remembered it. While I don`t think german zoos are that awful (they`re certainly a hell better then zoos in Spain or Italy or Russia...), I am not able to give you a "best", becuase I think all major zoos have big flares. Frankfurt, Zoo Berlin, Animal Park Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Wuppertal, Hannover, Munich are all big names and they have interesting collections with lots of rare animals, so if you look for rare animals and historic buildings, you`ll be happy. For me, animal welfare is most important, and that`s where the big UK and dutch zoos are way better. All these german zoos still have too many outdated, small, concrete enclosures and - which is worse - too many of the newly built enclosures were horribly expensive and are not designed with the animas needs in mind.
Dutch and Uk zoos build a lot cheaper but the results seem to be better then in Germany from the animal`s point of view - more space, less mock rock, better adapted to the animal`s needs. I`d rate all big dutch zoos - Blijdorp, Burgers, Beekse Bergen, Emmen and Apenheul above german zoos for the reasons stated above, with the exception of Artis (too many big animals in too few space). Same for the big UK zoos, with outstanding Chester on top (outstanding, highly interesting collection combined with a huge number of really good enclosures).
And maybe I`m more critical on german zoos because I know them a lot better and visit more often!
