National park · France
Forêts National ParkParc national de Forêts
Visit Forêts National Park for a day hike: drive from Paris (≈250 km (155 mi)) to the Arc‑en‑Barrois gate, pay the entry fee, and walk the oak‑beech trail (2 km (1.2 mi)) in under 2 h; avoid weekends in July‑August for fewer crowds.Visit Forêts National Park for a day hike: drive from Paris (≈155 mi (250 km)) to the Arc‑en‑Barrois gate, pay the entry fee, and walk the oak‑beech trail (1.2 mi (2 km)) in under 2 h; avoid weekends in July‑August for fewer crowds.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²)
approximate
Established
2021
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
At a glance
- Country
- France
- Area
- 500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²)
- check
- Established
- 2021
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Forêts National Park, the first French low‑land national park on the Langres plateau, offers marked oak‑beech trails, wildlife spotting and nearby village amenities for day visitors.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2021.
Size and age
500 km² (193 sq mi)193 sq mi (500 km²) · national park since 2021
check
Why go
- Low‑land forest landscape on the Langres plateau, the only French national park of this type.
- Well‑marked oak, hornbeam and beech trails suitable for short day walks.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool, dry
- FebCool, occasional rain
- MarMild, early spring
- AprBlooming forest
- MayWarm, dry
- JunHeat, occasional storms
- JulPeak heat, crowds
- AugHot, possible thunderstorms
- SepCooler, fewer visitors
- OctAutumn colours
- NovCool, quiet
- DecCold, quiet
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European roe deer, red fox, various forest birdsMar–Nov · check | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Paris
Take the A5 south, exit onto D10 after ~250 km (155 mi), then 20 km (12 mi) south to the park gate.Take the A5 south, exit onto D10 after ~155 mi (250 km), then 12 mi (20 km) south to the park gate.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Dijon
Drive east on the A31, then D10 to the gate.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Arc‑en‑Barrois visitor centre | Gate, information desk, map, short forest loops. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Forest trail network | Marked loops of 2–8 km (1.2–5 mi) through oak‑beech woods.Marked loops of 1.2–5 mi (2–8 km) through oak‑beech woods. | Open to all visitors. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates centred on the Arc‑en‑Barrois gate; other points approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (Arc‑en‑Barrois gate) | EUR 5–7 (≈ US$6–9) | person | 2026 estimate |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Allowed on leash only on marked trails.
- Camping
- Only in designated campsite; backcountry camping prohibited.
- Fire
- Open fires not allowed; use designated BBQ areas.
Where to stay
Near the park
Logis Hôtel le Parc
Mid‑range hotel in Arc‑en‑Barrois, 5 min walk to the gate.
Near the park
Camping Le Vieux Moulin
Campground with basic facilities, 2 km (1.2 mi) from the visitor centre.Campground with basic facilities, 1.2 mi (2 km) from the visitor centre.
Safety
Heat in summer medium
Tick bites in forest low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centre reachable by car with short, level walks.
- Longer forest loops have uneven terrain; not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in local lodging and eat at nearby restaurants to support the community.
- Stick to marked trails to protect forest floor.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Forêts National Park?
Entry is €5–€7 per adult; children under 12 enter free (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Forêts National Park?
The 2 km oak‑beech loop (easy, 1–2 h) and the longer 8 km mixed‑forest circuit (moderate, 3–4 h) are the most popular.
When is the best time to visit Forêts National Park?
April to June and September to October offer mild weather and fewer visitors.
Can I camp in the forest?
Backcountry camping is prohibited; use the designated Camping Le Vieux Moulin site.
Is the park accessible by public transport?
No regular public bus; most visitors drive or use a hired car from nearby towns.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialOfficial park website
- officialWikidata entry
- secondaryWikivoyage: Forêts National Park, revision 5134243 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Forêts National Park
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