In the French region of the Var, in Southwestern France, at the Feet of the Maures Mounts, Gonfaron is a quiet hamlet built around a hill. It shelters an unusual park, where you can indeed discover one of the oldest animals of our earth, meaning the turtles.
In the old times, Gonfaron was especially known for an old legend, that of the stealing donkeys, dating back to the 15th century. For a long time, its whole industry was based on cork, the raw material coming from the oak trees, which cover the Maure Massif. Today, thousands of visitors gather in the place to see our friends the turtles.
The village of the turtles is located in the Provence's scrubland, in a landscape of cork oak, holm oaks, rosemary, strawberry trees. It spreads on more than 3 hectares and more than 1.500 turtles live there. You'll be able to see many activities, such as the feeding, the caring, the breeding and the preserving. The turtles are fed in the morning around 9.30. In the summer time, you'll have more chance to see the m in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the weather's cooler. You'll be lead along a guided track in the middle of woodlands with many footbridges and rest areas. You'll see the paddocks of the Mediterranean and exotic turtles, the reproduction pens, the hatching area, the pen of the sub-adults, the pools of the tortoises. Two giant turtles will make you discover the mysteries of the organs and of reproduction. An audio-visual room and auditory terminals provide you with useful information all along your visit.
The village is open every day from 9AM to 7 PM, from March to November. The turtles hibernate in the winter and the village is closed.
Log in
