Located in the municipality of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre in the Allier department, Le Pal is a uniquely dual-purpose French destination combining a theme park and zoo. Founded in 1973 by André Charbonnier alongside a veterinary surgeon from the Vincennes Zoo, the park initially featured a train and small playground. It officially transitioned into a full-scale amusement park in 1981. Today, Le Pal stands as the top tourist attraction in the region of Auvergne and ranks as the fifth most visited amusement park in France.
Offering 31 attractions and more than 1,000 animals in semi-captivity, Le Pal provides a varied experience suited for families and thrill-seekers alike. Visitors can experience notable coaster creations such as Intamin's launched Yukon Quad, Mack Rides' spinning coaster Twist, Soquet's Azteka, and Reverchon's Tigre de Sibérie. Water attractions include the Splash Battle ride Alligator Baie, the Rivière canadienne log flume, and Rapido slides. The park continually updates its offerings by reinvesting 10% to 13% of its income into new innovations each year.
For multi-day stays, guests can board on-site at Les Lodges du Pal, an African savannah-themed resort set amidst forest and animal habitats. As the first French theme park to earn Green Globe certification for sustainable tourism in 2010, Le Pal is also active in global conservation through the Le Pal Nature Foundation, created in 2008 to protect biodiversity and endangered species. The park offers animal shows alongside its rides, making it a well-rounded destination during its operating season.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Le Pal change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Where to stay
On-site and resort hotels put you right at the gates — often with early park access — turning the visit into an easy two- or three-day trip.
A unique safari-style resort featuring 24 lodges built on piles accommodating up to 5 people each, with direct views of zebras and springboks, plus the Tanganika restaurant.
Good to know
- Lodging at Les Lodges du Pal is only available during the operating season of the theme park.
- The resort's safari lodges feature elevated views of zebras and springboks in an exotic animal habitat.