Espace Rambouillet, hectares of forest to observe deer, fallow deer, wild boar and birds of prey

Would you like to get away from the city and spend some time in the forest, surrounded by nature and animals? In the woods around Paris, it's sometimes possible to come across majestic creatures, but you usually have to get up early or go for a walk at night. TheEspace Rambouillet, created by the Office National des Forêts, gives you the chance to observe them up close, almost certainly, although don't forget that these are wild animals, and it's they who decide! There are plenty of activities for all the family to make the most of your day in the 250-hectare animal park.

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On the program: giant trampolines for the kids, an impressive falconry show, a little train to take you through the forest and several areas to observe deer, fallow deer, roe deer and wild boar, at your own pace. For around ten euros, you can stay all day in the park, thanks to a food-truck and a pleasant restaurant area. Everything is done to ensure you have an exceptional day out and reconnect with nature.

With children, it can sometimes be more difficult to observe the animals, as you have to stay calm and still so that they don't go off to hide in the undergrowth. But don't worry, some of them are used to the humans who roam the park every day, and will be more likely to stay by your side. During our morning visit, we were lucky enough to be able to rub shoulders with fallow deer up close, just a few meters away, much to our delight. The stags are a little wilder, but if you get the chance to approach them, you'll be amazed by their innate presence.

Four distinct areas are available, and you can move easily from one to the other: the deer forest, the eagle forest, the shepherd forest and the wild forest. In the first, you can observe the deer and their families from afar at observation posts, complete with educational panels, footprints and other fun features. It's impossible to get up close to them here, but you're sure to see a few! As you make your way through the forest, you may also come across herds of fallow deer, some of which come out to say hello, sometimes with their young. An unforgettable moment!

In the eagle forest, which is a little more like a zoo, you'll discover some 150 birds of prey, more or less impressive, until the highlight of the show, which takes place three times a day, at 11am, 2pm and 5pm. In a pretty theater of greenery, owls, kites, buzzards, falcons, eagles and vultures fly overhead for half an hour, a truly impressive aerial ballet, especially when the larger ones fly safely overhead. You can even become a falconer for a morning and take part!

The last forest, and this is the largest, to complete the visit: the wild forest. Here you can see animals in semi-liberty, roaming in herds or in small groups. For those who don't feel like walking, or for families, a silent train takes you along the animal tracks, but we recommend a walk to enjoy nature to the full.

For dozens of minutes, not a single animal on the horizon, just the sound of leaves and sunlight through the trees. Suddenly, at the bend in the path, we spot some fallow deer feeding at a trough. Alert, they watch us slowly advance, but don't turn away. We keep a safe distance so as not to disturb them too much, but the moment is breathtaking. Already delighted to have seen them, we follow other humans and discover some fifteen stags and their immense antlers a few metres further on.

After the caretakers have dropped off some food, they move around us and approach the feeders, with much more restraint than the fallow deer. Despite their imposing size and proximity, there's no sense of danger, and a striking exchange of glances as we step back to give them space. As we set off again, we soon spotted a small wild boar through the foliage - the only one of the hike! If our walk ended on this high note, you can explore the glades galore and enjoy the trampolines through the trees further on, to satisfy the whole family.

A word of advice: be patient!

Watch the stag bellow in the heart of nature, in the Espace Rambouillet forest park.
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Giant trampolines await you at Espace Rambouillet, in the Emile l'écureuil forest.
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