Pairi Daiza
A large zoo and garden in Hainaut built in the grounds of a Cistercian abbey, arranged as world regions.
Updated 18 October 2026
Pairi Daiza occupies about seventy-five hectares in the grounds of the ruined Cistercian abbey of Cambron, and it is organised as a series of world regions with substantial architecture built for each: a Chinese garden with imported buildings and a large panda enclosure, an Indonesian kampong, an African section with a walk-through aviary and elephants, an Australian area, and a Nordic region with polar bears and marine mammals in a large complex. The abbey ruins, a twelfth-century crypt, a Gothic tower and mature parkland are woven through it. It has expanded steadily since 1994 and now has on-site accommodation. It is the most visited paying attraction in Belgium and gets extremely busy.
History
In 1148 Bernard of Clairvaux sent twelve Cistercian monks to Cambron at the invitation of Anselm of Trazegnies, who offered them land by the Dender; after the abbey was dissolved, the counts of Val de Beaulieu bought the estate and built a castle, and the Domb family, who founded the park, later bought it from them. The site has been protected since 1982, the zoo opened in 1993 as a bird garden named Paradisio, added the Chinese garden of the Dream of Han Wu Di in 2006, the largest in Europe, and the Indonesian Kingdom of Ganesha in 2009, when it took the name Pairi Daiza, an old word for a walled garden (Wikipedia, Pairi Daiza).
Highlights
- Giant pandas - the Chinese section built around the enclosure.
- Regional architecture - buildings imported and built for each world area.
- The Cambron abbey ruins - crypt, tower and park woven through the zoo.
- A walk-through African aviary - one of the larger enclosures on the site.
When to go
April to October for the full site; it closes for part of the winter and reopens for a Christmas season. A full day, and that is not enough to see everything. Belgian, Dutch and French holidays are extremely busy.
Things to know
It is very crowded in season, with queues for the panda house and restaurants. Ticket prices are high and extras add up. There is a great deal of walking. Animal welfare in zoos is a legitimate question and visitors should form their own view.
Nearby
Beloeil Castle is south-west; Ath lies north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q2154395, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Pairi Daiza
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- An insulated + windproof jacket - A down or synthetic layer under a hard shell handles most cold. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
