Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in Essonne department, France
The Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais Biosphere Reserve spreads across forests, heathlands, wetlands, and farm land in the Essonne region south of Paris. It includes four landscape zones connected together, each with different natural habitats and communities.
The area received UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status in 1999, building on the creation of France's first nature reserve here under Napoleon III in 1861. This protection has shaped the landscape for generations.
Local farming communities maintain traditional methods visible in the landscape and organize seasonal markets with regional products from the Gâtinais area. You can experience how agriculture and conservation are connected in daily life here.
Marked trails run through four different landscape zones with varying difficulty and length options. It helps to wear appropriate footwear and clothing suited to the season and weather conditions.
The area holds over 2,000 engraved rocks dating back to prehistory, Europe's oldest artistic traces. These ancient stone carvings show that people have lived and worked in this landscape for thousands of years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
