Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Clères zoological park originated in the Middle Ages, but its major transformation began in 1864 when Count Louis-Hector de Béarn renovated the estate. He closed the ditches of the medieval castle and set up an English park by Édouard Busigny, while modernizing the buildings under the direction of architect Henri Parent. The interiors, decorated by the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Foucher, were destroyed by two fires in 1939, ravaging the castle and the 16th century mansion. The estate, sold in 1913 to the Duchess of Choiseul-Praslin, was acquired in 1919 by the ornithologist Jean Delacour.

Jean Delacour remodels the park entirely to make it a botanical zoo, acclimatizing species reported from his trips to South America, Africa and Asia. Opened to the public in 1930, the park closed during World War II, suffering shelling and animal losses due to the black market. He reopened in 1947, and Delacour rebuilt collections with animals imported from the United States. In 1966, he transferred the park to the National Museum of Natural History, which ensured its conservation until 1989, when the Seine-Maritime General Council purchased it for a symbolic euro.

Ranked a natural site in 1988, the park now houses endangered species such as fried pelicans or red pandas, while preserving historical buildings: ruins of the medieval castle, 15th century manor, and a cohue (former building of justice). The estate, served by the Clères station, remains a place dedicated to research, education and biodiversity protection. Recent restorations (2016) have modernized animal facilities, while the park participates in exchange programs for genetic diversity of rare species.

The Clères Zoological Park is also a founding member of the National Association of Zoological Parks, created by Jean Delacour. Its heritage thus combines architectural heritage (classified historical monuments for castral elements) and ecological commitments, with a remarkable ornithological collection, including anatids, cranes, sacred ibises and flamingos of Chile. Mammals, such as wallabys or gibbons, evolve in semi-freedom, strengthening its tourist and educational attractiveness.

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