Picture yourself surrounded by tropical birds and hundreds of multicoloured butterflies freely fluttering around you, amid a lush tropical forest… set in the heart of Normandy! This dream becomes true at the Naturospace of Honfleur, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of wonderment and discoveries.
Ever since it opened in 1999, the Naturospace has enchanted nearly 2 million visitors. And for good reason! This glasshouse instantly carries you away to the tropics.
Discover a tropical paradise in the heart of Normandy: The Naturospace of Honfleur is celebrating its 25th anniversary!
Tropical butterflies are the kings of the glasshouse
There you will observe the fascinating life cycle of butterflies, from the stage of chrysalises to the majestic take-off of these winged jewels. Admire the majestic flight of the Blue Morpho with its wings of an intense azure. Watch out for the hatching of an Attacus atlas, the world’s largest moth… Before making the most of ideal tropical weather conditions to roam about freely, these butterflies have their spent their caterpillar life in the Philippines, Malaysia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Kenya and Madagascar. The Naturospace works with farmers from all over the world within the framework of a fair-trade approach.
A male pink-headed fruit dove spotted amid our tropical jungle in Honfleur.
Exotic birds feel themselves growing wings
And that is not all! The Naturospace also accommodates some magnificent exotic birds with vibrant plumages. Imagine the stark contrast between these rainbow-coloured creatures standing out against the intense green of the tropical vegetation that has flourished this past quarter of a century to offer a truly exotic setting. Spot where the blue-crowned hanging parrot, Victoria crowned pigeon, Fischer’s Touraco, Goldie’s lorikeet are… These birds are integrated at a young age so they may adapt themselves better to the glasshouse environment. Each newcomer spends at least one month in quarantine to undergo heath tests, and is then placed in an acclimatisation cage within the glasshouse. After approximately three weeks, the bird is released.
A tropical rainforest has grown in the middle of Normandy
Season after season, the Naturospace has turned into a tropical rainforest. Rare exotic plants, trees and flowers have been introduced there, to enable our tropical butterfly and bird species to live there as they would in a natural environment. Inside, the glasshouse is maintained at a temperature of approximately 25°C and relative humidity of 80%. Specific fixtures offer ideal observation conditions. Through this direct contact with nature, visitors become imbued with the unique atmosphere of the tropical rainforest. Just a short walk away from the Old Harbour of Honfleur.
The cacao tree has found the ideal conditions to grow within the Naturospace.
Discover our opening times and prices here
An unforgettable outing
So then, are you ready to embark on a tropical trip without leaving France? Come and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Naturospace in Honfleur and enjoy a unique experience close to nature. Wonderment guaranteed for young and old alike!
