Madiran Birds of Prey Park

A few minutes from the Madiran vineyard, at the crossroads between the Hautes-Pyrénées, Béarn and Gers, is the Parc aux Rapaces de Madiran. An extraordinary place, run as a family with passion and a lot of benevolence, to discover falconry in all its aspects! Come and take a walk with family or friends, in this 5 ha park, where you will meet no less than 36 species of birds of prey, but also llamas, horses, ponies, woolly pigs, Cameroon sheep, a wolf… It's a magical place for a very exotic day with 3 different shows, a good one towards the Middle Ages and an immersion in the world of birds of prey! Let's go ?

Photos from the report © Le Parc aux Rapaces de Madiran + additional information

Meeting with raptors

Falconry is more than a hobby, an activity, it's an art ! Since 2016, it has been listed as a living human heritage by Unesco, it is a recognition that emphasizes this intangible and immemorial cultural heritage of humanity! Originally, falconers worked in concert with raptors and birds of prey in general, to obtain food. It is a practice which, although it varies from one country to another, maintains a common base: that of the relationship with the animal, of the mutual protection which is established between the falconer and his birds, the respect also. A strong link exists between falconry and the environment: knowledge of the environment, observation of the flora and description of the movements of the fauna, these are know-how transmitted from generation to generation. In the form of a show, falconry raises public awareness of the environment, respect for the animal, it promotes diversity and synergy between man and what surrounds him.

Visit the Raptor Park in Madiran

The Parc aux Rapaces has existed since 2016, it is a place run by the Marche family. Valéry Marche the founder is a falconer, he has a great passion for his animals which are so familiar and yet so wild at the same time. The Parc aux Rapaces is a place of transmission, a small versatile team takes care of the animals, as much as the well-being of visitors. On 5ha, the park offers a pleasant stroll, punctuated by farm animals, costumed characters and truly grandiose decorations, where the birds of prey are housed. 173 raptors, 250 animals in all, it's a beautiful menagerie, treated with all the respect and respect due to their needs. Visitors are delighted to discover these animals.

To visit the Parc aux Rapaces, we recommend that you spend the whole day there! Bring the picnic or let yourself be tempted by the delicacies of the snack shop. Picnic tables are arranged in the park, as well as rest areas. What will punctuate your day are the 3 shows. Make yourself comfortable and let yourself be carried away by the magic, with costumed protagonists and their furry, horsehair or feathered companions.

Daily shows at Parc aux Rapaces

3 shows take place per day (see the scheddule on the parc) : Les Jeux Equestres, Le Ballet des Chouettes and  the falconry show (Once upon a time there was Falconry)

Equestrian Games

Contemplate a spectacle that will immerse you in medieval times, when honor was defended with spears and swords, mounted on a horse for some! Games and demonstrations will allow you to admire the dexterity of the men as well as that of the animals which evolve together and perfectly coordinated on the track. Julia and Benoît are on stage, Messire Fébus and Messire de Castelnau compete, on splendid stallions, majestic and proud.

The Ballet of the Owls

Come and meet these fascinating nocturnal birds. Cute, they are nevertheless formidable predators, it is not good to be a mouse in the presence of an owl! Sometimes associated with evil in popular beliefs, owls are also symbols of magic through druids and witches. Moving, the owls know how to fly with grace and the show will please the whole family. Tawny Owls, Snowy Owl, fly above our heads like an aerial dance ballet.

Once upon a time there was Falconry

A spectacle of unique birds of prey. The opportunity to see these legendary birds up close, which fascinate and frighten us at the same time. Several species enter the scene and it is the mutual trust between the falconer and his birds that offers you a breathtaking spectacle. It is an artistic and informative spectacle at the same time. Vultures, Eagles, they each have their own personality and express it through movements, flights and pirouettes. Valéry Marche is adamant about the well-being of his animals "everyone must want to work, both men and animals", this is how benevolence and mutual respect are placed at the heart of the life of all living things in the park.

Walk in the raptor park

After the shows, come and do the Birds of Prey World Tour! Admire the raptors of the show during a journey with interpretive panels to understand their native environment. More than 150 individuals to discover in immersive settings , to amaze children...

There are also other animals in the park : ponies, llamas, pigs with wool, sheep from Cameroon, a wolf… The atmosphere in the park is family friendly. Do you like asking questions? The trainers and the park team are at your disposal with a smile, dressed up and ready to answer you!

Initiations and courses at the Madiran Raptor Park

Initiations and falconry course

Get out of your comfort zone to live a unique experience, closer to your instincts. Faced with a raptor, our senses are heightened, the relationship is woven, the eyes seek each other and finally the magic operates when it spreads its wings and flies away. Thanks to the falconers' passion for their animals and the transmission of their knowledge, an extraordinary day of initiation awaits you.

Initiations are open to children from 9 years old for half a day and 12 years old for a full day. Several consecutive days can be organized, depending on the knowledge to be acquired. Discovery of the animals, their care, their work methodology, their flight skills and the battery of exercises that can be done during the show. The training takes place on a first theoretical part, then the practical part with the birds.

Special hunter course with bird of prey

This course targets specific knowledge of this ancestral hunting technique. Complicity with the bird, agility and power of its gestures… The participants are amazed.

The Madiran Raptor Park is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during school holidays every day, from Easter until the beginning of November. It is a place full of generosity and benevolence, where you feel at home. You will not see the time pass! Each year there are new things so that next year you will want to come back to this magical park!

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