On the south side of the town the "Fasanerie" (Pheasantry) zoological park was opened in 1956, in which 55 animal species live in an area of ca. 2,5 hectares. Indigenous species such as fallow deer, moufflon and others are just at home here as some exotic creatures, like various different parakeets, pot-bellied pigs and llamas.
In the grounds there is a children’s playground and sport apparatus for wheelchair users. On Easter Sunday many visitors are drawn to the park for the now traditional Easter egg hunt. After your visit to the Zoological Park you can take a walk in the adjacent woods and continue as far as the foundation walls of the Walpurgis Monastery.
Since October 1995 disabled people from the St. Mary’s Foundation, Arnstadt have been catered for in the Zoological Park. In this way a range of activities has been created for those with disabilities in the company of the staff members who look after the welfare of the animals. Thanks to the active support of all those working in the park, as well as the management, the friends and sponsors, it has been possible to maintain the Zoological Park at its present size and with its present many-faceted range of features.
An indicator for the continuing success of Arnstadt Zoological Park is also the ever-growing number of visitors. In 2001 ca. 7,000 visitors were recorded, in 2005 this had already grown to 14,000 and in the year 2011 it had reached 23,100. The "Fasanerie" is looking forward to your visit!
