Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve
Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in Essonne department, France
The Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve encompasses 130 municipalities across forests, heathlands, wetlands, and agricultural landscapes with 290,000 residents.
The region gained protected status in 1999 as part of UNESCO's global network, building upon Napoleon III's establishment of the first nature reserve in 1861.
Local communities maintain traditional farming practices and organize seasonal markets featuring regional products from the Gâtinais agricultural heritage.
The reserve provides marked trails through four distinct zones: Forest of Fontainebleau, Valley of Loing and Orvanne, Valley of Essonne, and Calcareous grassland.
The area contains over 2,000 engraved rocks, making it Europe's largest prehistoric site, while supporting 5,000 plant species and 6,500 animal species.
Location: Essonne
Inception: 1999
Website: http://parc-gatinais-francais.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.40000,2.46667
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:43
Château des Vives Eaux
16.2 km
Château de Courances
4.6 km
Fontainebleau rock climbing
11.4 km
Moulin de Claude François
6.1 km
Le Cyclop
1.8 km
Château de Chamarande
22.1 km
Castle of Fleury-en-Bière
7.9 km
Château de Farcheville
13.5 km
Château du Saussay
14.9 km
Abbaye Notre-Dame du Lys
17.9 km
Château d'Augerville
16.7 km
Château de Malesherbes
13.1 km
Château de Mesnil-Voisin
19.5 km
Jean Cocteau House
308 m
Chapelle Saint-Blaise-des-Simples
589 m
Château de Sainte-Assise
16.7 km
Basilique Saint-Mathurin de Larchant
16.1 km
Château de Vaux-le-Pénil
21 km
Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, Melun
20.8 km
Church Saint-Aspais
21 km
Château de Frémigny
17.6 km
Musée des Peintres de Barbizon
11.3 km
Château de Gillevoisin
21 km
Departmental Domain of Chamarande
22.1 km
Château de Villiers
13.3 km
National Gendarmerie Museum
21.2 km
Château de Milly-la-Forêt
304 m
Table du Roi
17.3 kmReviews
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