Forêts National Park is a French national park located in the northeastern part of metropolitan France, not far from Dijon to the north. It protects the broad-leaved trees typical of the southeastern Paris Basin plateau.
Forêts National Park is 560 square kilometres (220 sq mi) in area; it spans the border between the departments of Haute-Marne in Grand Est and Côte-d'Or in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, covering 59 communes partly or totally. It is the sole national park in both Grand Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Getting there
The national park is one the closest ones to Paris. The easiest way to reach the park is to drive from Paris and the drive will take you approximately 3 hours. An alternative route is to reach the park from the southern parts of France.
When to visit
The national park is great to visit all year. You will be able to go on hikes both during the warmer months and during winter.
Map of Forêts National Park
Image gallery of Forêts National Park
Wildlife in Forêts National Park
These sections shows you some of the characteristic wildlife to the national park.
Mushroom hunting in Forêts National Park
There are not much information to be found on mushroom hunting in Forêts National Park. Be sure to speak to the local authorities about your plans and they should be able to guide you.
Mushroom hunting is very popular in France and the local enjoy this activity all over the country during late summer and fall. Mushrooms always belong to the owner of the land. You should therefore make sure to know the property you are planning to forage on.
You should always remember to respect the following rules when foraging in France:
Camping rules in Forêts National Park
The laws on wild camping in France is somewhat of a grey area. You are allowed to camp with the permission of the landowner or a tenant of the land. The rules in national parks are more restrictive and you should generally not wild camp within the park borders. You can always explain your plans to the local authorities and get advice on where and how to camp.
Bears in Forêts National Park
No bears in the park
This national park has no bears and you do not need to take precautions.
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