That alligator is smiling at me

There’s nothing quite like looking an alligator in the eye. Even better: watching an 8-year-old garçon look an alligator in the eye. We recently took our little buddy who just celebrated his birthday to the Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue.

A smiling (or is it sleeping?) alligator at Aquarium du Périgord Noir
in Le Bugue

Here, at the largest private freshwater aquarium in Europe, we spend a fun few hours admiring fish and lots and lots of reptiles. The aquarium has 30 pools populated by more than 6,000 fish. While fish-watching, we check out the educational tidbits and truth/false quizzes along the way. Much of the information focuses on fish that populate the Dordogne river.

Freshwater fish at Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

A fancy fish at Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

Before long, we’re entering Alligator Park — inspired by the famed (or perhaps fictional?) alligator-hunter-turned-ardent-defender Jo McClack. (I can’t find anything about him on the internet, so let’s just call him legendary.) We oooh, aah and eeeww over bright snakes, stripped snakes and spotted snakes. The frogs are cute, the lizards are exotic, and the alligators are sufficiently scary. Alligator Park includes a turtle beach and iguana greenhouse.

A pair of iguanas at Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

A vibrant lizard seems to be checking me out at Aquarium du Périgord Noir
in Le Bugue.

A sunbather on la plage aux tortues (turtle beach) at Aquarium
du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

All too soon, we’re at Le Jardin des Carpes where our buddy gets to pet the fish. Several times a day animations including fish feedings and reptile demonstrations are held in this plaza. A café offers ice cream and other treats. As with all such attractions, the path to the exit runs through the gift shop where a colorful array of fish-themed souvenirs are offered.

Le Jardin des Carpes (carp garden) at Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

Our aquarium outing also includes a round of golf on the 18-hole course. The jungle motif miniature golf course doesn’t include bells and whistles, but my husband enjoys showing off his golf skills to our young friend. 

Jungle Golf at Aquarium du Périgord Noir in Le Bugue

We bypass the Labyrinthe Prehistorique mirror maze and instead enjoy a picnic lunch by the river. We’re glad we’ve brought a blanket to sit on, as there are only a few picnic tables.

Aquarium du Perigord Noir is open mid-February through Nov. 11. Admission prices vary depending on number of people in your party and whether you include miniature golf and and/or labyrinth. Aquarium visitors get a coupon for 1 euro off a visit to the neighboring attraction Le Bournat. Check the aquarium website here for hours, directions and tariffs.