# Refuge de l'Arche, France: what it is and when to go

> Refuge de l'Arche is an animal sanctuary in France (Château-Gontier). Interests: With kids and Wildlife. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/refuge-de-l-arche/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Animal sanctuary in France · With kids, Wildlife
- **Where:** France · Route de Ménil Saint-Fort, 53200, Château-Gontier
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Nearest airport:** ORY Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne), 249 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [refuge-arche.org](https://www.refuge-arche.org/)
- **Run by:** CEPAN
- **Coordinates:** 47.81348, -0.70209

## What it is and where

Refuge de l'Arche is an animal sanctuary in France (Château-Gontier). It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Château-Gontier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chateau-gontier/), where this site lists 8 more places to see, 2 m from the centre.

Its coordinates are 47.81348, -0.70209; the nearest main airport is Paris-Orly Airport (ORY, Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne)), 249 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=47.81348%2C-0.702093)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.81348%2C-0.702093)

- **Run by:** CEPAN

It is one of the [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/familia/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/fauna/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Refuge de l'Arche is **March to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 8 h 37 |
| February | Possible | 9 h 59 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 35 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 24 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 56 |
| June | Best time | 15 h 47 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 26 |
| August | Best time | 14 h 06 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 20 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 34 |
| November | Possible | 9 h |
| December | Possible | 8 h 13 |

In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| With kids | March to October | November to February |
| Wildlife | April to October | November to March |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Refuge de l'Arche has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to France

To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Château de Château-Gontier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chateau-de-chateau-gontier/): Castle · 1.4 km
- [Couvent des Ursulines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/couvent-des-ursulines/): Convent located in Mayenne, in France · 1.7 km
- [église Saint-Martin-de-Vertou de Laigné](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/eglise-saint-martin-de-vertou/): Church located in Mayenne, in France · 9.2 km
- [Château de Bouillé-Théval](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chateau-de-bouille-theval-ancien/): Castle · 9.8 km
- [Pierre debout](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-pierre-debout/): Menhir in Aviré, France · 12 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## More in France: With kids

- [Disneyland Paris](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/disneyland-paris/): theme park resort in France, partially owned by The Walt Disney Company
- [Europa-Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/europa-park/): theme park in Germany
- [Jardin d'Acclimatation](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/jardin-d-acclimatation/): amusement park in Paris, France
- [Cité de l'espace](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-ciudad-del-espacio/): French theme park
- [Parc Astérix](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/parc-asterix/): amusement park in France
- [Disneyland Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/disneyland-park/): Theme park in France in Disneyland Paris

Every France place under With kids, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/familia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Refuge de l'Arche?

It is an animal sanctuary in France. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Refuge de l'Arche?

March to October. In June there are 15 h 47 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 13.

### How do you get to Refuge de l'Arche?

The nearest main airport is Paris-Orly Airport (ORY), 249 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=47.81348%2C-0.702093) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Château de Château-Gontier](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/chateau-de-chateau-gontier/), [Couvent des Ursulines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/couvent-des-ursulines/), [église Saint-Martin-de-Vertou de Laigné](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/eglise-saint-martin-de-vertou/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/12943394), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19951248), CC0. More about Refuge de l'Arche on [Wikipedia](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_de_l'Arche). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).