Parc naturel transfrontalier du Hainaut, Protected natural area between Valenciennes and Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France and Belgium.
This cross-border natural park spreads across forests, meadows, rivers, and farmland that wind along the Escaut and Scarpe waterways through France and Belgium. The landscape blends woodlands, open fields, and water channels into a varied environment where natural and farmed areas mix together.
Cross-border cooperation started in 1983 when the Wallonia and Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions decided to create a shared protected area. Multiple international development programs then strengthened this partnership and turned the park into an established reality.
The park area is shaped by French and Belgian villages where people continue traditional farming ways and welcome visitors into their communities. Local residents live closely with the land and regularly organize events to help travelers understand the natural surroundings.
The park offers visitor centers, marked walking trails, cycling routes, and rest areas throughout its grounds. Special pathways connect the French and Belgian sections, making it possible to explore different parts of the protected land in an organized way.
The protected area brings together two separate nature reserves: the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Natural Park on the French side and the Escaut Plains Natural Park on the Belgian side. Though administered separately, they now function as a coordinated unit working toward shared conservation goals.
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