Regional Natural Parks of the French Mountains

What is a “Regional Natural Park?” More than just a label, it is an engagement, preserving the natural wealth of the terrain, serving visitors and local inhabitants. Here, an overview of these treasures of the French mountains.

Serving Nature

Explained simply, a Regional Natural Park is an inhabited, rural territory valued for its heritage and natural beauty. This designation indicates a concerted effort towards sustainable development and a valorisation of the natural, cultural and human resources found in the area. Regional Natural Parks engage in economic, social and cultural development that is respectful of the environment, and create opportunities for local inhabitants.  Regional Natural Parks are entirely accessible to the public, inviting visitors to discover their natural wealth. Exceptional landscapes and heritage sites, extensive networks of trails, bird observation areas and thematic outings will delight nature lovers, year-round.

Representing the French Mountains

There are 46 Regional Natural Parks in France, covering 13% of the total territory of the country. Naturally, a significant number are located in the mountains. The oldest of these sites astride the Drôme and the Isère. Dating back to 1970, the Parc du Vercors is renowned for the incredible diversity of its landscapes, from high mountain pastures in the north to sun-swept hillsides in the south, which host an exceptional variety of flora and fauna. Since 1985, the mountain plateaux of this park have come to represent the largest natural reserve in continental France.

Throughout the French mountains, the same philosophy and obligations are in place. From the forests of Mélèzes du Queyras to the Chartreuse massif, from the trails of the GR20 which wind through the mountains of Corsica, to the chalky peaks of Plantaurel des Pyrénées Ariégeoises. The Alps, the Pyrenees, the Jura, the Vosges, the Central Massif, Corsica…for over 40 years, Regional Natural Parks have been an essential element of mountain life, serving man and nature, preserving the fragile balance of these precious landscapes.

List of Regional Natural Parks of the French mountains:

Vosges Massif:

- Parc Naturel des Vosges du nord
- Parc Naturel des Ballons des Vosges

Jura Massif :
- Parc Naturel du Haut Jura

Central Massif:
- Parc Naturel du Morvan
- Parc Naturel des Monts d’Ardèche
- Parc Naturel du Pilat
- Parc Naturel du Livradois Forez
- Parc Naturel des Volcans d’Auvergne
- Parc Naturel du Haut Languedoc

Alps Massif:
- Parc Naturel du Massif des Bauges
- Parc Naturel de la Chartreuse
- Parc Naturel du Vercors
- Parc Naturel du Queyras
- Parc Naturel du Verdon
- Parc Naturel du Luberon
- Parc Naturel de la Corse

Pyrenees Massif:
- Parc Naturel des Pyrénées Ariégoises
- Parc Naturel des Pyrénées Catalanes

List of National Natural Parks in the French mountains:
- Parc National des Ecrins
- Parc National du Mercantour
- Parc National de la Vanoise
- Parc National des Cévennes
- Parc National des Pyrénées

Photos : Fabien Mullet, PJ Giroux