Fasanerie Wiesbaden

The Tier- und Pflanzenpark Fasanerie is run by the city of Wiesbaden on 23 hectares of the city forest north-west of the town, with hills, meadows, woodland, streams and a lake, and a listed hunting lodge that now houses the restaurant. It grew out of a pheasant breeding ground founded around 1750 and opened as a zoo on 31 March 1955. Admission is free: the supporting association, formed in 1995, funds the park by donation precisely so that no entry fee has to be charged.

It keeps over 250 animals of some 50 species suited to the local climate - brown bears and wolves share one large near-natural enclosure - and is one of three Arche parks in Hesse, breeding endangered domestic breeds such as Poitou donkeys, Tauernscheck goats, Pomeranian geese and Valais blacknose sheep to herd-book standards. A large new aviary houses four pairs of northern bald ibis. There is a petting zoo, a wool workshop and a year-round programme of guided nature walks for children.