National park · France
Morvan Regional Natural ParkParc naturel régional du Morvan
Entry to the park is free — you pay only for parking, boats and castles. Base in Avallon or Saulieu and drive the D-roads between the six lakes; walk the Tour du Morvan or the Bibracte ramparts in May–June or September, and skip the Haut-Folin summit in July–August when the forest car parks fill by 10:00.Entry to the park is free — you pay only for parking, boats and castles. Base in Avallon or Saulieu and drive the D-roads between the six lakes; walk the Tour du Morvan or the Bibracte ramparts in May–June or September, and skip the Haut-Folin summit in July–August when the forest car parks fill by 10:00 AM.
- 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.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2,909 km² (1,123 sq mi)1,123 sq mi (2,909 km²)
approximate
Established
1970
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
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
- 2,909 km² (1,123 sq mi)1,123 sq mi (2,909 km²)
- 290,900 ha across 117 municipalities in Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne and Côte-d'Or (check current boundary).
- Established
- 1970
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
The Morvan is a granite hill country in the middle of Burgundy, an offshoot of the Massif Central, protected since 1970 as a regional natural park rather than a gated reserve: 117 municipalities, mixed hardwood forest, hedgerows, meadows and six reservoirs built for flood control and hydro power. There is no entrance fee and no single entrance — you drive the D-roads between the lakes, walk the waymarked long-distance routes, and pay only for parking, boat hire, the Bibracte museum and the privately owned castles. The Maison du Parc at Saint-Brisson is the information point and the museum of the Morvan.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1970.
Size and age
2,909 km² (1,123 sq mi)1,123 sq mi (2,909 km²) · national park since 1970
290,900 ha across 117 municipalities in Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne and Côte-d'Or (check current boundary).
Why go
- A granite hill country that is an offshoot of the Massif Central: mixed forest, hedgerows, meadows and six reservoirs, with no industry and dark night skies.
- The Gallic oppidum of Bibracte on Mont Beuvray, with excavated ramparts and a museum, sits inside the park.
- The GRP Tour du Morvan links the six main lakes in about 220 km (137 mi), and the GR13 crosses the park north–south for roughly 140 km (87 mi).The GRP Tour du Morvan links the six main lakes in about 137 mi (220 km), and the GR13 crosses the park north–south for roughly 87 mi (140 km).
- Free to enter: the park is a lived-in landscape of villages and farms, not a gated reserve.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- Jan0 °C (32 °F) nights, wet trails, many gîtes closed32 °F (0 °C) nights, wet trails, many gîtes closed
- FebCold and grey; short days
- MarMild spells, mud; castles reopen
- AprBlossom and wildflowers; showers
- MayWarm, green, long evenings
- JunLong days; lakes warm enough to swim
- JulBusiest; book lakeside campsites ahead
- AugPeak French holiday month; car parks full by 10:00Peak French holiday month; car parks full by 10:00 AM
- SepDry, quiet, mushroom season starts
- OctAutumn colour; some sites close late month
- NovWet and quiet; fog on the ridges
- DecCold, ice possible on high ground
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer, wild boar, foxes and badgersAll year · Common in the forest; dawn and dusk are best, and drive carefully at night. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds of prey — buzzards, hawks, kites, harriers, ospreyMar–Sep · Circling over the open meadows and lake shores. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Wildflowers — primroses, orchids, wood anemones, wild daffodilMar–May · Spring is the strongest season in the hedgerows and woodland edges. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Mushrooms and fungiSep–Nov · Autumn is the peak; pick only what you can identify and check local rules. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Bats at duskMay–Sep · Active around the lakes and old buildings after sunset. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | 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
A6 south to the Avallon exit, then D-roads into the park.
2.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Lyon
A6 north to the Saulieu or Avallon exit, then D-roads.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Nevers
A77 west side, then D-roads via Château-Chinon or Luzy.
1–1.5 h
From Dijon
A38 and D-roads west via Saulieu.
1.5–2 h
From By train and bus
TGV or TER to Avallon, then a local bus or taxi; services are thin, so a car is the practical choice.
2–3 h from Paris
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Haut-Morvan Montagnard | The high, densely forested core around Haut-Folin (901 m) and Mont Preneley (855 m). | Open; forest roads and marked trails. |
| Lakes of the west and centre | Settons, Chaumeçon, Crescent, Saint-Agnan, Pannecière and Chamboux, built for flood control and hydro power. | Open; swimming, boating and fishing with local rules. |
| Mont Beuvray and Bibracte | The excavated Gallic oppidum and its museum on the 821 m summit. | Open; museum has an entry fee and seasonal hours. |
| Vézelay and the northern edge | The pilgrimage hill and basilica just outside the park boundary, with the church of Saint-Père below. | Open; village parking is paid in high season (check). |
Sketch map
- 1Maison du Parc, Saint-Brisson · Headquarters≈47.221, 4.076Park administration, tourist office and museum of the Morvan; approximate.Map ↗
- 2Haut-Folin · Summit≈46.997, 4.035901 m, the park's highest point; approximate.Map ↗
- 3Mont Beuvray / Bibracte · Viewpoint≈46.924, 4.039821 m; excavated Gallic oppidum and museum; approximate.Map ↗
- 4Lac des Settons · Beach≈47.183, 4.067320 ha reservoir with marina and sailing school; approximate.Map ↗
- 5Lac de Pannecière · Beach≈47.147, 3.856Largest of the main lakes; approximate.Map ↗
- 6Lac de Saint-Agnan · Beach≈47.317, 4.047140 ha reservoir on the Cousin; approximate.Map ↗
- 7Château-Chinon · Town≈47.064, 3.933Town with the Musée du Septennat; approximate.Map ↗
- 8Avallon · Town≈47.490, 3.908Northern gateway and railhead; approximate.Map ↗
- 9Vézelay · Village≈47.466, 3.746Pilgrimage hill and basilica, just outside the park; approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
9 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.
Approximate positions across the park from Saint-Brisson to Mont Beuvray and the lakes, for orientation only.
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 | Free | person | No gate fee; the park is a working landscape of villages and farmland. |
| Lac des Settons parking (main beach car parks) | EUR 0–5 (≈ US$0–6) | car | 2026 estimate; some lakeside car parks charge in July–August (check). |
| Bibracte museum (Mont Beuvray) | EUR 7–9 (≈ US$9–11) | person | 2026 estimate; the excavated site itself is free to walk (check seasonal hours). |
| Château de Chastellux | EUR 8–10 (≈ US$10–12) | person | 2026 estimate; open April–November, closed Mondays and Tuesdays (check). |
| Château de Lantilly | EUR 5–7 (≈ US$6–9) | person | 2026 estimate; July–August afternoons only (check). |
| Boat or kayak hire, Lac des Settons | EUR 15–40 (≈ US$18–50) | hour | 2026 estimate; sailing school and hire points on the shore. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Fishing licence permit or guide
GRP Tour du Morvan no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €7–9≈ US$9–11
- €8–10≈ US$10–12
- €5–7≈ US$6–9
- €15–40≈ US$18–50
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parc naturel régional du Morvan — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Fishing
- Licensed only; on Lac de Pannecière it is limited to the right bank from April to October (check current dates).
- Fires and camping
- No wild camping or fires in the forest; use the lakeside campsites and gîtes.
- Hedgerows and farmland
- Stay on paths across fields; hedges are habitat and crops are private property.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead near livestock and on the marked trails (check local signs).
- Drones
- Check with the Maison du Parc before flying; rules vary by site and near Bibracte.
Where to stay
Near the park
Avallon
The district capital on the northern edge: hotels, restaurants and the easiest base for the A6.
Near the park
Saulieu
Eastern gateway with hotels and a famous restaurant; good for the A6 Saulieu exit.
In the park
Lakeside campsites (Settons, Pannecière)
Simple campsites with private sandy beaches on the shore; book in July–August.
In the park
Gîtes and chambres d'hôtes in the villages
Lormes, Château-Chinon, Ouroux-en-Morvan and smaller hamlets have self-catering and B&B rooms.
Near the park
Vézelay
Character hotels and guesthouses on the pilgrimage hill, just outside the park.
Safety
Deer and wild boar on the road at dusk medium
Fog and ice on high ground medium
Thin phone signal in the forest low
Cold water in the reservoirs medium
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
- The Maison du Parc at Saint-Brisson, the Bibracte museum and the main lake beaches have parking and short, level walks.
- The GRP, GR13 and the ramparts loop are rough forest paths; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Vézelay's hill is steep; park at the foot and walk up, or use the village car parks.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from village shops, markets and farms so the park's 117 municipalities keep their services.
- Keep to marked trails: the hedgerows, meadows and hardwood forest are the reason the park exists.
- Use the lakeside campsites and gîtes rather than informal pitches; waste and fire rules protect the reservoirs.
- Visit Bibracte and the Maison du Parc museums to support the conservation and research work.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Morvan Regional Natural Park?
Nothing. There is no gate fee — the park is a lived-in landscape of villages, farms and forest. You pay only for extras: parking at some lake beaches in summer, boat or kayak hire, the Bibracte museum, and the privately owned castles such as Chastellux and Lantilly.
What are the best hikes in Morvan Regional Natural Park?
The 6.5 km Tour des Remparts at Bibracte is the easiest good walk. For a full day or more, the GRP Tour du Morvan links the six main lakes in about 220 km, and the GR13 crosses the park north–south for roughly 140 km on white-red waymarks. The Haut-Folin area has short forest walks to the 901 m summit.
When is the best time to visit Morvan Regional Natural Park?
May, June and September. Days are long and warm, trails are dry, and the July–August French holiday crowds are absent. October brings autumn colour and mushrooms; November to March is cold, wet and quiet, with fog and possible ice on the high ground.
Do I need a car to visit the Morvan?
Yes, in practice. Trains reach Avallon and there are a few buses, but the lakes, Bibracte and the trailheads are spread across four departments and served by D-roads. A car also lets you move between lakes when one car park fills.
Can you swim in the Morvan lakes?
Yes, at the supervised beaches on Lac des Settons and Lac de Saint-Agnan in summer. The reservoirs are dammed rivers, so water is cool and the bottom drops away quickly in places; swim near busy shores and follow local signs.
What is there to see at Bibracte?
Mont Beuvray (821 m) holds the excavated Gallic oppidum of Bibracte, with restored ramparts and a street network, plus a museum on the site. The 6.5 km ramparts loop is waymarked in yellow; the museum charges an entry fee and keeps seasonal hours.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go