Terra Botanica — Attraction in Angers

Fantastic day out with kids!

The cool stuff:

Absolutely a full day of fun - We were there for about 8 hours, but there was still more we didn't see. Highlights for us (2 adults and a 5yr old) were the boat ride, the train ride around the park, watching both 4D movies (first one is the journey of a rain drop through a plant and is loads better than it sounds. There are no words, so language doesn't matter. This plays from 10.30am - 2pm, then switches over to Dino Safari, which is basically racing around in a jeep and trying not to get eaten by dinosaurs -its recommended for 6+, our child found it a little bit scary, but not enough to upset him); the magic show was fantastic! Never seen anything like it!

There was also the tree top nut ride, be aware you do have to pedal your way around yourself and kids need to be over 1 meter tall to ride in it.

We also really enjoyed the show at the start of the tropical house, the animal area and the merry go round. The explosive plants show was good, he was very entertaining and enthusiastic, but was all in french.

The grounds were superb and have loads to interest kids of all ages and adults alike.

Stuff we missed: animal feeding is at 11am, needed to come earlier to make that. ride up in the hot air balloon, by mid morning they stopped rides due to weather conditions. There is a traffic light at the entrance, that shows you if they are running. It was amber when we went in, didn't really understand what it was for, but would have gotten a ride if we did that first. It's a €5 pp supplement.

Every staff member we met there was lovely and spoke English, one even tried to run one of the shows again for us in English after the last show had played. The staff all looked happy to be there and like they were having fun - so a testament to the organisation and the feel of the park.

Overall, brilliant day!

Other stuff to note: Parking is at the entrance and there are plenty of food options in the park ranging from about €8.50 -€12.50 for things like burgers and chips etc. but you are more than welcome to bring a picnic. There are plenty of undercover tables and chairs at the entrance near the car park for that purpose. You get stamped to come back in.

All the shows were in french, but it didn't matter too much, they were entertaining.

It's super important to book the tickets online at least the day before you want to go. It's cheaper. If you know what day you're going, there is also a different rate if you book more than 7 days in advance. Or you can book a 7 day in advance (I don't know the date yet) tickets.

If you buy tickets in advance, you can go straight to the entrance and they'll scan your etickets in.

Super important to download the app before you go. It translates to different languages, shows you the things happening through the day with show times etc, there is a button called "unmissable" which gives a list and information on which things you really might want to plan your trip around.

It also has audio guides in different languages that you can use as you go around the map. It will help plan your day and send you reminders to shows or timed activities you've marked that you want to do.

Be careful in the high ropes area (the giants trail) it's very bouncy so need to be very mobile/agile and wearing good grippy shoes. Kids absolutely love it, but my husband did get rope burn/graze on his elbow from some of the tight bits.

Hope this review helps - it covers off the things we wished we knew...

Terra Botanica is a truly beautiful park designed for both kids and adults, offering a perfect mix of fun and learning. You get to explore plants, botanics, and the history of the region in an engaging and effortless way, making it both educational and highly enjoyable.

Pricing is very reasonable, both for admission and services like lockers, strollers, and wheelchairs. One of the best aspects is the lack of queues: most attractions are instantly accessible, and even the few with lines (like the train, boat ride, and shows) move quickly. This alone makes the experience much more relaxed and enjoyable compared to other parks. The park itself is breathtaking, filled with vibrant plants and flowers even in late April.

Many attractions are cleverly designed to teach without feeling like lessons, blending entertainment and education seamlessly. We enjoyed "Le Jardin des Légendes," which was both informative and charming, though its screen projection could be better. "À l'épreuve des extrêmes" was less impressive but interestingly paired with greenhouses showcasing different climates. The balloon ride was closed due to weather, but its live status was clearly shown online, which was helpful.

On the downside, if you bring your own lunch, you are forced to eat outside the gates in a designated area. This is inconvenient and breaks up the day unnecessarily. The English translations on the website and within the park are also poor and clearly not reviewed by a fluent speaker. Finally, the "Ruée vers l'ambre" amber search was frustrating; despite a long effort, we found nothing, and other visitors seemed equally disappointed.

Despite these flaws, our day at Terra Botanica was amazing. Its beauty, smart design, and relaxed pace make it an...

We really enjoyed our visit. There is plenty to do and the park is beautiful. I have also never been to a place like this where the staff are so helpful, cheerful and positive!

We had a great day out and everything seemed good value for money, especially compared with similar places in the UK.

Our experience was 5 Stars - however there is room for a few improvements:

Quite a few of the main attractions are short films that seemed to have little appeal to children. Admittedly I don't know much French, but even French speakers and children looked a little bored by some of them.

The two main rides in the park - the Loire boat ride and the cycling nut ride - were really good and enjoyable for children and adults. I think the park should add 2-3 more 'rides' like this (instead of some of the films).

The park was a brilliant day out for younger children (age 2-10) but not sure how enjoyable it would be for a teenager (unless they were really...