The 14 most beautiful natural parks to make in France

Do you want to rediscover the Exagon and its natural wonders? Don’t wait to visit the 14 most beautiful natural parks in France!

Sometimes it is not necessary to go to the other end of the world to be overwhelmed and discover breathtaking landscapes! France has a diversified and breathtaking nature that never ceases to amaze us! With no less than 10 national parks, 54 regional parks and 9 marine natural parks, unspoiled natural spaces are numerous in France. They promise the curious visitors of beautiful walks. Each park has its uniqueness and its own natural wealth.

So here’s a little overview of the most beautiful of them. From the Gorges du Verdon to the volcanoes of Auvergne to the Calanques, discover our selection of the most beautiful natural parks to visit in France.

1. Verdon Regional Natural Park

It’s hard to start the selection of the most beautiful natural parks in France without beginning with the best known and rightly one of the most beautiful. The Verdon Regional Natural Park is located in the green hinterland. It houses the deepest canyon in Europe, whose depth reaches 700 metres. This park also houses the Verdon River, whose turquoise blue color reminds the color of the Caribbean Sea. This is the ideal place to swim or canyoning. Rent a kayak to climb the Verdon Gorges!

2. Vanoise National Park

Founded in 1963, the Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of five natural reserves in Savoie. The park comprises 28 municipalities. Its area is more than 145,000 hectares. It has 14 kilometers in common with the Italian National Park of Gran Paradiso with which it has been combined since 1972. Its mountains peak at nearly 3850 meters above sea level. The park offers great floral biodiversity with more than 1200 registered plant species including 200 remarkable or endemic. With its 107 lakes and 20 glaciers, the Vanoise Park will make hikers happy.

3. Corsica Regional Natural Park

Second regional natural park in France in terms of area, the natural park of Corsica covers over 350,000 hectares. It covers almost 40% of the area of the island of beauty. You can admire the landscapes and natural places of singular beauty. You will discover the Fango valley which is classified by Unesco as a biosphere reserve. We can also offer a boat ride off the coast of Scandola Marine Natural Reserve . You can also hike in the Agritas desert and reach paradise beaches that are not frequented.

4. Mercantour National Park

The Mercantour National Park is one of the eleven national parks in France. It is located only an hour from the French coast, between the Alpes-Maritimes and the Alpes de Haute-Provence, Created in 1979, it is renowned for its landscapes with Mediterranean and alpine influences. Its particular situation between sea and mountain gives it a unique character. Thanks to this location, the park is considered to be one of the richest natural spaces in the metropolis by its biodiversity. Beyond its unspoiled nature, you can admire rock engravings in the valley of the Wonders and practice many activities adapted to each season.

5. Armorique Regional Natural Park

Created in 1969, the Armorique Regional Natural Park is the second oldest regional natural park in France. It houses mountainous areas as well as maritime spaces. It offers a true diversity of landscapes that will combine both mountain and sea lovers. At the top of Mont d’Arrée, which peaks at 385 metres, you can observe landes with Irish countryside. A few kilometers away is the peninsula of Crozon with its beautiful beaches with turquoise blue water. If you are visiting Brittany, a stop in the Regional Natural Park of Armorique is mandatory.

6. Camargue Regional Natural Park

Nestled between the Rhone’s arms, this wetland of more than 150,000 hectares, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful natural parks in France. It is a true sanctuary for birds whose famous pink flamingo. The Camargue Regional Natural Park is also recognized as a botanical and zoological reserve. You can admire the typical horses of the region. Visitors can also discover diverse landscapes: salt marshes, rice fields and golden sand beaches.

7. Regional Natural Park of the Eastern Forest

Let's leave now in the Great East region. Take a large bowl of fresh air in the Regional Natural Park of the Eastern Forest. Located 220 km southeast of Paris, in the department of Aube, this park was created in 1970. It is one of the first five parks to have been designated as a regional natural park in France. On a total area of 715 km2, it houses forests, natural reserves that host many species of migratory birds and three large lakes. These are used to regulate the flow of the Seine and serve as a reservoir for the communes present on the site. The Regional Natural Park of the Eastern Forest is a wonderful place to spend a day with friends or family.

8. Parc national des Ecrins

Between the North Alps and the South Alps, the Ecrins National Park is considered the European high mountain park. With no less than 100 peaks of more than 3000 metres above sea level, the park is a paradise destination for high-level hikers and climbers. It includes the top of the Bar of Ecrins, which peaks at 4102 metres. You will be pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of the landscapes: majestic mountain peaks, lush meadows, wild torrents and lakes that reflect the purity of the glaciers.

9. Calanques National Park

Calanques National Park is the 10th French National Park. It was created in 2012. It is known worldwide for its grandiose landscapes of limestone cliffs plunging into the water of the sea sometimes turquoise sometimes marine. It is also the first national park in Europe both terrestrial, marine, island and peri-urban. The Parc des Calanques is located in the heart of the Aix-Marseille Provence metropolis. Its name comes from the coves surrounded by rocks that are there and called calanques. These are twenty-six and range from Marseille to Cassis. To discover these geological formations, you can choose to take a boat trip, scuba diving, or a kayak ride. These landscapes will not leave you indifferent.

10. Cevennes National Park

Created in 1970, the Cevennes National Park is one of the ten national parks in France. It is located south of the Central Massif. Its territory extends over Lozère, Gard and Ardèche. He was designated a biosphere reserve in 1985. The Cévennes Park is full of abundant flora, areas of great natural beauty, mountains and high plateaus, and several traditional villages preserved. On each side of the mountains you will cross diversified landscapes, more rugged and cozy in the north and more Mediterranean towards the southeast.

11. Regional Natural Park of Ballons des Vosges

The Regional Natural Park of Ballons des Vosges is the ideal place to escape the time of a weekend. It covers two regions, the Grand East region and the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. The territory includes large cities such as Belfort, Mulhouse and Colmar. It is therefore one of the most populous regional natural parks. The park is home to many lakes that recall the charm of Canadian lakes and many hiking trails where you can cross a variety of wildlife.

12. Port-Cros National Park

The Port-Cros National Park is Europe’s first land and marine park. It is a small paradise nestled in the heart of the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean. Since 1963, the park that engulfs the islands of Port Cros, Porquerolles and Levant has maintained its natural heritage and biological wealth. During your visit, you will discover coves with translucent waters, steep cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches. You can also observe archaeological remains, ship wrecks and military forts. The Port-Cros National Park is full of treasures. Nothing like a scuba diving trip, a bike ride on the island of Porquerolles or a hike to discover them.

13. Auvergne Volcano Regional Natural Park

The Auvergne Volcano Regional Natural Park is the largest regional park in Metropolitan France. It extends over 3,897 km2. It is also the oldest regional park since its creation dates back to 1977. He's in the middle of Massif Central. It consists of six different volcanic massifs including that of the Cantal which is the relic of a huge stratovolcano of nearly 4000 meters. The summit Puy de Dôme , the Volcano of Lemptegy, Puy de Sancy , Vulcania, Lake Guéry are among the places to visit in this beautiful park. You will learn more about the Auvergne volcano chain and the history of the region.

14. Vercors Regional Natural Park

Between the Drôme and Isère reveal the beauties of the Vercors Regional Natural Park. It is one of the most beautiful natural parks to visit in France. It is a true natural limestone citadel. You will discover spectacular cliffs bordering narrow gorges and at the bottom of which rivers and streams flow. The Vercors Regional Natural Park is known to house some unforgettable natural sites. The cave of Choranche, the gorges of the Bourne and the garden of the Pétrifiant Fountains. Over the seasons, the park offers a wide range of activities between mountain biking, mountain biking and climbing to admire this wild nature.