“The garden of worlds.” The slogan was well chosen for Pairi Daiza, an animal park located in Belgium, 60 km from Brussels. It could also have been called Land of Civilizations, Land of Dreams, or Attractive Park, as opposed to amusement park. Pairi Daiza offers more than just a stroll; it offers a stroll that could last several days, as its gardens are vast and teeming with wonders.
Of course, what first attracts the 2.6 million visitors who flock to the 100-hectare park each year are the animals belonging to spectacular species, some of which are endangered. “Here, they are pampered like nowhere else,” emphasizes Pairi Daiza founder Éric Domb. But they are not everything.
His “garden of worlds” resembles him: large, exuding creativity, generating enthusiasm. Profitability is not the value that guided Éric Domb in this adventure. “I wanted to present to the public what I consider to be the wonders of the world: fauna, vegetation, minerals, but also culture and civilizations.” This approach led to the need to import unimaginable treasures that no other zoo will ever display. Split or carved gemstone geodes (amethyst, rock crystal, jade) worth several million euros. “People don't come here to see this, but without necessarily realizing it, they are touched by these exceptional pieces,” says Éric Domb.
Organized around the five continents, Pairi Daiza is home to spiritual gems, particularly in the Asian section. The Buddhist temple has been consecrated by monks. Authentic ceremonies are regularly organized there by foreign delegations or locals. A “Craftsman's House” perched at the top of this space displays Indonesian wood carvings that amaze knowledgeable art lovers and surprise novices. “I love these meticulously reconstructed village scenes,” says Éric Domb. Some are funny, others are moving. “
In keeping with the tradition of the Middle Kingdom, some paths are paved with small pebbles that massage the feet. ”To achieve all this, I chose a Chinese company that had never worked on a private European project before," explains Éric Domb. The company in question is responsible for maintaining the Great Wall of China on behalf of Beijing...
Spiritual heritage
Most of the objects scattered throughout the park were sourced by Éric Domb himself. “My collection is here,” he explains. "I have no desire for personal property. " One day, while traveling in Yunnan province, he came across some ancient tombstones engraved with Chinese characters that literally captivated him. He bought them from a farmer and then obtained permission to bring them back to Europe. Some time later, Chinese leaders learned that a wealthy Belgian had acquired these relics and sent envoys to negotiate with him. “I'll give them to you if you plan to do something with them,” he told them. “Otherwise, I'll keep these masterpieces to show the millions of people who pass through here.” The tombstones have never been moved.
Since opening, Éric Domb and his partners have invested nearly €1 billion in Pairi Daiza. Among them is Belgian billionaire Marc Coucke, a major collector of dinosaur skeletons. One of them, 21 meters long and dating back some 150 million years, has been installed at the park's entrance, setting the tone for its fantastical atmosphere. Even more surprising, Pairi Daiza hosts an exhibition of animated fake dinosaurs that emit frightening growls. Is this strange in a world marked by authenticity? “We hesitated a lot before agreeing,” admits Éric Domb. "Because, obviously, mixing real animals with automatons risked distorting our message. But in the end, I thought that the presence of these very realistic, life-size machines reminded us of the power of these ancient worlds and could inspire a little humility... " Much to the delight of children fascinated by prehistoric creatures, but also adults who snap photos of the monsters with their phones.
A night at the park
An interesting anthropological and philosophical analysis, but insufficient to explain this surprising choice. We know from the success of the Jurassic Park movie series that “dinosaurs” attract audiences, and despite being steeped in spirituality, Éric Domb is nonetheless a businessman. The many shops, restaurants, and resorts where you can stay among the animals show, if proof were needed, that the economic dimension is very much present at Pairi Daiza.
All these businesses are very well done, starting with the restaurants. One of them enjoys a surprising setting, the former chapel and brewery of the priests who owned the estate and lived off the beer they produced there. They continue to brew high-quality beer there, upstairs! An Asian restaurant has been built from the ground up, but with undeniable taste and high-quality materials. It's a far cry from the tacky kitsch that characterizes some Chinese restaurants in Europe.
As for the park's hotel options, they have been perfectly designed. We tried the lodges located on the American “continent”: they are spacious, functional, and offer 5-star luxury, with huge bathrooms equipped with saunas! In the morning, we wake up to the sight of brown bears frolicking and deer drinking from the pond, where funny black and white ducks splash about. Huge totem poles carved and painted by Canadian artisans in strict accordance with totemic tradition brighten up the landscape. Breakfast is served in nearby restaurants, which are generous and gourmet.
Pairi Daiza is a permanent construction site, so new features will be arriving in a few months, including a vast greenhouse that will house thousands of plants, trees, and shrubs. “We'll have some amazing things, like a branch from the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment,” says Éric Domb. "I'm still waiting for the experts to authenticate it, but it's looking good." A giant aquarium with sharks and animals that need a tropical climate (and not the drizzle of the Quiévrain...) to thrive will also find their place in this new covered space. The treasure hunt at Pairi Daiza is an endless pastime.
Article written by Yves Derai, to be found in issue 12 of OniriQ magazine.
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
