Paleopolis
PALEOPOLIS, at Gannat, is a theme park devoted to palaeontology and the history of life on earth.
Paleopolis recounts the fascinating story of life on earth.
PALEOPOLIS, at Gannat, is a theme park devoted to palaeontology and the history of life on earth. Discover the story of some of the oldest inhabitants of our planet – dinosaurs – in the 5-hectare park with panoramic views of the countryside at the heart of the Allier.
A fun, educational trail at Paleopolis
The permanent exhibition, designed by Pierre Yves Lamer, features 15 sequences of total immersion in the shared history of past and present inhabitants of our planet. Ostrich eggs, a giant dragonfly with a 70cm wingspan, a 5 metre-long armoured fish, a skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex, and marine organisms up to present-day biodiversity, via Man, a species among many others. A free book of games is available for children !
To make the « Paleo » experience more attractive to very young visitors, a space aimed at children under 6 has just opened at the heart of the""Galerie des Découvertes"", (Discovery Gallery), next to the mineral exhibition. Here youngsters can discover palaeontology and the world of dinosaurs through play equipment, games and sensory experiences. A fun play space for children, and for their parents too !
Treasures from French Mines
A truly exceptional collection of minerals ! A 200m² fascinating display of more than 350 types of mineral, among the finest in France.
The exhibits come from the Vosges, the Paris Basin, the Alps, Provence, and of course the Massif Central which covers almost half of the exhibition. The collection of extraordinary subtle elegance offers a lyrical display of shapes and colours featuring quartz, barite, hematite and many other minerals.
Explore the world of dinosaurs
Paleopolis shows the fun, educational 4D film « The World of TEINO » in which a brave little shrew is confronted by the dangers of a world populated by dinosaurs during the Cretaceous Era.
Enjoy a family day out with activities for everyone, with or without a guide !
WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AT PALEOPOLIS
Children aged 5 and over can learn about the job of being a palaeontologist during workshops.
Take part in a life-size archaeological dig.
Armed with paintbrushes, shovels and buckets, experience being a palaeontologist at an experimental excavation site of 400m² ! Look for buried fossils, then learn how to clean, measure and identify your finds to understand what you’ve found !
Make your own plaster casts
First of all, the instructor shows you how to handle original fossils and casts and how to tell the difference between them. He also explains the importance of casts in palaeontology. Then it’s your turn to make a plaster cast (skull, dinosaur’s claw or tooth, ammonite, mastodon’s tooth, etc.) using silicon moulds.
Your own cave painting worthy of prehistoric man
Discover prehistoric art through the cave paintings at Lascaux, Niaux and Pech Merle. Horses, mammoths, bison, deer… the activity leader unveils the genius of the first artists and the different representations of animals and symbols. Then it’s your turn to do your own cave painting using the tools, materials and techniques of prehistoric man.
Fossil extraction workshop
In this workshop, the apprentice palaeontologist, equipped with a micro-hammer and goggles, learns how to extract fossils. Little by little the youngster removes the gangue surrounding the fossil. He or she can take the fossil home along with its identification card.
CINEMA SCREENING
Discover « Océanosaure » a film with striking special effects, which was shown for several years at La Géode 3-D cinema in Paris. It reveals the undersea world during the Age of the Dinosaurs, a time when the seas were inhabited by gigantic creatures like Elasmosaurus with its 10 metre-long neck and huge marine predators like Liopleurodon and Mosasaurus.
PALEO-SPOTS
Every day Paléo-spots run by visitor assistants are held at several places in the park. These are interactive moments to discover surprising stories about palaeontology !
How to get to Paleopolis/ Follow the guide…
From A71 : exit 12, then A719, exit 14.
Follow signs for Gannat.
About 10 minutes from A71.
Paléopolis can be reached by bus and motor home.
Continue your discovery tour of the Allier with a visit to the fortified town of Charroux, 20 minutes from Paleopolis !
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