Les Marécottes Zoo showcases Alpine wildlife in a forest of larch and fir trees, at an altitude of 1,100 m in the Trient Valley. You can watch wolves, bears, lynx and ibex in large enclosures, and a swimming pool carved into the rock sits right beside the park.
Zoos & animal parks
Main highlights
- Alpine wildlife : black bears, wolves, lynx, ibex, chamois, marmots and beavers
- Forest enclosures spread over 35,000 m² of larch and fir trees, with no staged shows
- Alpine swimming pool carved into the rock, right next to the zoo and open in the warmer months
Overview
Les Marécottes Zoo is located in the resort of Les Marécottes, in the Trient Valley, at an altitude of around 1,100 m. The park covers 35,000 m² of fir and larch forest and bills itself as one of the highest zoos in Europe.
The zoo is dedicated to Alpine wildlife. There are no staged shows or artificial entertainment : the animals live in enclosures that resemble their natural habitat and go about their lives without paying much attention to visitors. This approach lets you observe them in conditions close to the wild.
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What to see and do
The trail winds through the forest from one enclosure to the next. Along the way you can see black bears, wolves, lynx, ibex, chamois, deer, marmots and beavers. The enclosures are spacious and tailored to the needs of each species, encouraging natural behaviour. With a little patience, you might see the lynx grooming themselves or curling up together.
Right next to the zoo, an Alpine swimming pool is carved into the rock and blends into the mountain landscape. It is only open in the warmer months and offers an outdoor swim after your visit.
The adjoining café-restaurant serves Alpine specialities and pizzas. An on-site hotel with a garden, terrace, restaurant and outdoor pool also lets you stay close to the animals.
Practical information
Getting there : by car, allow 15 minutes from Martigny, with a large car park on site. By train, the Mont-Blanc Express connects Martigny to the Les Marécottes stop in 20 minutes, followed by a 7-minute walk.
Ideal for : families and children, who can enjoy both the animals and the pool.
On site : café-restaurant, seasonal swimming pool and hotel.
Visitor tips
Bring warm clothing : the air is cooler than in the lowlands, even in summer. Come mid-morning or late afternoon, when the animals are more active, and remember your swimwear in summer. The pool draws crowds at that time of year, so arrive early to find parking. This place is part of the selection What to do in the Trient Valley ?
Nearby
- The Trient Gorges, near Vernayaz, are narrow, deep gorges spanned by two bridges.
- The Pissevache Waterfall, fed by the Salanfe, plunges into the Rhône Valley between Vernayaz and Miéville.
- VerticAlp Emosson offers a rail-based journey in the Trient Valley, on the French-Swiss border.
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