The complete guide to Terra Botanica amusement park
Fans of flowers and fun will not want to miss Terra Botanica in France.
Visit Terra Botanica in France for a unique blend of plants – and play! This flora-filled theme park is the perfect day out for the whole family.
Driving to France is easy with LeShuttle.
What is Terra Botanica?
Terra Botanica is an amusement and botanical park in western France. With over 500,000 plants from around the world, the sprawling attraction is packed with gardens, greenhouses, and gorgeous landscapes to explore. Adding to the sense of adventure, the park is organised into five plant-themed universes, with each world inviting you to discover a treasure trove of playgrounds, rides, games, and flower-powered fun.
Where is Terra Botanica?
Terra Botanica is in Angers in the west of France, in the Pays de la Loire region. The plant park is just five and a half hours from Calais and is around an hour from Nantes.
Things to do at Terra Botanica Park
Families of all ages will find plenty of blooming marvellous things to do in Terra Botanica.
Explore the plant-themed universes
Explore each of the park’s quirky universes to enjoy whimsical and wonderful plant-themed adventures.
The Mysteries of the Forest
Follow the treetop trails along ‘The Giant’s Route’ to uncover the mysteries of the forest in this new universe. Suspended by 3000 square metres of netting, the four sensory trails allow you to reach new heights. Cross bridges and climb through tunnels and be sure to say hello to the three resident giants as you pass.
Afterwards, head to the Bird Canopy playground for some high-flying fun and just the right amount of fowl play. In the world of giants, look out for the great oak and chestnut trees that surround you.
Get a photo with a giant in Terra Botanica! (Image credit: Fab5669, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Unusual Plants
Learn more about how the environment impacts plant life in the ‘Unusual Plants’ universe. Step into four different greenhouses with four extreme climates to see how the plant life has adapted to its unique surroundings. One of the gardens here uses no water at all! Afterwards, discover good gardening practices in the smart garden, test your botanical skills in the quiz huts, and sift for amber at the amber rush site.
You’ll find hydrangeas, orchids and flycatchers among the plant life here.
The Origins of Life
Step back in time and find giants of a different kind in ‘The Origins of Life’ universe. Surrounded by giant redwoods, cycas, and ferns, you’ll trace the history of plants and meet some of the prehistoric giants that once walked the earth. Visit the 4D cinema to brave the dinosaur reserve or become a palaeobotanist and go fossil hunting in the dig site.
Get a birds-eye view of the world from the hot air balloon, which rises a staggering 150 metres into the sky. From this vantage point, you can admire the views across the Maine-et-Loire region, including the lower Anjou valleys. For a more grounded experience, visit the playful ‘Journey in a Walnut-Shell’ attraction to pedal through the tree-tops.
Pedal through the trees on the walnut ride. (Image credit: Chabe01,
,via Wikimedia Commons)
The Great Explorations
Find exotic plants and tropical greenhouses in the ‘Great Explorations’ universe. Visit the butterfly greenhouse to get up close to the colourful insects and admire their fragile wings. Then immerse yourself in the Louisiana Bayous to explore the marshy landscape. Cross the bridges and lily pads to move through the swampy channels - but watch out for the crocodiles!
Escapade in Anjou
Escape to the Anjou region and discover the diverse plant life living there in this universe. Jump aboard a traditional ‘gabarre’ boat to float down the mini Loire river and admire the scenery from a unique perspective. Look down to see the colourful fish swim by! Head back on land to visit the vegetable gardens, rose gardens and flower-filled alleyways. Find the cabinet of plant curiosities at the Dream Peddler attraction before heading to the magical oak tree for some musical story-telling.
Float along the Loire River and admire the scenery. (Image credit: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Enjoy flora-filled attractions
You’ll find plenty of flora-filled attractions in each of the universes you visit at Terra Botanica. Tour the park on the plant train, step into the mouth of a leafy ogre, play in the plant-themed playgrounds and look out for the flowery mythical creatures. Whatever you do, you’re certain to walk away feeling inspired by nature!
Watch blooming good shows
Take a seat at one of the park’s many botanical shows for some high-energy, action-packed fun. Head to the ‘Escapade in Anjou’ universe to enjoy silly slip-ups and messy mayhem at ‘The Explosive Vegetable Garden’ or visit ‘Great Explorations’ for a classic magic show.
Visit at night to enjoy the night show ‘Terra Nocta.’ The enchanting event transforms the park with colourful glowing lights, for a magical experience.
Practical information for your trip to Terra Botanica
Find the practical details you need to plan a trip to the French amusement park.
Ticket information
Tickets cost 24.50€ per adult and 19.00€ per child, with family tickets (covering 2 adults and 2 or more children) costing 19.00€ per person.
Budget-conscious visitors should consider buying their tickets ahead of time to benefit from discounted prices. A dated ticket bought seven or more days in advance of your visit will cost 20.50€ per adult and 17.50€ per child, with family tickets costing 17.50€ per person.
Take advantage of even more reduced rates by booking your visit for one of the park’s ‘Plant Days’ – when events and attractions aren’t always guaranteed to take place, but you can still enjoy everything else the park has to offer!
Opening times
The park is open to the public between April and early November. Opening hours vary depending on the month but tend to run from 10am – 6pm. In the busier summer months, the park is open until 7pm.
When planning your visit, it’s worth remembering that the park is typically closed on Wednesdays, unless you are visiting in July or August when it is open every day of the week.
Driving to Terra Botanica Park from Calais
Terra Botanica is just five and a half hours away from our Calais terminal. Take the A16 southbound, then join the A28 and the A11, before following the signs to the park.
While not the quickest drive, you’ll find countless opportunities to explore the north-west of France along the way. The route will take you close to unmissable stops like Boulogne-sur-Mer, Rouen and Le Mans. Or stay on the A16 for around two hours longer to add a stop in Paris to your itinerary.
Eating at Terra Botanica Park
With two restaurants and five kiosks across the park, there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and something to drink. Head to The Oasis for a range of hot and cold sandwiches, or pop into Le Quai des Saveurs for a warming casserole and cone of churros.
Picnics can be enjoyed in the shaded area outside the park. But don’t forget to get your hand stamped so that you can re-enter the attraction after lunch!
Other family activities in Angers, France
Terra Botanica is by no means the only family-friendly activity in the beautiful Angers. The city is jam-packed with opportunities for family fun and unforgettable experiences. Visit Château d'Angers to see the infamous Apocalypse tapestry and face the seven-headed dragon! Or head to Lac de Maine Leisure Park for fewer dragons, but many more opportunities to swim, cycle, kayak, and play on the beach. Budding Picassos will love the various art museums across the city and animal fans will enjoy exploring the exhibits at the Natural History Museum.
Cost-conscious families should consider getting Angers City Passes to enjoy free access to some of the city’s best attractions.
Soak up the atmosphere of Angers
FAQs
Find the answers to your questions to help you plan your trip to Terra Botanica.
Is Terra Botanica suitable for children?
Yes - Terra Botanica really is an attraction for the whole family! You’ll find plenty of kid-friendly activities, attractions and performances across the park. With quirky tree-top adventures, 4D cinema experiences, and strange plant-themed universes to explore, the park is sure to spark joy – whether you are five or fifty!
How long does it take to go through Terra Botanica?
You should put aside a full day to explore everything Terra Botanica has to offer. If you find one day just isn’t enough, you can get a season pass. This will allow you to revisit as many times as you want, with access to the full calendar of events and the gardens throughout the open months.
Is Terra Botanica open year-round?
Terra Botanica is not open year-round. The attraction is only open between April and early November.
Visit Terra Botanica in Angers, France with LeShuttle
Don’t beat around the bush, start planning your trip to Terra Botanica today. With LeShuttle, crossings take just 35 minutes, so you can be in France and on your way in no time.