- A new stage town
- Commune in Yvelines (78)
- Population: 1,450 (Thoirysiens and Thoirysiennes)
This small commune in the department of Yvelines enjoys a renown belied by its population density thanks to its Renaissance-style château and, above all, its 150-hectare safari park. Opened in 1968 and subsequently renamed Wow Safari Thoiry, it attracts more than 600,000 visitors each year, who come to see around 1,500 animals, some of which live in semi-freedom, including elephants, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses and ostriches in the African reserve, and black bears, coyotes and bison in the American reserve.
THOIRY
Thoiry Safari Park
Established: 1968.
History: from the moment it was created by Paul de la Panouse, Thoiry ZooSafari applied a revolutionary principle. Visitors could see wild animals roaming free while families remained in their cars. The principle of animals in cages was turned on its head. Since then, Thoiry has always been innovative in the way it allows visitors to observe animals in their natural environment while removing humans from the picture to make way for the animals. Glass tunnels (unique in France), footbridges, zip lines over the lions, immersion enclosures and, since 2021, the Tanières (Dens), where visitors can sleep near the bears without being seen, allow visitors to observe the animals' wildlife without disturbing them.
Characteristics: covering 150 hectares, Thoiry ZooSafari is one of the largest parks in France. The animals enjoy very large, fully vegetated enclosures. The safari offers 50 hectares of semi-freedom for African herbivores, bears, wolves and bison. Since its creation, the century-old trees and vegetation have been taken into account and preserved. Today, this protected vegetation offers a haven of peace for biodiversity, local wildlife and visitors. Several century-old oaks, giant sequoias and cedars over 100 years old can be found in the park. Listed as: botanical gardens listed as "Remarkable Gardens" are home to rare and exceptional plant species.
Thoiry Castle
Construction: 1562 to 1564
Style: Renaissance.
History: Less than 50 years after the château was built, Raoul II de Moreau, grandson of the first owner, caused the château to be sold. In 1612, he challenged Ann le Blanc du Raulet to a duel and killed him at the castle gates. Sentenced to death, he went into exile in Rome. His property was seized and the Château de Thoiry was entrusted by the king to Guillaume Marescot. Since then, the Château de Thoiry has remained in the same family for thirteen generations, often passing down through the women. The château has been open to the public since 1965, when Count Antoine de La Panouse created a zoo named after the château in part of the grounds. The wooded estate surrounding it covers 380 hectares, 130 of which are occupied by the animal park.
Listed as: listed as a historic monument in 1974 and in 2024.
Saint-Martin Church in Thoiry
Construction: 12th century.
Style: Romanesque.
History: the church was built around 1100. Today, only the chapel and the base of the bell tower, which date from the 12th century, remain. The nave and choir were built around 1350. The chevet was built in the 17th century. The Augustinian monks of Clairefontaine were responsible for the construction of the sanctuary. The vaulted ceiling of the nave, shaped like an inverted shell, replaced an earlier vault in 1585. The church was transformed into a temple of Reason during the Revolution. It was restored in the 1980s.
Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu (2 km away)
Construction: 13th and 17th centuries.
History: according to legend, it was built by the English in the Middle Ages. Modified many times, it took on its current appearance in 1642 under the leadership of Claude de Bullion. After belonging to the Caruel de Saint-Martin family throughout the 19th century, it became the property of the painter Bernard Buffet from 1971 to 1978 before being converted into a prestigious hotel.
Listed as: historic monument in 1964.
