France has a system of nine national parks, five of which are on the French mainland (Les Cévennes, Les Ecrins, Le Mercantour, Les Pyrénées, and La Vanoise), three in French territories (La Guadeloupe, Réunion, and Parc Amazonien en Guyane), and one off France’s southern coast (Port-Cros). National parks make up 0.7% of France’s overall area and draw over seven million visitors each year. Check out the extensive www.parcsnationaux-fr.com for helpful information in multiple languages. All national parks have visitors centers with knowledgeable staff; be sure to stop at them before setting out on strenuous hikes. Most parks have camping areas and many have gîtes, for those who prefer not to rough it. France also has numerous locally run parcs naturels régionaux (regional parks) and réserves naturelles (natural reserves). For more info on France’s parks and reserves, check out www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr, www.reserves-naturelles.org, and www.espaces-naturels.fr.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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