Dinosaur'Istres

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Presentation

DINOSAUR'ISTRES, a walk among the ‘great figures’ of the Dinosaurs in Istres, in the Castellan hill forest, a recognised site for remarkable archaeology and Provençal biodiversity.

DINOSAUR'ISTRES A UNIQUE SITE IN PROVENCE AND FRANCE

Dinosaur’Istres is an exceptional site with around twenty life-size species represented along a route following their chronological appearance on earth, accompanied by information panels on each species and on general themes. Dinosaur’Istres offers a fun and informative walk for all ages.

The Castellan site, which has been completely preserved, also has a wealth of diverse Mediterranean flora for visitors to discover.

FREE ACCESS FOR VISITORS ALL YEAR ROUND

Comfortable footwear required! This free site is accessible all year round and offers you a trip back in time over millions of years to discover the lost world.

> Download the brochure and the plan

A WALK AMONG OVER 40 DINOSAURS

More than 40 dinosaurs have made the Dinosaur’Istres park their home, including the spinosaurus, identified as the greatest predator of all time, the diplodocus, the tyrannosaurus rex and the velociraptors.

AQUATIC REPTILES AND DINOSAURS IN PROVENCE

As it all started in the water, the Dinosaur’Istres informative route begins on the edge of the etang de l’Olivier, where, before your eyes, 4 aquatic specimens, dating back 250 million years, come back to life...

In addition to the 4 aquatic dinosaurs on the banks of the etang de l’Olivier, there is an area dedicated to dinosaurs who lived in Provence! On the Castellan hill plateau, you can discover 11 iconic specimens from the region!

ENTERTAINMENT AND GUIDED TOURS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

GUIDED TOURS AND TALKS WITH EXPERTS

In addition to the trail, which can be visited freely and independently, thanks to the on-site information panels, the Tourist Office also organises numerous events and guided tours throughout the year, with the support of technicians and palaeontologists. These visits are ideal for families, school groups or leisure centres.

Booking is required through the Tourist Office on +33 (0)4 42 81 76 00 - ot.istres@visitprovence.com

FUN TRAILS FOR THE FAMILY

Discover or rediscover Dinosaur'Istres through fun trails on the theme of palaeontology!
On the ‘On your marks, get set, go be a palaeontologist’ treasure hunt, set off on an adventure with your family to learn all about dinosaurs while having fun.
3 free booklets are available:
>>> from 4 years old
- Download the Apprentice route
>>> from 7 years old
- Download the Initiation route which starts at the Tourist Office
- Download the Apprentice route which starts at Dinosaur'Istres

A FREE ATTRACTION IN THE MAGNIFICENT SETTING OF THE ETANG DE L’OLIVIER

Castellan hill is located in the heart of the town and has wonderful views over the etang de l'Olivier.
Various other attractions can be found near Dinosaur'Istres: Sainte Catherine park and the Art Zoo, the l'Olivier marina and solar boats and the Saint Sulpice chapel, which hosts numerous exhibitions.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The site takes around 1.5 hours to walk around and is open to the public 7 days a week. Entry is completely free. It has 45 life-size dinosaurs with educational content.

›FREE entry / Open every day of the year
›Visit not recommended in case of high winds or bad weather
›Walking shoes highly recommended
›Baby carriers recommended / Pushchairs not recommended

Disabled shuttle

In order to allow people with reduced mobility access to the Dinosaur'Istres site, the Istres Tourist Office, in partnership with the Town of Istres and the Le Maillon association, runs a free shuttle every Monday and Wednesday morning from the Town Hall car park, booking required.

Booking is required through the Tourist Office on +33 (0)4 42 81 76 00