Palatinate Forest-North Vosges Biosphere Reserve, Transboundary biosphere reserve in Rhineland-Palatinate and Grand Est, Germany and France

The Palatinate Forest-North Vosges Biosphere Reserve is a cross-border protected area between the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the French region of Grand Est, covering 3,062 km². Forest makes up about 74% of its surface, dominated by beech, Scots pine and oak on sandstone, with narrow valleys, streams and artificial ponds. The French part corresponds to the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, the German part to the Palatinate Forest.

The reserve was recognized by UNESCO in December 1998 as the first cross-border biosphere reserve in Europe. It grew from two separate protected areas, one on each side of the border, which were brought together under shared management.

Ruined castles sitting on sandstone rocks above the trees are a common sight on both sides of the border and many can be visited on foot. The villages nearby share similar building styles and cooking traditions, shaped by centuries of life between two countries.

The reserve can be explored on foot, by bike, or on horseback, with marked routes linking forests, rocks, and villages on both sides of the border. Sturdy shoes and a paper map are a good idea, as some paths pass through remote stretches where phone signal can be weak.

The reserve's sandstone bedrock, laid down some 200 million years ago, erodes into table-like and ruined cliff forms that often carry the ruins of feudal castles. The Vosges du Nord and the Palatinate Forest share the same three elements: sandstone, water and forest, with beech, Scots pine and oak dominating. The Palatinate Forest also holds a vineyard on its eastern slope.