The Parc des Cigognes de Hunawihr, officially NaturOparC, is a reintroduction centre created in 1976 on 5 hectares of former marshland, right in the middle of the Alsace vineyards. For a stay in La Bresse, the question is not whether the park is worth seeing: its reputation around white storks, European otters and the Alsatian giant hamster is well established. The real question is whether crossing the Vosges massif to get there fits well into a day trip from the Hautes-Vosges.
What you’ll see at NaturOparC
The park focuses on three threatened regional species at the heart of its conservation programmes: the white stork, with one pair (Suzel and Fritz) even followed by webcam on the official site, the European otter, and the Alsatian giant hamster. Keepers run 10 to 15 minute sessions throughout the day: a stork presentation, otter feeding, a moment devoted to the hamster. The exact times for the day are posted at the park entrance rather than fixed in advance on the website.
The park also runs a care centre, “Sentinelle Nature Alsace,” dedicated to injured wildlife, plus a small farmyard area (goats, pigs, geese, rabbits, donkeys) designed with younger visitors in mind. The paths are wheelchair-accessible and parking spaces are available. Strollers can go on the paths and a stroller park lets you leave them safely, with only the show itself off limits to them. Dogs are not allowed inside the park: a secure kennel, with the key kept by the visitor, is available for the duration of the visit.
2026 hours and prices
NaturOparC is open from March 21 to November 1, 2026, according to the Colmar tourist office listing. Opening hours then change with the season: short windows outside the holidays, up to 10am-6:30pm at the height of summer, with hours that vary by day of the week: the park’s official calendar is what applies to the date of your visit. Either way, ticket sales close an hour before the park does, so arriving late in the afternoon won’t leave enough time to see everything at ease.
On pricing, the 2026 scale posted by the park breaks down into several categories:
| Category | Full price | Reduced rate* |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 12.50 € | 11.00 € |
| Senior (65 and over) | 11.50 € | n/a |
| Youth (12-17) | 10.50 € | 9.00 € |
| Child (3-11) | 9.00 € | 8.00 € |
| Under 3 | Free | Free |
| Reduced mobility | 8.50 € | n/a |
*The reduced rate applies with proof of eligibility (works council, CE+/Intercea/Cezam/CNAS card, or disability). The park also offers an annual NaturO’Pass: 30 € per adult, 20 € per child or youth, 90 € for a family package of 2 adults and 2 children.
Getting there from La Bresse: the real trade-off
Hunawihr sits on the Alsace plain, along the wine route, 15 km from Colmar and 15 km from Sélestat according to the distances published by the park. From La Bresse, that means crossing the Vosges massif, usually via a pass such as the Col de la Schlucht or the Route des Crêtes, before dropping down on the Alsace side toward Ribeauvillé and then Hunawihr. No fixed travel time is given here: traffic, weather at altitude and the chosen route all affect it. Check the road and driving conditions before setting off, especially if a mountain pass is part of the route.
This detour makes sense if the day also includes a stop along the way, rather than a round trip dedicated only to the park. The Ballon d’Alsace sits on a different side of the massif but illustrates the same idea: a day out on the Alsace side needs planning as a full day, not as a late-afternoon excursion. The massif crossed to reach Hunawihr is part of the Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges, whose passes and information points line the route.
For getting there without a car, the park lists two regional bus lines: line 106 (Colmar-Hunawihr) and line 109 (Sélestat-Ribeauvillé), with schedules to check on the Fluo Grand Est network. The nearest train stations are Colmar and Sélestat, both 15 km away.
Planning the day around the park
Given the distance and the change of massif, it makes more sense to build this outing around a full day rather than an afternoon squeezed between two activities in La Bresse. Arriving in the morning leaves time to catch the sessions spread through the day without racing the ticket office closing time.
On the way back, if the day on the road hasn’t been too demanding, a refreshing stop at lac des Corbeaux makes for a good break before heading back to the chalet, even though swimming is not permitted there. To watch Vosges wildlife without crossing the massif, the autumn deer rut near Gérardmer offers another way to get close to local animals, just a few kilometres from the chalet.
NaturOparC remains a serious site, committed for decades to the conservation of regional species. The point to settle before booking isn’t the quality of the visit, but where it fits into the day’s schedule once the drive from La Bresse is factored in.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the Hunawihr Stork Park open in 2026?
From March 21 to November 1, 2026, according to the official Colmar tourist office listing. Opening hours then vary by season: from 3pm to 5:30pm at its narrowest to 10am-6:30pm at the height of summer. The official calendar sets out each period, and ticket sales close an hour before the park.
How much does entry to NaturOparC cost?
Full price is 12.50 euros per adult, 10.50 euros for ages 12 to 17, 9 euros for ages 3 to 11 and 11.50 euros for seniors aged 65 and over. Entry is free under age 3. A reduced rate and an 8.50 euro rate for visitors with reduced mobility are available with proof of eligibility.
Is the detour from La Bresse worth it for a day trip?
It depends on the plan. Hunawihr sits 15 km from Colmar and 15 km from Sélestat, so quite firmly on the other side of the Vosges massif from La Bresse. The drive is better paired with another stop along the way (a pass, a wine village) than treated as a simple afternoon outing.