© Emile Mentz
The Sainte-Croix Wildlife Park in Lorraine, just two hours from Luxembourg, is a 130-hectare sanctuary home to 1,500 animals where visitors can explore five zones, ride a safari train, and even spend the night in lodges overlooking wolves, bears or deer.
Nestled deep in the forests of Lorraine, around a two-hour drive from Luxembourg, the Parc animalier de Sainte-Croix has been welcoming visitors since 1980. Home to around 1,500 animals across 130 hectares of woodland, lakes, and meadows, the park has become a sanctuary for biodiversity, and a place where people can experience nature up close, even overnight.
The story of Sainte-Croix began in 1967 when Gérald and Liliane Singer bought an old farm in Rhodes, Moselle. Their vision was to create a space where animals could live partly in freedom, while humans observed them from a respectful distance. In conversation with RTL, park spokesperson Mandy Schmitt explained that Gérald's ambition was to build a true "school of nature", showcasing the region's native fauna, such as wild boar, deer, and forest species, while also protecting biodiversity and preserving the natural environment.
The park now shelters more than 130 species, from wolves, bears, and red pandas to farm animals such as sea hens and tortoises. Bird life is particularly rich, with over 200 wild species choosing to settle naturally in the area. Schmitt noted that the animals selected for the park are almost exclusively those that can adapt well to the local Moselle climate.
Daily care for the animals is entrusted to a team of 20 keepers, each dedicated to specific zones, Schmitt explained, adding that this allows them to spot any unusual behaviour quickly, whether it be signs of illness, injury or distress, and to react immediately.
The park is divided into five main zones, each designed to highlight different habitats and species.
Spending the night close to the animals
One of the park's biggest attractions is the chance to spend the night alongside the animals. Sainte-Croix offers 56 lodges, including treehouses and cabins overlooking wolves, deer or bears. Schmitt described the overnight stays as "magical", each one offering a unique experience. She added that visitors generally need at least a full day, if not two, to see the whole park.
The lodges can accommodate between two and six people, but demand is high, especially during school holidays, and reservations usually need to be made at least a month in advance. Schmitt noted that an overnight stay includes accommodation, two days of park access, as well as breakfast and dinner.
Another popular feature is the safari train, which takes visitors on a one-hour guided tour of the park, offering a chance to encounter some of the more elusive animals.
The park also includes the Ferme des Vents, a two-hectare demonstration farm with 15 different livestock breeds, as well as 150 fruit trees, 12 aromatic plants, and 30 varieties of vegetables. Around 5,000 kilograms of produce are grown here each year, adding an educational and sustainable dimension to the visitor experience.
In total, around 120 people work at Sainte-Croix, which is open year-round and attracts some 360,000 visitors annually.
Further information can be found on the park's official website.
