Where are the must see European zoos outside of Germany and the UK?

[DavidBrown]

Greetings European ZooChatters,

I have been looking at European zoos in the gallery and am wondering if one was to develop a European travel itinerary based on the "must see" zoos where would one go? If someone from Europe asked me where the "must see" zoos in the U.S. were I would direct them to San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Seattle on the West Coast and the Bronx, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Smithsonian National Zoo on the East Coast. In the Midwest there are St. Louis, Brookfield (Chicago) and Minnesota [based on reputation; I've only visited St. Louis and it was under construction]. Where would you guys direct me to visit in Europe?

I have started previous threads on this topic for the zoos of the UK and Germany and am now curious about the vast majority of Europe that is not those places.

In touring the galleries I have discovered some counter-intuitive things to me. I was thinking that the most famous and wealthy areas of Europe would have great zoos, but that seems not to be the case. As far as I can tell the Paris zoo was mediocre and is now closed for a remodel. The Rome zoo seems to be okay, but not world class. The Monaco Zoo seems to be a third-world menagerie with a hippo in a concrete bathtub and big cats in 1800 style cages. Are these impressions accurate?

 

[IanRRobinson]

Without hesitation I'd direct you to Holland. Artis (Amsterdam) has a lot of history, Rotterdam is a first-class collection and Emmen is essential viewing for anyone who regards zoos as primarily educational bodies. Plus Appenheul has a fine collection of primates, with the only Proboscis Monkeys currently outside Asia.

Being honest, I'd have to admit that a lot of wetland birds that are rare in England are a deal commoner in Holland, so if birding were to be a component of any trip, that ought to be considered too.

 

[Maguari]

The best European zoos I've visited outside Germany (UK isn't really an factor at the very top, I fear) would be:

Prague
Rotterdam
Plzen
Zurich
Vienna
Basel
Arnhem
Antwerp/Planckendael
Copenhagen

Honourable mentions in the 'general collection' category for Dvur Kralove, Valencia, Lisbon, Emmen, Wroclaw, Poznan and Warsaw. Tempted to include Zlin and Mulhouse as well.

The best specialist collections include Apenheul, Innsbruck, Lisbon Oceanarium and Loro Parque.

 

[Maguari]

I was thinking that the most famous and wealthy areas of Europe would have great zoos, but that seems not to be the case.

I would agree with Ian - the Netherlands probably has the overall highest quality of zoos in Europe (rising to 'certainly' if Germany is excluded). The Czech Republic is probably the best 'hunting ground' for zoo rarities, and has also probably seen the greatest improvement in zoo quality in recent years.

 

[drzoomi]

cezech republic is very very intresting!
zurich zoo is also a must

 

[Tim May]

I haven’t much to add, as I agree with most of what Ian and Maguari have already posted.

Germany is definitely my favourite country for zoo visiting but I think that Holland is a very close second.

My personal favourite non-German European zoos are in alphabetical order:-

• Amsterdam (Artis)
• Antwerp
• Arnhem
• Dvur Kralove
• Prague
• Rotterdam (Blijdorp)
• Vienna (Schonbrunn)

Amongst specialist collections Apenheul (for primates) and Haderwijk (for marine mammals) are also thoroughly recommended.

I’ve not yet visited Plzen (although will rectify that this year) but from everything I’ve heard about it I’m certain that it will become one of my favourites.

Although I wouldn’t classify it as one of Europe’s best zoos, anybody seriously interested in zoos ought to visit the Jardin des Plantes Managerie in Paris for historical reasons.

 

[MRJ]

Must admit my visit to European zoos was 12 years ago and I went with a specific purpose. I only visited six zoos, three Dutch and three German. While it was 12 years ago if I was visiting again for a similar purpose I would probably pick the same itinerary.

The three Dutch zoos I picked were for specific and different elements of their display:

Arnhem as a pioneer in immersion houses. While not big and spectacular like the other houses here, if you do visit make sure you visit the mangrove house and thrill at the mud squelching at your feet.

Apelhuel because of the ability to walk amongst primates, very innovative and great interaction.

Emmen because of the innovative approach to education, especially in relation to relating indigenous cultures to wildlife.

The three German zoos were Frankfort, and Cologne, both great zoos but chosen more because they were on my route. and Walsrode, because it is (was?) the greatest collection of birds in the world, and I am a bird nut.

A member of my staff was in Europe recently and she visited Prague and Rome. She was very impressed with Prague, but not with Rome, to the point she wrote a letter of complaint.

 

[IanRRobinson]

Must admit my visit to European zoos was 12 years ago and I went with a specific purpose. I only visited six zoos, three Dutch and three German. While it was 12 years ago if I was visiting again for a similar purpose I would probably pick the same itinerary.

The three Dutch zoos I picked were for specific and different elements of their display:

Arnhem as a pioneer in immersion houses. While not big and spectacular like the other houses here, if you do visit make sure you visit the mangrove house and thrill at the mud squelching at your feet.

Apelhuel because of the ability to walk amongst primates, very innovative and great interaction.

Emmen because of the innovative approach to education, especially in relation to relating indigenous cultures to wildlife.

The three German zoos were Frankfort, and Cologne, both great zoos but chosen more because they were on my route. and Walsrode, because it is (was?) the greatest collection of birds in the world, and I am a bird nut.

A member of my staff was in Europe recently and she visited Prague and Rome. She was very impressed with Prague, but not with Rome, to the point she wrote a letter of complaint.

Arnhem is a very interesting place - four different philosophies on one site. The initial collection was an old fashioned menagerie, dating back to pre-WWI days. Add on to this Hagenbeckian rock vistas (not sure there's any of them left now) in the 1930s, a 1970s safari park (now walk through) and finally modern high tech greenhouses (not that I guess a Californian would be massively impressed, but "The Desert" was where I saw my one and only cacomistle)...

 

[DDcorvus]

I m surprised not to see Walsrode as a must see specialist collection. It has one of the best bird collections in the world. And the only place in Europe where you can see BoPs.

 

[FBBird]

Must see European Zoos

Wroclaw is worth travelling to see, and Pznan [even the old site] has some surprises.

 

[FBBird]

Must see European zoos

Sorry, I mean 'Poznan'

 

[Tim May]

I m surprised not to see Walsrode as a must see specialist collection. It has one of the best bird collections in the world. And the only place in Europe where you can see BoPs.

I entirely agree that Walsrode is a "must see" specialist collection; definitely the finest bird collection that I've ever seen. However the question was relating to "must see" European collections outside Germany.....

 

[Maguari]

I m surprised not to see Walsrode as a must see specialist collection. It has one of the best bird collections in the world. And the only place in Europe where you can see BoPs.

I entirely agree that Walsrode is a "must see" specialist collection; definitely the finest bird collection that I've ever seen. However the question was relating to "must see" European collections outside Germany.....

Yes - I actually typed it in at first, but then I remembered the 'outside Germany' request!

 

[DDcorvus]

I went a bit too overenthusiatic there, that i totally forgot the out of germany request whoops.

 

[Arek]

What can I add to this?
Nederland is absolutely the best + some fine collections in Belgium: Antwerpen, Planckendael and Cambron. In Holland is another nice specialist collection not mentioned yet - bird park Avifauna in Alphen a/d Rijn (I think it's second largest after Walsrode) with new Kiwi House and very good bird shows.
In central Europe most interesting are:
Switzerland - Zurich and Basel
Austria - Wien
Czech R. - Praha, Plzen and Dvur Kralove
Hungary - Nyireghaza and Budapest
Poland - Wrocław and Poznań New Zoo.
For historical reason most interesting are Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Budapest, Wrocław and Poznań Old Zoo (the last one is almost without animals).

 

[Jurek7]

Papageienpark Veldhoven, Netherlands is absolute must of specialist zoo.

Probably the bird collection No. 2 in Europe after Walsrode. Far better than Avifauna. Claims to be just an orphanage for pet and confiscated parrots. Don't believe it. It has big rainforest hall, numerous giant aviaries, all possible birds besides parrots - up to Dwarf Cassowaries! And even many zoo enthusiasts miss it.

 

[Tomek]

Papageienpark Veldhoven, Netherlands is absolute must of specialist zoo.

Probably the bird collection No. 2 in Europe after Walsrode. Far better than Avifauna. Claims to be just an orphanage for pet and confiscated parrots. Don't believe it. It has big rainforest hall, numerous giant aviaries, all possible birds besides parrots - up to Dwarf Cassowaries! And even many zoo enthusiasts miss it.

That's true. I was there (for the second time) in December of last year and I could see almost 300 forms of birds (species and subspecies), in it among others 8 species of toucans, 14 different hornbills or 7 species of cotingas (in it Andean and Guianan Cock of the Rocks).