Zoo La Barben

About

La Barben Animal Park, known as the Zoo de La Barben until the summer of 2021, is a French zoological park located in the Bouches-du-Rhône, between Salon-de-Provence and Aix-en-Provence, in the small town of La Barben. This is the zoo closest to Marseille. The castle of La Barben belonged to Forbin's family.

Auguste de Forbin was a chamberlain of Princess Borghese, and was then a lover. Later, The Forbin Family - The Barben created the animal park of La Barben with the Pons family, one bringing the funds and his passion, the second his high quality manager. The castle will be sold to the Pons family for lack of direct male descendants.

Then André Pons, owner of the Château de La Barben, will manage the park which has more than 700 animals of 130 species on 33 hectares, in a setting of Mediterranean vegetation. It claims to be frequented by approximately 300,000 visitors each year. In 2024, it received 315,000 visitors.