The most beautiful nature parks in France

28 November, 2022

Have you ever seen marmots, dolphins or wild horses? In France, a versatile holiday destination, there are beautiful nature parks with wild animals where you can go hiking, mountain biking, canoeing or explore castles and caves. We present ten beautiful national parks and nature parks in France.

1. Camargue National Nature Reserve just below Arles
2. Écrins National Park between Gap, Briançon and Grenoble
3. Vanoise National Park in the Rhône-Alpes
4. Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park
5. The Pyrenees, on the French side
6. The Jura next to the Swiss border
7. The Mediterranean coastline way down south
8. The Cévennes in the Massif Central
9. Nature parks along the Atlantic coastline
10. Mercantour National Park

1. Camargue National Nature Reserve – just below Arles

This nature reserve is located in the south of France and is part of the Camargue marshland. While hiking, you will see many animals, such as the herd of white horses (the Camargue horse) that grazes in the area and the pink flamingos that wade in the water. As long as you keep your distance, you will be able to observe the animals – an extraordinary experience!

Campsites close to the Camargue

Camping Sandaya Les Tamaris is located right on the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea and is not far from the bustling city of Montpellier. You can drive to the Camargue in about an hour, making it ideal as an excursion.

Camping Sandaya L’Ile des Papes has a very special location: it is on an island in the Rhône river, close to the historic city of Avignon. You can get to the Camargue in an hour from this great campsite as well.

2. Écrins National Park

The Écrins is a large national park in the centre of the French Alps, between the cities Grenoble, Gap and Briançon. The park has imposing mountains, glaciers and picturesque mountain lakes. The famous Alpe d’Huez is in the northern part of the park and the clear blue Lake Serre-Poncon can be found in the south. While hiking, you can spot ibex, mountain goats and marmots!

Take the cable car from La Grave to the glacier of La Meije. The cable car will take you up to 3211 metres. Or go on a mountain hike to the Glacier Blanc’s refuge mountain hut. On the way, you will come face-to-face with tame marmots. Reserve a day for canoeing or climbing with the family along a Via Ferrata. Ask at the campsite for fun child-friendly routes.

Campsites in the Écrins

3. Vanoise National Park – in the Rhône-Alpes

The Vanoise National Park is an impressive mountainous area that borders along Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park. You can follow great trails or go on hut-to-hut hikes here, all of which are suitable for children as well. If you take a cable car up, it saves you climbing a lot of metres in altitude. The Du Mont-Bochor cable car will take you from Pralognan-la-Vanoise to an altitude of 2010 metres in no time.

Enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer. This is home for many chamois and ibex, and there are 125 kinds of summer birds that breed in the area. With some luck, you can even admire a golden eagle or a bearded vulture.

Campsites in the Vanoise

4. Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park

The sunny Ardèche is an amazing camping destination and there are plenty of beautiful campsites in the Ardèche, many of which are located close to water. This is perfect for exploring this beautiful area by canoe.

The Monts d’Ardèche Regional Nature Park takes up a large part of the Ardèche. It is a beautiful nature reserve with clear blue rivers, waterfalls, ancient villages and great hiking paths. The ‘Gorges de l’Ardèche’ with its famous arch over the river (the Pont d’Arc) is a must. There are also various caves with ancient wall paintings in the Ardèche. Plenty to see!

Campsites in de Ardèche

5. The Pyrenees

Part of the Pyrenees are located in France and part in Spain. The mountain range forms a natural border between the two countries. If you are on camping holiday along the southern part of the Atlantic coastline or in the area of Perpignan or Argelès-sur-Mer, you are close to the French Pyrenees.

An ideal location for an active excursion in nature, such as mountain biking, canyoning, rock climbing or exploring caves. This nature reserve has many wild animals, including its famous deer, foxes and wild boar. You may also encounter more unusual animals, such as bears, wolves and ibex (which mainly live high in the mountains).

Campsites in the Pyrenees from the north

Campsites in the Pyrenees from the south

6. The Jura

Like the Alps and the Pyrenees, the Jura Mountains also have countless unusual animal species that you may encounter while hiking. The forests of the Jura Mountains contain deer, roe deer, hares and wild boar that are easy to see. You can even walk among the footprints of real dinosaurs in Jura at Dinosaur track site in Loulle.

Spotting a lynx is more difficult. This feline was re-released in the area in 1974 and has succeeded in recapturing its natural place. And don’t forget, you may spot a mountain goat on your hike as well. But you will have to keep your binoculars focused on the rocks of Château-de-Joux in particular. Be sure to visit the Cascades du Herisson (the waterfalls of Hèrisson) or the Cascade des Tufs.

Campsites in the Jura Mountains

Campsite Le Moulin is ideal for holidaymakers who love swimming, outdoor sports and nature. Go canoeing, mountain biking, or visit caves in the beautiful Jura Mountains.

Campsite Ecologique La Roche d’Ully has a beautiful location in the mountainous and green landscape. It has a beautiful swimming pool, wellness facilities and a biological vegetable garden.

7. The Mediterranean coastline

Mention of the Mediterranean coastline of Southern France brings to mind cities like Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Nice, white sandy beaches and bustling harbours. But the scenery along the Mediterranean Sea is also beautiful, both in and above the water. Book a boat trip or a lesson in snorkelling or go diving from the campsite and spot unusual animals such as dolphins and colourful starfish. The French coastline has two unique national parks: Calanques National Park en Port-Cros National Park.

Calanques National Park

The beautiful calanques are located close to Marseille. They are fjord-like valleys that have been eroded by rivers and join the sea. This is a great area to go hiking, swimming and sailing. If you are curious about this park, read our blog about 5 beautiful calanques.

Port-Cros National Park

Port-Cros National Park is France’s oldest underwater park and is a popular place for diving and snorkelling. The park consists of the Port-Cros island and the smaller islands La Gabinière and Le Bagaud. The ‘golden island’ Porquerolles is also part of the park. A trip to these islands is certainly worth the trouble because of their natural beauty and rich history. You will find, among other things, medieval fortresses and shipwrecks in the water.

Campsites near Port-Cros National Park

8. The Cévennes

The Cévennes National Park is located in the Central Massif in Southern France. The gorges in this mountainous area are impressive attractions. The ‘Gorges du Tarn’ is 500 metres deep in some places. The ‘Gorges de la Jonte’ is also worth visiting. The tallest mountain in the Cévennes is Mont Lozère. There are beautiful hiking trails here. With a bit of luck, you will spot a griffon vulture circling above the rocks in the Cévennes.

Campsite tip in the Cévennes

Camping RCN Val de Cantobre is situated smack dab in the middle of nature and offers a beautiful view. The Gorges du Tarn is about thirty kilometres from this campsite.

9. Nature parks along the French Atlantic coastline

The sun-drenched French Atlantic coastline is not just a popular camping and beach destination. It is also nature at its finest. You can camp here among the wonderfully fragrant maritime pines with several beautiful inland lakes, surrounded by greenery.

A special piece of nature is the Dune du Pilat. This dune is more than 100 metres high, making it the tallest dune in Europe! A little more north, above La Rochelle, is the Regional National Park of Marais Poitevin. This huge marshland can be explored on foot, by bicycle or with a boat or canoe.

Campsites near the Dune of Pilat

Campsites near the Marais Poitvin

10. Mercantour National Park

The magnificent Mercantour National Park is located in Southern France, north of Nice and along the border with Italy. Hiking and mountain biking are amazing in this beautiful mountainous area. Because the park is rather remote, there are many wild animals, such as the ibex, chamois, golden eagles, marmots and wolves. Ancient drawings have also been found carved by shepherds into the rocks around 1500 BC.

Campsites near Mercantour National Park

Tips for spotting animals in the wild

With a bit of luck, you can spot wild animals in the nature parks in France. Many animals are shy. Here are some tips that will make the wild animals less likely to see or hear you coming:

• Do not wear bright articles of clothing
• Find a quiet spot among the trees
• Approach quietly (preferably downwind)
• Take some binoculars along
• Study the animals that you want to see beforehand. For example, deer often look for a place to graze in the morning. Boars search for food in the morning or in the evening. Each animal has different habits..
• Do not make any sudden movements
• Check beforehand whether there are special observation points from which you can view the animals or ask at the campsite where the animals can be seen

More tips for nature lovers

If you would like to see more animals in France, here are the ten best zoos and aquariums in France. For more information about a holiday in the mountains with young children, read the tips for a holiday in the mountains in Austria. If you are going on holiday in Slovenia and are ready for an exciting adventure, read our blog about bear spotting in Slovenia.