Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau image

Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau

Tourist attraction Park Animal park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer


Address

RD 570 Lieu dit Pont de Gau, 13460 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, France

Website

www.parcornithologique.com

Contact

+33 4 90 97 82 62

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (9.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Monday: 10 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (27) birds (25) flamingos (24) nice (13) walk (13) animals (9) walking (9) picnic (8) natural (8) visit (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Marcus W. 1 year ago on Google
    Just WOW! A beautiful reserve with excellent walks, guides and seating giving you every chance to watch flamingos, gulls, egrets and herons amongst the wetlands and islands, as well as the occasional coypu. Immaculately kept, with no rubbish. We met staff watching nests who let us use their monoculars. Only €7.50 for an adult. You can take your own picnic, and a basic cafe serves drinks (cash only). Although entrance closes at 6pm you can stay til "dusk" and still get out through turnstile. Bike racks both inside and out. Toilets basic but functional. Well worth a visit 🙂👍🏻
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mariusz B. 2 years ago on Google
    Fantastic place, absolutely worth to visit! You can observe in nature many kinds of birds (sleeping pink flamingos were the best!) and water animals like beavers. Having a good quality full frame digital camera with telephoto lens might be a huge benefit. We spent there around 3 hours but you can see the most spectacar views within the first hour so it's worth to visit even if you have more limited time.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas D. 3 years ago on Google
    An easy walking estuary with flamingos and other wildlife. There are several paths and routes, so you can make it very short or much longer. We spent almost two hours because we stopped and watched the birds and took a lot of photos. Relax and enjoy your time. The paths and boardwalk further away from the entrance are quieter and have excellent views of wildlife.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alicia U. 1 year ago on Google
    Really nice park where you can observe lots of animals, mostly birds like flamingos, for only 7.50 euros per person and 5 euros for children! You can also rent some binoculars for 5 euros which I recommend because you will be able to observe a lot more animals like the beavers and the nutrias who are a bit shy. By visiting this park you will walk quite a lot: there are two parts one of 3 km and the other about 4.5 km but it's a really nice walk in between all the animals! Unfortunately the information boards that explain the different animals are only in french.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Y W. 1 year ago on Google
    A beautiful morning spent marveling at countless flamingoes and other bird life in the natural marshland habitats. Do come with zoom camera or binoculars! Also remember to get your ticket stamped so that you can do re-entry if wanting to come again after lunch. Overall a must do if you’re in the area
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Charlene E. 7 months ago on Google
    26€ for a family of 4. spent about 2 hrs here and bought our own lunch. there was a restaurant in site to buy a simple lunch for very affordable prices. the flamingos were stunning in their natural habitat. lots of photo opportunities. lots of information boards in french and English. parking directly outside for free but during summer it gets full so park along the road.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David M. 10 months ago on Google
    Fantastic bird sanctuary. We were there in May when the flamingos are present. It was wonderful. The birds are accustomed to people so you can get very close without disturbing them. A member of our party forgot her binoculars and rented a pair for 10 Euros. 🪺
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anna I. 11 months ago on Google
    A very nice place! Huge territory, very well maintained. If you are lucky with the weather, you can spend hours there observing the lovely birds. Tip: better to come there just before 6pm to avoid tourist crowds.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mark H. 1 year ago on Google
    So well done. Far more than just flamingos and oversized rodents - the walking routes and viewpoints are quite magical on a sunny afternoon. You can leave when you want, so do stay for the sunset if you wish, but make sure you have a good pair of binoculars.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Leonie P. 10 months ago on Google
    Fantastic bird park & a must see if you want to get up close to the flamingos. We spent hours here walking the trail, great picnic spots along the route so take a picnic lunch with you. Excellent value for money at only 8€ entry fee for adults. Recommend arriving early so you beat the tour buses & school groups.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kim W. 1 year ago on Google
    This was a surprising find in Carmargue. I went because my boyfriend loves birds and photography. I didn't expect to enjoy it so much, but I did. We spent hours here photographing the flamingos. There are many that gather together in plain sight. The light was exquisite and the surroundings were a perfect backdrop for taking photos. We stayed until sundown. That is when the serious photographers with their enormous telephoto lenses showed up. I hope they brought their mosquito repellent because we had to run to our car there were so many. Don't miss this stop. You won't be disappointed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Axel H. 7 months ago on Google
    There are two parts in this park. The first one is relatively small, and not very interesting for birders. It looks more like a zoo than a wildlife reserve. You're walking on paths between the swamps with barely zero vegetation to be hidden from birds. There are a lot of greater flamingos, but they seem to be used to us, not even moving when we approach. Good for tourists, terrible for true nature lovers. But the second part makes up for the lack of nature of the first one. It's a track of 4.3km with a lot of watchtowers and observatories. You can appreciate a huge biodiversity, from great herons to glossy ibis and dragonflies. According to the staff, you can also see bearded redlings, kingfishers and European bee-eaters. To sum up, if you're a birder, you'd better like walking. But if you just want to see birds to clear your conscience, the short route is the way to go.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Helen E. 2 years ago on Google
    If you want to be guaranteed to see flamingos and get great photos - this is the place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alma M. 1 year ago on Google
    Good strolls around the place looking at animals. Several benches in the shade and we had picnic at one of the tables. Loved it. Flamingos all over the place.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas P. 1 year ago on Google
    Short: Absolute recommendation if you want to see the local wildlife without spending weeks Long: beautiful park, showing local birdlife in its natural habitat. Pricing is more than adequate (7,50€ for one adult), you get plenty of information and a map when entering the park. There's also facilities and a small café. A big plus is, that you can stay within the perimeter of the park after closing times (1800/6pm) as long as you like. Parking can be done right up front and is free. We went on our way back from a Camargue cycling tour and enjoyed the evening light with less people.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J_Gogo 6 months ago on Google
    One of my first natural parks, truly an emotion! I will not have seen all the species contained in this gigantic park but only being able to see how much fauna still lives in nature (obviously controlled) and thrives in this way. I had really never seen flamingos before and this visit really amazed me.There are routes suitable for families and for the more adventurous who want to discover the whole natural park, there are numerous truly appreciated lookout posts. I truly recommend it to anyone🤩🤩
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nikolay S. 1 year ago on Google
    The best place to see animals in the area! It is organised very well and you can even get binoculars at the entrance. We saw a lot of flamingos and other magnificent birds and 3 nutrias.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maël Y. 3 years ago on Google
    Great park in which you can observe flamingos from up close (and many other birds). There are two tracks (one with of ~2km and the other ~4km) available for a nice walk and once inside, you can leave whenever you want. There are also spots available for picnicking. Enjoy!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bryan A. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to see flamingos. There are walking trails around the reserve so you can get away from the crowds near the entrance. You can see pelicans, stilts, herons, egrets and many other kinds of birds. We also saw a couple of coypus. There are information panels about the wildlife (also in English), decent toilets, and hides for observing birds more closely. All in all, a good experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lesley G. 10 months ago on Google
    Beautiful place with flamingos and so much wildlife. A choice of walks and little cafe where you can get refreshed post walk. Easy access by bus as stops right opposite the park. Plenty of room to park if you take your car.

  • 4/5 Steiger _. 6 months ago on Google
    I’m no bird watcher but flamingos are exotic to me and it was quite an experience to see them in a natural habitat. The park is well lay ed out with the pathways lined by plants to hide you from the birds while along the route there are strategic points where you can sit and watch the comings and goings of the various bird life. It’s very popular so my advice would be going to go in the evening after 6pm when its cooler and the light is magnificent.

  • 4/5 Ben C. 6 months ago on Google
    Nice place to visit - there were a huge number of flamingoes on our visit which was great! The park is nicely laid out and easy to get around. Signs are French and English as are the explanatory plaques which is nice. Helpful person at the ticket office. Tickets are €8 each - under 12 free. There is only on toilet area at the start of the park and it’s a little on the nose - but that’s your only option so take it… Would have liked to have brought a picnic, there are shady spots to take a break.

  • 5/5 Steve H. 6 months ago on Google
    Very nice bird park that is nicely set up to balance the good of the birds along with getting nice views. There are two walking areas with paths and we took the shorter one which was about a mile and a half. This is clearly the flamingo season and there were hundreds of them everywhere. It was beautiful. A very nice stop and handy to Arles.

  • 4/5 Oscar W. 6 months ago on Google
    Plenty of opportunity to watch flamingoes up close which is nice but it feels more like a zoo than a nature experience due to the amount of tourists. I think this place is well suited for small kids or families due to the well paved paths.

  • 4/5 CLIVE W. 2 years ago on Google
    Wheelchair accessible although only one parking spot for the disabled. Parking is very busy. Once inside very easy for a wheelchair for the short route and lots of birds to spot. Good picnic areas and acceptable toilets.

  • 5/5 Bart D. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice reserve for wildlife photography, it's a bit controversial because the animals get fed, but they are still free and there is an nice variations of species, you can be certain to see flamingo's and lots of herons, if you lucky some less common once like the Squacco, black-crowned night heron

  • 5/5 Michiel van Lookeren C. 7 months ago on Google
    Despite the many many visitors, the park provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone to interact in their own way with the local ecosystem. Short walks for families with small children or people that are less mobile, and the opportunity for longer walks for those who want to escape the crowds.

  • 5/5 Scott M. 11 months ago on Google
    This place is amazing! We saw thousands of flamingos and many other cool birds too (storks, herons etc). There were also some beaver like things swimming in the water. There's a shorter walk around the area of the park where you'll see most flamingos (we were there for around 2.5 hours) or there's a longer walk that we didn't take this time but you could spend all day there. There are picnic tables, a cafe, toilets and bird hides (though there's no need to go into the hides as you can get right up close to the birds just by walking round the park). Top tips: there wasn't any soap at the toilets and they are essentially just holes in the ground so it's best to take sanitizer with you. Also, there are a lot of mosquitos there so best to wear some repellent- otherwise you'll end up covered in bites like me. We travelled from Nimes by public transport - we took the train to Arles and then a bus from there to Pont de Gau - the park is straight across the road from the bus stop.

  • 5/5 Trevor M. 10 months ago on Google
    Great place to walk and see the protected birds of the area! Two trails to walk, one shorter and one 5km. You can do either one or both. Lots of signs to give information on species nearby.

  • 5/5 Diana W. 1 year ago on Google
    Best experience ever. I was not expecting to be so close to Flamingos in their natural habitat. How the park is designed and maintained is amazing. For the birds and visitors. Total recommendation!

  • 5/5 F.P. de B. 2 years ago on Google
    Very very interesting. So close with the birds.

  • 5/5 Na S. 8 months ago on Google
    I was sceptical at first. What is so amazing about watching a few birds? But I have to admit I really enjoyed it! Totally recommend the park! And the path through the park is very pretty!

  • 5/5 Will A. 10 months ago on Google
    This was a really great idea. So many flamingos 🦩🦩🦩. Bring binoculars or rent them there for 5-8 €. I recommend x40 for really great views but we also used x25. Also, there were some really informative info boards in French and English. The walk can be 20-30 mins or 1 hr++ depending on if you go all the way around and how fast you walk or stop. There is a drinks cafe with tables for a rest.

  • 5/5 Martin J. 1 year ago on Google
    Very enjoyable day. Easy to see various birds and if you're lucky you may see some different animals! Nice little place to get a drink at the start and not overly expensive. Parking not great as not a lot of spaces unless you get there early/late. Be aware the narratives around the place are mostly in French. Good picture diagrams to look at though.

  • 5/5 Barbara K. 1 year ago on Google
    Very nice park, almost 1700 flamingos in residence the day I was there. Numerous other birds were visible throughout the park. Very few visitors so it was quiet. Walking path is level so makes for an easy walk. This time of year, bring a picnic as the small beverage hut is closed. One of my favorite places to visit in France.

  • 4/5 Gurkanwal S. 1 year ago on Google
    Pretty unique experience to walk and see the flamingos. A lot of the descriptors were only in french, would've been nice if they were in English too. There is a smaller trail about 3 km long in which you get to see the flamingos and a lot of natural wild life. The larger trail is an additional 2 km, with the mosquitoes there we did skip that. Note that these are wetlands and prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes so dress to prevent yourself from being bitten and/or also use bug spray.

  • 5/5 Lauren A. 1 year ago on Google
    A must see while in the area. Great nature preserve with a chance to see flamingos and other beautiful birds.

  • 5/5 Eugene M. 1 year ago on Google
    Great to see, lovely walk, just make sure to bring anti mosquito spray.

  • 5/5 Susan A. 1 year ago on Google
    Not too crowded mid-day on a Friday in June. Beautiful walking paths and tons of birds including flamingoes. With two little kids we took about 2 hours to do the main loop but it could be done much faster. We enjoyed coffee, coke and a snack at the snack bar near the exit.

  • 5/5 Seungho L. 1 year ago on Google
    The park was larger than I imagined. Very nice to see Flamingos!


Call +33 4 90 97 82 62 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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