Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park, Regional natural park in Lower Normandy, France.
The park extends across 257,000 hectares of forests, fields, and rivers, encompassing diverse landscapes in the departments of Orne, Manche, Mayenne, and Sarthe.
The regional natural park, established in 1975, has grown from its initial 234,000 hectares to protect natural environments and support sustainable development initiatives.
The territory includes 164 communes that maintain traditional architecture, local craftsmanship, and agricultural practices representing the regional identity of Normandy.
Visitors can access information centers throughout the park that provide detailed maps, trail recommendations, and educational materials about the local ecology.
The park contains La carrière des Vaux, which holds the distinction of being France's smallest nature reserve at just 0.37 hectares.
Location: Orne
Inception: 1975
Email: info@parc-normandie-maine.fr
Website: http://parc-naturel-normandie-maine.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.49000,-0.22139
Latest update: June 2, 2025 22:36
France maintains eleven national parks and dozens of regional nature parks that protect diverse landscapes from the Mediterranean coast to the Alps. The protected areas preserve mountains, coastlines, wetlands, volcanic formations and forests. They provide habitat for various wildlife and plant species while offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching and other outdoor activities. The Parc National des Écrins and Vanoise National Park lie in the French Alps, featuring alpine terrain with glaciers and mountain lakes. Mercantour National Park stretches from the Maritime Alps to the Mediterranean coast. Calanques National Park near Marseille protects limestone cliffs and inlets. Cévennes National Park in Occitanie encompasses forested mountains and plateaus. Coastal areas such as Port-Cros and Camargue preserve Mediterranean ecosystems and wetlands. The Volcans d'Auvergne in the Massif Central protects extinct volcanoes and lava fields, while parks like Morvan and Ballons des Vosges preserve forested mid-elevation ranges.
Château de la Motte-Husson
45.1 km
Castle of Carrouges
9.2 km
Château de la Motte
22.5 km
Mont des Avaloirs
7.2 km
Château d'O
28.8 km
Sées Cathedral
31.8 km
Castle of Lassay
21.3 km
Archaeological site of Jublains
32.8 km
Signal d'Écouves
20 km
Château de Sassy
24.6 km
Abbaye Blanche
56.5 km
Mayenne's Castle
36 km
Château de Domfront
33.8 km
Château de Médavy
31.5 km
Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Alençon
23.9 km
Château des ducs d'Alençon
23.5 km
Evron Abbey
39.5 km
Manoir de la Saucerie
38.2 km
Château du Rocher
37.2 km
Château de Bonnétable
58.7 km
Château de Montecler
43.3 km
Abbaye Saint-Martin de Sées
31.9 km
Abbaye de Lonlay
39.9 km
Château de Hauteville
14.8 km
Butte Chaumont
14.4 km
Château de Chèreperrine
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Château de Foulletorte
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Thermes de Bagnoles-de-l'Orne
16.1 kmReviews
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