Nature reserves of France: walking or trekking tours. National parks and reserves of France Famous parks of France

The French national park system consists of nine parks located both in European France and in its overseas territories. The parks are managed by a government agency, the French National Parks Authority (Parcs Nationaux de France). Parks occupy 2% of the territory of European France; they are visited by 7 million people a year.
In France, there is also a structure of regional natural parks, introduced by law on March 1, 1967. Regional nature parks are created by agreement between local authorities and the central government, and their territory is reviewed every 10 years. As of 2009, there are 49 regional natural parks in France.

Guadeloupe National Park covers 173 square kilometers. This park was formed in 1989 on the simply huge French island of Guadeloupe. The park's conservation lands occupy almost the entire island, in particular its central part.

Port-Cros National Park is located in France, southeast of Toulon, on the island of Port-Cros, which is part of the Hyères Islands, and the adjacent waters. It was created in 1963 to preserve the nature of the Hyères Islands.

On the border with Spain in the western part of the Pyrenees mountain range lies the Pyrenees National Park. In terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, it is considered one of the richest in France: 150 species of plants, 1000 beetles, three hundred different butterflies, golden eagles, vultures,

The Cevennes National Park (Parc national des Cevennes) lies in the mountainous regions of the south of the country. The Cevennes mountain system is part of the Massif Central and one of the oldest in Europe. Therefore, these ancient landscapes with an amazing network of highly eroded mountains

Vanoise National Park is the first national park in France. It was founded in 1963. The reason for the creation of the park was the threat of complete extermination of stone goats in this area. Definitely, Vanoise can be called the main national park in France.

Guiana Amazon National Park (French: Parc amazonien de Guyane) is the largest national park in France, located in French Guiana. The area of ​​the park is 33.9 thousand sq. km. Formed on February 27, 2007. There are no roads leading to the park,

The historical, architectural and cultural sights of France are known to many travelers from different countries. Today we invite you to enjoy the stunning nature of this country.

Do you know the national parks and reserves of France? Most of our readers have probably never heard the names of many of them before. But these territories occupy almost 10% of the country’s territory and form a huge ecological zone, one of the largest in Europe. In this article we will introduce you to the most famous and popular of them.

The list of national parks in France (the most visited) is as follows:

1. Guadeloupe.
2. Port-Cros.
3. Pyrenees.
4. Cévennes.
5. Vanoise.
6. Guiana Amazon.
7. Calanques.
8. Mercantour.
9. Reunion.
10. Screen.

All nature reserves and national parks in France deserve a separate description, but we will give you only a brief overview of some of them.

Vanoise

And we will begin our virtual journey from a park located in the Alps, to the south on the border with Italy. This is the very first national park in France, which was created in 1963. It is home to mountain goats and graceful chamois, whose care was the reason for the founding of the park. If you are lucky, you will be able to see the most amazing and beautiful mountain flower blooming here - edelweiss.

Endless forests, picturesque waterfalls and amazingly beautiful landscapes delight visitors to the park. Around it today there are several ski resorts visited by tourists from all over the world.

Cevennes

A national park in France, the name of which is well known to many residents of European countries. It is located in the basin It must be admitted that the French know how to protect nature and they managed to achieve excellent results in creating national parks and reserves.

The Cévennes Park was founded to limit the negative impact of tourism. However, this does not mean that entry into its territory is prohibited - a lot of effort has been invested in organizing tourism of the highest quality. Throughout the park there are memorial signs and plaques that describe the rules of visiting. Violating them leads to a hefty fine - about 1,500 euros.

The park's management encourages guests to enjoy the magnificent nature, to deeply breathe in the crystal clear air, but not to destroy the park, which was created for people and to preserve all the most beautiful things on our planet.

Port-Cros

What nature reserves and national parks in France do you know? Find it difficult to answer? Then we will introduce you to another one of them. Interestingly, located on the territory of the country, southeast of Toulon, the Port-Cros park became part of the Hyères Islands. It was created in 1963 to protect the nature of the Hyères Islands. Its area is 675 hectares, and together with the islands of Porquerolles and Levant it is part of the archipelago of the Golden Islands.

This is a real natural monument: its lands are practically untouched by man. The island is covered with dense forests. The park is intended for pedestrians and cyclists who travel along numerous tourist routes. Many picturesque trails will lead you to protected corners of the park - snow-white beaches, fragrant groves, fields of lavender and heather, ruined fortresses and forts.

Interesting fact: in the distant past the island played an important defensive role. This is evidenced by the remains of five forts. Travelers from all over the world come here to see them.

Pyrenees

An ideal example of nature reserves and national parks in France is the national park of the same name located on the border with Spain, in the western Pyrenees. In terms of the diversity of flora and fauna, it is recognized as one of the richest in the country: a thousand species of beetles, three hundred species of all kinds of butterflies, vultures and golden eagles, Iberian brown bears and lynxes, one hundred and fifty species of plants. And the symbol of this amazing park is the graceful Pyrenean chamois.

The park is home to the Pyrenean muskrat. The French consider it a great success to meet him. The historical sights of these territories are of great interest to tourists. This is, of course, located almost in the very center of the park, the ancient center of religious pilgrimage Lourdes, colorful mountain villages and numerous fortresses.

Screen

This national park is located in It has about a hundred mountain peaks and more than forty glaciers, which are the pride of the park. They are gradually replaced by plains and lakes. The park is home to the Alpine marmot, chamois and golden eagle.

Tourists can stay here in one of thirty shelters, and then go on an exciting walking tour through the park. By the way, the length of the trails here is about 750 kilometers.

Guadeloupe

This park covers an area of ​​173 km. sq. It was formed in 1989 on the island of Guadeloupe. The protected areas of the park occupy almost the entire island, mainly its central part. In addition, it is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Here, the mountain rainforest and the mountain ranges it covers are strictly protected.

France's Guadeloupe National Park is recognized as the seventh most important park in the country. Its history began almost half a century ago (1970), when a natural park was created in the Basse-Terre area on one of the largest islands of the archipelago. Its attractions are mountain ranges and tropical forests.

The flora of the national park includes rare species of orchids, mahogany, tree ferns, and hevea. In the east of the archipelago you can see huge fields of sugar cane.

Guiana Amazon

And this is the largest national park in France, which is located in French Guiana. Its area is 33.9 thousand square kilometers. The park was founded in early 2007. Interestingly, there are no roads leading to the park; you can only get here by air or water.

The park area is 20,300 square meters. km. is protected as much as possible: mining of minerals, including gold, in river beds is prohibited here. The park is located in a natural tropical forest area.

Calanques

France's Calanques National Park is located in Corsica, five kilometers southwest of Porto. Numerous orange and pink rocks stretching along the seashore rise 300 meters above the water, forming a magnificent landscape. In 1983, the park was included in the UNESCO list of natural monuments. Numerous rock formations, most of them consisting of granite, have been eroded and acquired bizarre and intricate shapes.

Mercantour

Many nature reserves and national parks in France have become the largest in Europe in a relatively short time. An example of this is the park located in the Alpes-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes departments, Mercantour Park. It was founded in 1979 around the highest point of this region, Mount Zhela and the Mervey Valley. Today it is included in the list of historical monuments of the country. The park is located on an area of ​​685 square kilometers. About eight hundred thousand people visit it annually.

The park also included the Valley of Miracles, in which over forty thousand prehistoric petroglyphs were discovered. There are 240 km of carefully designed walking routes, and climbers can explore the cliffs of the Monier, Bego, Mouton and Pelat mountain ranges.

Reunion

The park is located on its area of ​​almost 1055 square meters. km. Additionally, it is adjacent to a security zone (878 sq. km). Reunion was founded in 2007 to protect the mountainous areas of the island.

Camargue Nature Reserve

France's most famous nature reserve protects river channels, sea lagoons, marshes, lakes and landscape forests. More than 30 different species live here. The most common species are wild boars, hares and rabbits, hedgehogs and squirrels, ferrets and weasels, and beavers. But the special pride of the reserve is the world of birds, numbering more than three hundred species. Amazingly, this is the only place in Europe where pink flamingos nest.

There is a small settlement in the park where only 50 people live. They engage in fishing, farming and tourism.

Scandola Nature Reserve

In 1930, a decree was published prohibiting any modification or destruction of the environment in this area of ​​Corsica without obtaining special permission from the relevant ministry. These territories were officially declared protected areas only in 1975.

The reserve is divided into two sectors: Scandola and Elpa Nera. These places are famous for landscapes of amazing beauty, tiny coastal islands and amazing sea pillars rising from clear waters. The coastline is full of hidden coves and long beaches covered with fine sand.

The reserve is open from April to October, but in order for tourists to get here they need to get a special pass.

We have presented to you only a few nature reserves and national parks in France (names, photos). All of them were created to protect and enhance rare species of animals, birds and plants. By visiting them, you will get a lot of positive emotions, get acquainted with pristine nature and be able to see the rarest animals and birds of our planet.

Organized in 1963, on July 6th, and is the first French national park. The protected area is located south of the mountain range Mont Blanc and stretches along the chain of Alps mountains in the Savoie region.

This relatively small national park includes two zones: central and peripheral with an area of ​​528 km2 and 1450 km2, respectively. The peripheral zone was formed to protect and preserve the wildlife in the central zone. Over 14 kilometers Park Vanoise borders with, located in Italy.

IN Vanoise national park There are a huge number of wild flowers. The local flora is represented by more than 1000 alpine plant species. Gentian And edelweiss became symbols of Vanoise, they are placed on the emblem of the park.

The following plant species are specially protected: mountain primrose, saxifrage, alpine bells, various types of sedge, alpine aquilegia.

Vanoise National Park and its flora

IN Vanoise Park stone goats numbering approximately two thousand individuals are kept. This is the largest population in the entire territory France. These animals live high in the mountains. They can be seen descending from snow-covered mountain cliffs.

Approximately five thousand individuals chamois found in a protected area. As for small mammals, you can see a hare, a marmot, and a vole in the park. Carnivores are represented by weasel, ermine, pine marten, badger and fox. In addition, white shrews and bats can be found in the park.

Rich and varied avifauna Vanoise National Park. It includes 125 species of birds, including: white-toothed blackbird, nutcracker, crossbill, three-toed woodpecker, green woodpecker, yellowtail, hazel grouse and black grouse. Typical inhabitants of the alpine zone are Alpine Accentors, Chukars, Alpine Jackdaws, Snow Finches, and Rock Thrushes. In the highlands you can see the tundra partridge, and they nest on inaccessible cliffs golden eagles. Also in the protected area there are flycatchers, nutcrackers, sparrows, black woodpeckers, owls, eagle owls, and golden eagle.

Among the representatives amphibians include grass toad, reed toad, newt and others. Among the reptiles, the following species are widespread: vipera, Aesculapian snake and viviparous lizard.

IN Vanaus national park there are many beautiful places located at an altitude of 770-2796 meters above sea level. They offer amazingly beautiful views: green valleys And snow-capped Alps.

In spring, the northern slopes are covered with snow, while the southern ones are already strewn with the first flowers. Slopes covered with edelweiss, sparkling snow, bright sun, ski slopes, centuries-old fir trees - many wonderful moments await you here.

The creation of the first nature reserves and parks in Europe can be dated back to the 10th century, to the time of King William I (1079). In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the main environmental objects were hunting grounds. Further development of conservation in Europe continued at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1909, the first national park in Europe, Sarek, was created in Sweden.

Today, national parks in Europe make up more than 11% of the total area of ​​the continent, although the number of parks exceeds 6 thousand. Most parks in Europe are characterized by their small size and lack of wild flora and fauna.

The largest park at the moment is Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland, which has an area of ​​1 million 200 thousand hectares, most of which is a glacier.

I would also like to note the most beautiful and interesting national parks in Europe - Sofievka (Ukraine, Uman) the largest arboretum in Europe, Doñana (Spain) it is also called the “bird airport”, Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Belarus, Poland), Port-Cros (France) the first marine park in Europe.

National parks and reserves of France

France's national parks occupy almost 9% of its area (about 48,720 sq. km), and these are only large protected areas. A characteristic feature of the organization of the French environmental system is a network of almost fifty regional parks and hundreds of small protected areas, complementing large nature reserves, which occupy a total of another 7% of the country's territory, which forms one of the largest ecological zones in Western Europe. At the same time, the majority of French reserves are not purely natural areas in the usual sense - active tourism is actively developing on their territory, there are many historical monuments and cultural heritage sites, agricultural zones and forestry areas. Therefore, it is not surprising that protected areas account for up to 10% of foreign guests. By the way, the French themselves are much more active in this regard - up to 23% of domestic tourism, to one degree or another, comes from nature reserves.

Vanoise National Park. Vanoise National Park is the first national park in France. It was founded in 1963. The reason for the creation of the park was the threat of complete extermination of stone goats in this area. Definitely, Vanoise can be called the main national park of France (Figure 13).

Vanoise National Park is located south of the Mont Blanc massif and stretches along the Alps mountain range in the Savoie region. This is a relatively small park. The park is divided into two zones: the central one has a length of 528 square meters. km. and peripheral zone - 1450 sq. km. The peripheral zone is the area that surrounds the central zone; it was created to protect wildlife in the central zone in order to preserve it in its original form. The peripheral zone allows for greater restriction of human access to these beautiful wild lands. For 14 kilometers, the Vanoise National Park borders the Italian Gran Paradiso National Park. Both parks form the largest protected area in Western Europe. A project has been prepared to open the border between them.

Figure 13 - Vanoise National Park

Not a single generation of people who have visited these places has been amazed by the captivating beauty of the landscapes that dominate this park. Vanoise Park has many beautiful places, which are located at an altitude of 770-2796 meters, from which breathtaking views of the snow-capped Alps and the delightful green valleys of Vanoise open! There you can see sparkling snow, slopes overgrown with edelweiss, the sun, dizzying ski slopes, the secluded shadow of a century-old fir, an eagle in the heights, and hear the trill of a finch above your ear. If you travel through the park at the beginning of spring, then along the way you can see very beautiful pictures, even for dull spring days. In spring, the northern slopes are not yet free of snow, but the southern slopes are covered with the first flowers. Along the way you can see spring waterfalls jumping from a dizzying height, a huge bottomless sky and many other beautiful pictures that can only be seen in the Vanoise National Park. The two main peaks of Vanoise are unforgettable - Grand Cauce and Mont Puri, rising respectively to 3852 and 3778 meters above sea level.

Vanoise National Park is rich in a huge number of alpine wild flowers, always blooming luxuriantly in the valleys and on the peaks. The flora of the park includes more than a thousand species of various alpine plant species. The symbol of Vanoise has become the most interesting, in the opinion of experts, of these plants - edelweiss and gentian. They can be seen on the emblem of the Vanoise National Park. Among the specially protected species in the park are the following: alpine aquilegia, various types of sedge (among them the two-colored sedge can be distinguished), alpine bells, saxifrage, the beautiful mountain primrose (Piedmontese primrose), which can truly be called the queen of the Alps.

The fauna of Vanoise National Park amazes with its diversity anyone who visits the park at least once. If you take the time to explore the wildlife of Vanoise, you will be able to see how beautiful the park's wildlife is. Vanoise contains the largest population of stonebucks in France, with approximately two thousand individuals, making it the third largest population of these animals in France. Stone goats live high in the mountains, and you can see them when they descend from their mountain cliffs and snows.

Stonebucks were widespread in the sixteenth century, but soon after hunters began using guns, stonebucks were almost all exterminated. Only about a hundred individuals survived and lived in the Gran Paradiso mountains in Italy, where hunting for these animals was prohibited in 1823. King Victor Emmanuel II created the Gran Paradiso Royal Reserve in 1856. In 1922, the reserve was expanded and declared a national park.

About five and a half thousand chamois live in the park. Small mammals that live in Vanoise include rodents such as the hare in a white winter coat, the marmot that lives in alpine meadows, and several species of voles, including the snow vole and the yellow-backed vole. Carnivorous animals in the park include fox, badger, pine marten, ermine and weasel. Also in the Vanoise Park you can see bats, in particular the pipistrel and the northern long-eared bat, and insectivores such as the white shrew. The splendor of the feathered world includes 125 species, and among them are black grouse, hazel grouse, common woodpecker, green woodpecker, three-toed woodpecker (extant in France only in the Savoy Alps), crossbill, nutcracker, white-toothed blackbird. In the alpine zone, rock thrushes, snow finches, alpine jackdaws, chukars, and alpine accentors live. In the highlands, the tundra partridge feels completely safe, and three or four pairs of golden eagles nest annually on the most inaccessible rocks - these real rulers of the skies. The park is also home to birds such as the golden eagle, white eagle owl, owl, black woodpecker, sparrow, nutcracker, multi-colored and pied flycatchers. Among the amphibians in the park there are animals such as newt, reed toad, grass toad and others. Among the reptiles you can find a viviparous lizard, various types of snakes, for example the Aesculapian snake and vipera. Vanoise is home to hundreds of species of insects. There are probably as many butterflies in the Savoy meadows as there are flowers in the spring, and among them are such wonderful ones as Vanessa and Great Apollo.

Port-Cros National Park. Port-Cros National Park is located in France, southeast of Toulon, on the island of Port-Cros, which is part of the Hyères Islands, and the adjacent waters. It was created in 1963 to preserve the nature of the Hyères Islands.

Its area is 675 hectares, and together with the islands of Levan and Porquerolles it forms the archipelago of the Golden Islands. Port-Cros Park is a real natural monument: its lands are practically untouched by humans. The island is covered with dense forests. The highest point of this area is located at an altitude of 195 meters above sea level.

Despite its small size (Port-Cros is the smallest in the Golden Islands archipelago), the island is very picturesque and interesting. Covered with forests and mountains, the park is suitable for cyclists and walkers on a variety of local trails. Are there many exciting trails leading to the island's protected areas? fragrant groves, snow-white beaches, fields of heather and lavender, ruined forts and fortresses.

At one time, the island served an important defensive function, as evidenced by its five forts. Their remains are located on the island of Port-Cros and attract travelers from all over the world (Figure 14).

Figure 14 - Hier Islands

La Palude is considered the most interesting local beach, thanks to its azure waters, abundance of marine flora and fauna, mysterious grottoes and rocks.

An interesting beach find is the underwater path, along the entire length of which there are signs containing information about the inhabitants of the sea. Since the depth of the beach water area is small (up to 10 meters), even inexperienced divers and snorkelers have the opportunity to take a closer look at the underwater world of the Mediterranean (Figure 15).

Figure 15 - Lagoon in Port-Cros Park

The water area around the beautiful island is under the protection of France, Italy, Monaco and is part of the largest nature reserve “Pelagos”. The coast of the island is inhabited by a variety of seabirds. You can see their nesting places on an excursion.

Keira Regional Natural Park. The Keira Regional Natural Park was founded in 1977. It is not one of the largest nature reserves in the country, but due to its natural and climatic conditions and the richness of nature it is considered one of the best mountain reserves in Europe. Located in the spurs of the Cotte Alps, between Briançon and the Italian border, it differs markedly from its more famous neighbors with a colorful combination of Alpine nature with more obvious Mediterranean features. Dense forests here are replaced by vast thickets of hard-leaved shrubs, green alpine meadows by mountain heaths, and steep slopes of peaks by relatively flat limestone massifs, which makes this territory one of the richest in both the abundance of living creatures and the diversity of landscapes. At the same time, access to all areas of the park is completely free, and the abundance of small mountain villages provides good conditions both for accommodation and for getting to know the local culture.

The reserve covers about 2,300 hectares at altitudes from 1,800 to 3,300 meters, stretching along the valley of the Gil River to Mount Viso (3,841 m), already located on Italian territory, the highest in the Cottian Alps. The alpine flora (there are 800 varieties of plants alone!) and fauna (about 120 species of animals) are extremely diverse here, and the numerous villages of the valley are popular, albeit small, ski resorts in winter, while in summer they provide excellent opportunities for hiking and horseback riding excursions in the mountains.

The easiest way to reach the reserve is on the A51 motorway from Marseille (distance 238 km) via Guillestre or via Briançon on the A43 motorway from Grenoble. However, it should be taken into account that many passes from October to May are either closed with snow or difficult to pass for ordinary cars.

France's national parks occupy almost 9% of its area (about 48,720 sq. km), and these are only large protected areas. A characteristic feature of the organization of the French environmental system is a network of almost fifty regional parks and hundreds of small protected areas, complementing large nature reserves, which occupy a total of another 7% of the country's territory, which forms one of the largest ecological zones in Western Europe. At the same time, the majority of French reserves are not purely natural areas in the usual sense - active tourism is actively developing on their territory, there are many historical monuments and cultural heritage sites, agricultural zones and forestry areas. Therefore, it is not surprising that protected areas account for up to 10% of foreign guests. By the way, the French themselves are much more active in this regard - up to 23% of domestic tourism, to one degree or another, comes from nature reserves.

Mercantour

The Mercantour National Park www.parc-mercantour.com (Parc National du Mercantour) occupies the mountain range of the same name with an area of ​​about 685 square meters. km in the northern part of the Alpes-Maritimes department, on the border with Italy. Founded in 1979 around the highest point of the region - Mount Gelas (Mont Gelas, Cime du Gelas, 3143 m) and the Merveilles Valley (Vallee des Merveilles - "Valley of Miracles", included in the list of historical monuments of France), it quickly turned into one one of the largest nature reserves in Europe, attracting the attention of tourists with a whole range of natural and historical sites.

The flora of the park is unique - more than 2 thousand species of plants are found here (including 54% of the species of flowering plants in France), 25 endemics and about two hundred endangered species. The fauna is also diverse - about 70 species of mammals and 76 species of birds, and near the town of Saint-Martin-Vesubie there is the only wolf reserve in the country, Alpha www.alpha-loup.com. Since 1987, Mercantour has been united with the Italian Argentera National Park, which further expands the ranges of many unique plants and animals. Moreover, in the seven central valleys - Roya, Bevera, Vesubie, Tinee, Haut Var, this is already the Alpes-Maritimes department, Verdon and Ubaye , on Russian maps for some reason designated as Ibai) - hides almost three dozen picturesque mountain villages with unique architecture, incorporating both French and Italian traditions. But the visiting card of the park is the Mervey valley (upper part of the Roya valley), lying at the foot of Mount Bego (Mt. Bego, 2872 m), in which more than 37 thousand rock paintings dating back to the 2nd millennium BC were discovered. e. (the good Mervey Museum in the town of Tende is dedicated to the same monument).

There are about 240 km of carefully thought-out and marked hiking routes throughout the park, and climbers will find many interesting rocks in the Bego, Monnier, Pelat and Mouton mountain ranges.

By car, the national park can be reached from any city on the Cote d'Azur via Monaco and Nice.

Port-Cros

Port-Cros National Park www.portcrosparcnational.fr/ (Parc national de Port-Cros) occupies part of the territory of the Hyeres Islands (Iles d'Hyeres) southeast of Toulon. Together with the botanical reserve of the island of Porquerolles, the park occupies about 10 sq. km of land and approximately 80 km of water area. It is the first marine reserve in Europe (founded in 1963), specializing in the protection of the unique ecosystems of the dry Mediterranean islands and their adjacent waters. Access to the territory of the reserve is limited (5,000 visitors daily at Porquerolles and 1,500 at Port-Cros ), especially in the summer when the risk of fires is high, but there is a whole network of walking trails that pass by ruined forts and a handful of buildings around the port of Port-Cros, through groves of dense hard-leaved bushes, fields of lavender and heather that serve as nesting sites for seabirds, and along the shores of picturesque small beaches allow you to get acquainted with the amazing nature of these places in a short time.

The island of Porquerolles offers picturesque views from the old lighthouse (open from June to September, from 11.00 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 16.30) and the surrounding cliffs, quite exotic walking routes along the coastal cliffs, through moorland and dry maquis thickets , as well as a visit to the Mediterranean Botanical Garden of Le Hameau. Here you can also swim in the sea or relax on the pine-lined beaches of Notre Dame (the longest on the island, located 3 km northeast of the village of Porquerolles, just in front of the fence that occupies the entire northern section of the military base) or Argent (1 km west port), and also swim with a mask among the coastal rocks, inhabited by myriads of living creatures both under water and above its level.

You can get to the reserve by ferries from Toulon and Le Lavandou, as well as by tourist boats from any port of the Cote d'Azur.

Vanoise

Vanoise National Park www.vanoise.com (Parc national de la Vanoise) was founded on July 6, 1963, being the very first nature reserve of this level in France. It covers approximately 1250 sq. km of the mountain range of the same name, located in the southeastern part of the Savoie department, between the Isère river in the north, the Italian border in the east, the Mont Cenis pass in the southeast and the length of the Arc River in the southwest. The central zone of the park, which occupies the highest mountainous areas of Vanoise and includes 5 small local parks, is protected very strictly - almost 80% of its territory is inaccessible to visitors, which, however, does not greatly upset the average tourist, since moving through these mountains requires quite serious mountaineering training. It was this “core” of the park that served as the impetus for the formation of the reserve, since it is home to the largest population of stone goats (Capra ibex) in France. And the same reason served to unite the territory with the Italian reserve Gran Paradiso (founded in 1922), lying in the spurs of the mountain of the same name. As a result, it was possible not only to stabilize the number of this rare animal (currently more than 2000 individuals, i.e., a third of all those living in the country), but also to support the conservation of many other rare mountain plants and animals, which turned Vanoise and Gran Paradiso to one of the most authentic areas in Europe.

A specially designated peripheral zone of the park is open to the public and unites 28 colorful mountain towns. In this territory, not only scrupulous environmental protection activities are carried out (suffice it to say that the number of protected plant species here is three times higher than in the central zone of the park, and in total more than a thousand species of flowering plants live here), but also all possible types of active recreation are developed. In addition to observing 125 species of birds, 70 species of animals and 340 species of insects, here you can go skiing (almost along the border of the park there are such famous resorts as Trois Vallées, La Plagne, Val d'Isère and Tignes), rafting, kayaking and mountaineering, visit numerous waterfalls and caves, see the Lac Blanc Polset marble cliffs and Roc de la Peche fossils, Pierre aux Pieds megaliths and Vanoise petroglyphs, or hike through the most picturesque places in the area.

By car, the national park can be reached from any city in Savoie through the Maurienne (Maurienne, A43 motorway) and Arc (D902) valleys that encircle the park from the south and through Moutiers, the Vanoise and Isère valleys from the north (N90 and 902 highways). You can also take the train to Modane (Arc Valley) and Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Isère Valley) and then take a bus to the mountains. The nearest airports are Chambery, Grenoble-Saint-Geoire, Lyon-Satolas and Geneve.

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Ecrins National Park www.les-ecrins-parc-national.fr (Parc national des Ecrins) lies on the border of the Isère and Hautes-Alpes departments, within the Dauphine Alps (Dauphine Alps, Alpes du Dauphine), the Dupelvoux massif and the Ecrins peak (4102 m ). This mountain reserve covers an area of ​​918 sq. km was founded in 1973 to protect a vast area of ​​pine and oak forests, alpine meadows and heaths. But the main decoration of the park is the abundance of glacial landforms - numerous glaciers, cirques, lakes, troughs and cirques, as well as narrow valleys of rivers born in glaciers dissect this mountain range. At the same time, Ecrins is considered the highest mountainous region in France, with the exception of Mont Blanc, of course. In the northern part of the massif there are the peaks of Ecrins (Barre des Ecrins, 4102 m), Mont Pelvoux (3946 m) and La Meije (3983 m), and the total number of “three thousand meters” here exceeds a hundred.

Within the park there are six separate reserves protecting local natural complexes, but united by a common management and control system. The nature of the park is interesting primarily for its pronounced altitudinal zone. At the foot of the majestic peaks you can see a stunning variety of species of mixed forests and alpine meadows, beautiful mountain lakes and rivers, the air above which literally trembles with myriads of insects and birds. But as you climb, the picture rapidly changes, and already on the passes you can only find mosses and lichens - and all this is literally on a one and a half to two kilometer route. At the same time, the nature of the highlands can hardly be called scarce - about fifty species of wild animals, about 300 species of plants and 56 species of insects are found here, and at the foot of the species diversity is even higher.

The Romanche, Guisane, Durance and Drac valleys surrounding the protected area provide excellent opportunities for exploring the colorful local culture, as well as for active recreation. There are about a hundred climbing routes in the highlands, and around there is a network (total length of about 1000 km) of relatively simple hiking trails, passing from pass to pass.

The park's information offices are located in the towns of Le Bourg-d'Oisans and Vallouise, through which the most optimal routes for traveling to the mountains pass.

Keira

Queyras Regional Natural Park www.queyras.com (Parc naturel regional du Queyras, founded in 1977) is not one of the largest nature reserves in the country, but due to its natural and climatic conditions and the richness of nature it is considered one of the best mountain reserves in Europe. Situated in the spurs of the Cotte Alps, between Briançon and the Italian border, it differs markedly from its more famous neighbors with its colorful combination of Alpine nature with more pronounced Mediterranean features. Dense forests here are replaced by vast thickets of hard-leaved shrubs, green alpine meadows by mountain heaths, and steep slopes of peaks by relatively flat limestone massifs, which makes this territory one of the richest in both the abundance of living creatures and the diversity of landscapes. At the same time, access to all areas of the park is completely free, and the abundance of small mountain villages provides good conditions both for accommodation and for getting to know the local culture.

The reserve covers about 2,300 hectares at altitudes from 1,800 to 3,300 meters, stretching along the valley of the Gil River to Mount Viso (Monviso, Monviso, 3841 m), already located on Italian territory - the highest in the Cottian Alps. The alpine flora (there are 800 varieties of plants alone!) and fauna (about 120 species of animals) are extremely diverse here, and the numerous villages of the valley are popular, albeit small, ski resorts in winter, while in summer they provide excellent opportunities for hiking and horseback riding excursions in the mountains.

The easiest way to get to the reserve is via the A51 motorway from Marseille (distance 238 km) via Guillestre or via Briançon on the A43 motorway from Grenoble. However, it should be borne in mind that many passes from October to May are either closed with snow or difficult to pass for ordinary cars (this especially applies to the Col Izoard - Col Agnel section).

Pyrene

The Pyrenees National Park www.parc-pyrenees.com (Parc national des Pyrenees, founded in 1967) stretches almost 100 km along the Spanish border. It covers almost 460 sq. km of the Hautes-Pyrenees and Pyrenees-Atlantique departments, and together with the adjacent French Pyrenees-Occidentales Nature Reserve (Parc national des Pyrenees Occidentales) and the Spanish national parks of Ordesa and Monte Perdido (included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List) forms a huge protected area, occupying almost half Central Pyrenees. Moreover, these regions are interesting not only for their unique natural conditions and wildlife, but also for the easy accessibility of the territory and the abundance of historical monuments.

The foothills of the Pyrenees are covered with dense beech and poplar forests; higher up there begins a zone of mixed forests inhabited by a large number of animals (about 70 species of mammals alone!), then there is a strip of dry mountain heaths and desert areas. There are 400 km of walking, equestrian and ecological trails of all levels of difficulty laid across the territory of the reserves; high mountain areas are attractive for climbers - this is where the highest point of the region is located - Mount Vinmal (3298 m) and 14 “two-thousanders”, the famous glacial circuses of Gavarnie (Joverny) and Trumuz , about 200 lakes, as well as one of the highest waterfalls in Europe - the Grand Cascade of Gavarnie (height 422 m). But the historical attractions of the region are usually of no less interest to tourists, primarily the ancient Lourdes located almost in the center of the park - one of the most important centers of religious pilgrimage in Western Europe, as well as numerous fortresses and picturesque mountain villages.

The park's information centers are located in Tarbes, Etsaut, Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Gavarnie, Laruns and Arrens. The park can be reached by air through Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport and Pau-Pyrenees Airport or by rail (SNCF line Bayonne - Toulouse) via Tarbes. You can also use road transport (highways N 85, 234 and 70), which is especially convenient for transit trips to Spain and remote mountainous areas.

Seven

The Cevennes National Park www.cevennes-parcnational.fr (Parc national des Cevennes) lies in the mountainous regions of the south of the country. The Cevennes mountain system is part of the Massif Central and one of the oldest in Europe. Therefore, these ancient landscapes with an amazing network of highly eroded mountains contain one of the most unusual natural complexes of the continent, famous for its many relict life forms. At the same time, this is one of the most ancient areas of human habitation, so in 1970, to protect the landscapes, flora, fauna and architectural heritage of the Cévennes, a national park was created, covering almost the entire southern part of the Lozère department and the northwestern part of the Gard department. In accordance with the French system of nature conservation, the park is divided into two areas - a protected central zone (zone centrale), in which all economic activities are prohibited, and a peripheral zone, in which many historical settlements are concentrated and which is open to everyone.

About 2,250 plant species live here, and a wide variety of climate (there are areas with oceanic, continental and Mediterranean types), soil chemical composition and a significant difference in elevation (from 378 to 1,699 m) allow representatives of different natural zones to live comfortably nearby. The alpine meadows of Mont Lozère (the highest point of the park, 1702 m) give way to peat bogs and lifeless mountain heaths, steppes and meadows stretch along the western slopes, while the rocky sheltered valleys of the southern slopes are covered with rich subtropical vegetation, picturesque beech, chestnut and oak forests ( approximately 58,047 hectares of forest - the largest forest area in the south of the country). Of the 400 species of flora protected in France, 33 are represented in the park, plus another 48 local varieties and more than a hundred species of rare plants are protected, which is especially surprising when you consider that almost all the slopes of the outer zone are freely used for grazing.

The fauna is no less rich - 2,420 species of animals have been recorded here, including 45% of the entire country's vertebrates, 89 species of mammals, 208 species of birds, 24 species of fish, 824 species of insects, and so on. Moreover, there are species that have long disappeared in other areas of Western Europe, including otter, beaver, mouflon, osprey and even lobster. As a result of carefully designed conservation measures, the Cevennes over the past 30 years have become one of the places in Europe with the greatest diversity of natural complexes, and in 1985 the park received the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

The green valleys and gorges of the park are home to more than 380 km of hiking and cycling trails (the highest concentration of hiking trails in the country), about 120 km of water routes, and many peaks, most notably Mont Aigoual (1565 m) and Fignel (Pic de Finiels, 1699 m) are quite suitable for simple ascents. The park's main information office, www.mescevennes.com, is located at Florac Castle, with local offices in Le Pont de Montvert, Genolhac, Valleraugue and Le Vigan. Le Vigan). Comprehensive information about the park can also be obtained from the ecological museums of Cos, Cevens and Mont Lozère (Le Pont de Montvert).

Access to Parc des Cevens is surprisingly easy thanks to two major motorways (Paris - Clermont-Ferrand - Nîmes and Béziers - Millau - Clermont-Ferrand) that circle the park from the east and west. But the interior areas are accessible only by off-road vehicles, horses and on foot.

Regional parks

In addition to national parks, France has a whole network (about 50) of regional natural parks (Parc naturel regional, PNR), whose status is determined by separate agreements between local authorities and the French government. Usually this is some kind of provincial area, distinguished by the beauty of its landscape, as well as cultural and natural originality. Regional parks were created in accordance with the decree of March 1, 1967, and their status is subject to mandatory research every 10 years, which allows for the active expansion and development of their infrastructure. As a result, many of them, since their creation, have grown into large environmental complexes that, in a number of parameters, can easily compete with the country’s large national parks.

The most famous of the regional natural parks include the reserve Camargue www.parc-camargue.fr (Camargue), occupying the entire western part of the vast Rhone River delta (area approximately 81,780 hectares). These ancient lands of salt marshes, reed swamps, sea lagoons, hundreds of channels and sandy islands are considered the last area in Europe where you can see relict semi-steppe natural complexes that have completely disappeared in other areas. Here, on an area of ​​almost one and a half thousand square kilometers, pink flamingos, white herons and many waterfowl still nest, and in total up to 300 species of birds have been recorded. In the unique juniper forest (local juniper reaches a height of up to 7 meters with a trunk diameter of up to 50 cm!) and in the endless reed thickets of numerous channels and brackish estuaries, there are more than a hundred species of mammals. But the “calling card” of the Camargue, along with pink flamingos and small (about 1.35 meters at the withers) black bulls, are wild white horses, which are also not found anywhere else in Europe.

Two new regional marine reserves can be considered a continuation of the Camargue - Côte Bleu(Cote Bleue) and Syota(Ciotat), protecting approximately 130 hectares of water in the southern part of Provence, from Lake Etang de Berre to the mouth of the Rhone.

Regional nature park Haut-Languedoc www.parc-haut-languedoc.fr lies in the southern part of the Massif Central, between Toulouse and Montpellier. The park was created on October 22, 1973 and currently covers an area of ​​2605 square meters. km, and due to its vastness it is divided into seven regions, each of which has its own characteristic natural complex. This region is widely known for its wide variety of birds - 247 species of birds live here. Recently, the park has been actively working to resettle mouflons specially brought from Corsica, which were once completely exterminated in these mountainous areas by hunters - now 1,700 hectares of the park are given over to the adaptation of these graceful animals. In addition, it is home to about a hundred other species of mammals, about 50 species of amphibians, and a staggering number of insects. And the variety of climate and relief options provides these regions with the fame of a “botanical corridor”, connecting the vegetation of the hot south with the cool northern regions of the country. Here, indeed, you can see representatives of almost all natural zones of Western Europe (about 760 species of flowering plants alone, and the forest area of ​​the park reaches 180 thousand hectares), and plants of a wide variety of floristic complexes often grow side by side. And lovers of active recreation are attracted here by picturesque valleys and low mountain ranges, slopes covered with granite boulders (here you can find both forested mountains and lifeless stone placers of ancient volcanic fields), as well as many rivers and lakes.

The main office of the park is located in the town of Saint-Pons-de-Thomieres, but in any of the cities surrounding the reserve in the departments of Tar and Hérault you can find separate information offices. You can get there by car from Toulouse and Montpellier via Revel, Saint-Chinyan and Mazamet, as well as from the north, via Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Lacon and Gaillac.

East of Avignon lies a tiny (25 km long) mountain range Luberon(Luberon), almost half of whose territory is protected by the regional natural park of the same name www.parcduluberon.com. This is a rather unusual natural complex, distinguished by the contrast of its conditions. The northern slopes of the ridge have a fairly humid climate and are relatively cold in winter, while the southern side has a warm Mediterranean climate and is covered with dense forests and pastures. If you add to this an abundance of colorful towns and villages, as well as several medieval castles, you get one of the most picturesque and, importantly, easily accessible protected areas in France. The best starting point for exploring the mountains is the modest town of Apt, with its large confectionery factory and lively market. However, most tourists immediately pass through the city, heading to a small paleontological museum, as well as to numerous resort towns in the region.

Regional nature park Verdon www.parcduverdon.fr (Verdon) lies in the south-east of France, in the Alpes-Haute-Provence department. The most beautiful canyon in Europe and the second largest in the world, the canyon of the Verdon River, which stretches 25 km in length and a depth of about 700 meters, is protected here. The most impressive part is located between the cities of Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where the river carves a picturesque gorge in the limestone massif, then breaking out into the vastness of the Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon reservoir. Lac de Sainte-Croix). The slopes of the gorge have variable steepness, and therefore in many places are overgrown with beautiful forests, while the rocky areas are extremely popular among climbers (more than 1,500 routes have been laid with a height difference from 20 to 400 meters). There are about one and a half hundred walking routes through the park and numerous adjacent gorges and slopes, allowing you to get acquainted with the most beautiful areas of the area and their inhabitants.

Due to its proximity to the Cote d'Azur and the Luberon mountains, Verdon Park is very popular among tourists. You can get here from the north, along the D952 highway from Castellane to Moutiers-Sainte-Marie, or along the left bank, along the D71, D90 and D995 roads through Aiguines.

Regional nature park Kors www.parc-corse.org (Parc Naturel Regional de Corse) occupies almost 40% of the territory of the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. This is one of the most unusual environmental complexes in France, not only protecting the unique mountainous areas of the island, famous for its stunning volcanic landscapes, dozens of lakes and majestic mountain peaks, often covered with snow (and this is in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea!), but also supporting the life of more than a hundred mountain communities . The inhabitants of these harsh mountainous regions, unable to support human life in modern conditions, in just 30 years (the park was founded in 1972) turned from shepherds into rangers, guides and guides, and the unique local nature practically got rid of powerful anthropogenic pressure , never ceasing to delight the guests of the island with its beauty. About 110 species of mammals live here, many of them being separate subspecies, more than 80 species of birds and about 1,140 species of plants, mostly mountainous. And the abundance of untouched mountain areas, lakes and colorful settlements attracts lovers of active recreation and cultural tourism. All the most interesting places in the park, divided into 11 areas, can be reached from almost anywhere in Corsica by car.

The reserve included in the integrated zone of the park deserves special attention. Calanques, or Calanche (Calanques de Piana, E Calanche di Piana, Calanches), located 5 km southwest of Porto. The term "calanque" in the western Mediterranean refers to geological formations in the form of a deep valley with steep banks, partially filled by the sea, that is, a typical fjord. There are similar formations in the Marseille area and in the Calanques massif in the Bouches-du-Rhone department, but it is in Corsica that this amazing landform appears in all its glory. Numerous orange and pink rocks and turrets, a whole “forest” of which stretches along the seashore, rise above the water to a height of up to 300 meters, forming an amazing landscape included in the UNESCO list of natural monuments. These unusual formations have had mystical significance for centuries and have been identified with various demons and animals, so they bear the appropriate names - “Dog Head”, “Bear”, “Turtle” and even “One-Eyed Bishop”. The easiest way to get to the park is by boat from Porto (excursions depart daily in summer and cost about 22 euros) or along the mountain road leading from Porto to Cargese.

Regional natural park located almost in the very center of France Brenn(La Brenne, Brenne) www.parc-naturel-brenne.fr/ is considered the most important "lake reserve" of the country. Founded on December 22, 1982, on lands between Poitiers and Chateauroux, inhabited by people for more than two thousand years, it is an example of respect for nature under the strong influence of modern civilization. Despite the fact that the French themselves call the park “lake” (etangs), this area actually contains practically no natural lakes - most of the almost 1,400 ancient local reservoirs have long been adapted by man for their needs, connected by channels and canals and are, rather, , ponds and reservoirs. However, the vast (more than 160 thousand hectares) areas of wetlands between the Creuse and Indre rivers, dense vegetation, as well as many ponds and watercourses create good conditions for nesting birds and excellent habitat for fish and mammals.

The hilly areas of the southern part of the park, called Petit Brenn ("Little Brenn"), are not officially part of the park and are used for grazing. But local wooded areas with lots of hedges have also become a refuge for thousands of living creatures that coexist with humans almost seamlessly. Birds are considered the hallmark of the region - more than 140 species of birds live here, including about 70 species that visit the park during their seasonal migrations. But Brenn is also considered the habitat of the largest population of the European aquatic turtle in France (some individuals of this reptile here reach a weight of 1 kg), as well as many species of insects (it is believed that there are as many species of dragonflies here as in the rest of the country), wild wild boar, roe deer and other animals. And in numerous reservoirs there are 56 species of fish, and no one here breeds them, rather the opposite - about 2000 tons are caught every year! However, fishing is carried out using a special technique and does not cause damage to the local ecosystem. By the way, licensed hunting is also allowed here, so this park is considered one of the most popular places for active recreation in France, which is also helped by its convenient location.

The park's vegetation is no less impressive. Despite the fact that many areas have long been altered by man and local forests can, in fact, be considered parks, extensive oak and chestnut forests have been preserved in the southern and central regions of Brenna, the cliffs of the Anglin valley are overgrown with dense pine forests, and on the marshy floodplains and More than 400 species of flowering plants can be found in peat heaths.

There are many carefully marked excursion trails throughout the park - 107 for short excursions and 2 for multi-day excursions (190 and 210 km), about one and a half hundred cycling routes (almost all local roads can be classified as such, since there is little traffic on them), including 11 specialized and 4 downhill tracks. There are several equestrian centers here, which also offer all kinds of hikes, as well as a water sports center and a leisure center in Mezieres-en-Brenne. Many tourists are also attracted by the characteristic local architecture, famous for its simple and cozy houses built of red sandstone on a characteristic white mortar, as well as several castles, monasteries and museums. You can get to the park by car from almost anywhere in France through Poitiers and Chateauroux, from which there are several roads that frame the entire territory of Brenne.

Popular attractions also include the Parisian "Aquaboulevard"(Aquaboulevard de Paris) - one of the largest water parks in Europe (over 7000 sq. m.), famous Bois de Boulogne Paris is one of the largest and most beautiful city parks in the world (area 8459 sq. km) with its own amusement park Jardin d'Acclimatation, attractions, a zoo and several museums, a unique volcanic park Volcan d'Auvergne, as well as numerous castles in France, each of which has not only a famous historical charm, but also considerable cultural and entertainment value.