France · FR

The Eagles of Aure

Set against a wild, open hillside in the small Pyrenean town of Arreau, Les Aigles d'Aure (The Eagles of Aure) is a bird-of-prey aviary built around one big idea: letting raptors fly free and close to you. Eagles, vultures, kites, falcons, owls and crows are presented in a deliberately natural setting, and the site's exceptional air currents give the birds the lift they need to put on a genuine, unhurried flying display rather than a caged demonstration. The heart of a visit is the commented free-flight show, where handlers bring the birds overhead against an open sky backdrop. It doubles as a conservation talk for all ages, aimed at explaining these often-misunderstood birds and the work behind protecting them. A well-reviewed, family-friendly attraction (4.7 from close to 900 Google reviews), it makes an ideal half-day stop for anyone touring the Aure valley between the Lannemezan plateau and the high Pyrenean resorts.