A micro zoo opened its doors this summer in Saint-Malo -

20 Minutes

  • A micro zoo opened its doors this summer in a passageway under the ramparts of Saint-Malo.

  • This unusual place hosted an aquarium between 1963 and 2006.

  • It now houses 350 animals from around a hundred species, all of them small.

A 120-meter long passageway nestled in the heart of the ramparts of Saint-Malo.

This is a very strange place to admire animals.

It is in this place steeped in history and listed as a historical monument that three associates have set up a micro zoo which opened in June.

“It served as a storage place for weapons and animal fodder, it was a strategic site for the defense of the city,” says Antoine Soler, one of the members of the trio.

In 1963, there was a total change of scenery since the passageway housed an aquarium, which closed its doors for good in 2006. To revive this atypical place, the city of Saint-Malo launched a call for projects in 2018, won at the era by Maurice Chichportiche, one of the former owners of the aquarium.

Following his death at the end of 2019, it was his son Charles who took up the torch to open this micro zoo just before summer.

“A childhood dream that came true”, according to Clément Le Gac, the third partner.

Insects, snakes and even crocodiles

In this small zoo, 350 animals from around a hundred species coexist with 40,000 ants and 1,500 stuffed insects.

"We are constrained by space so there are only small species", emphasizes Antoine Soler.

However, the visit is rich and allows you to travel across the five continents.

From one cage to another, we discover lots of surprising little animals like piranhas, lizards, snakes and even crocodiles.

“These are dwarf crocodiles or crocodiles with a broad forehead that can measure up to 1.80 meters,” explains Clément Le Gac.

We currently have five but we already know that we will have to part with one when they are adults for lack of space ”.

Halloween atmosphere at the micro zoo of Saint-Malo for the All Saints holidays.

- J. Gicquel / 20 Minutes

For the All Saints' Day holidays, the micro zoo also took on Halloween colors with terrifying bones and decorations that were installed in the middle of the animals, making the place even more confusing.

"The people of Saint-Malo are attached to this place and we want to bring it to life", emphasizes Antoine Soler.

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  • 20 minutes video

  • Saint Malo

  • Animals

  • Zoo

  • Planet