Plans for a new natural park in the south of France are taking shape
If approved, the park will cover 1,728 km2 and include the largest mimosa forest in Europe
The area, which includes the Maures massif (seen here), is a rich landscape of beautiful views and walking trails
voyageur8/Shutterstock
A new regional natural park project is underway in the south of France, with the area set to stretch over two departments, with the aim of protecting the site’s rich natural, cultural and landscape heritage.
If it goes ahead the regional natural park in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur would include part of Var and Alpes-Maritimes. It would be the 10th such park in the region, and be called the géoparc Provence Varisque.
It is planned to open to visitors from 2028.
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The project has been approved by the Conseil national, but it is still awaiting approval from the prefecture. The latter is set to vote on the project in March.
The park is set to stretch from Solliès-Ville in the west to Peymeinade in the east, and will mainly cover Var, with 172,826 hectares (1,728 km2; a third of the department). There will be 53 localities in all, of which 47 will be in Var and six in Alpes-Maritimes.
Originally, the park was only intended to cover the Maures massif. However, a major fire in 2021 destroyed almost 7,000 hectares of the area, causing severe damage to the Hermann’s tortoise population (a small tortoise species native to Europe).
This new area has been touted as a solution to ensure the long-term survival of the site and its animals.
It was then decided to include the Estérel and Tanneron massifs, two other geologically and naturally rich areas, which also include the largest mimosa forest in Europe. The much larger Maures massif offers a wide variety of scenery - from the coast to woods - and has walking routes between Fréjus and Hyères.
The park will have five ‘missions’, all of which are intended to help preserve the sites.
These are:
The protection of the natural, cultural and landscape heritage
The development of the area
The promotion of economic development
Social and cultural development
Education and information
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A joint association will be set up to manage the site, comprising the local authorities that are involved in bringing the site to fruition.
They will need to abide by a ‘charter’, a binding document that sets out the future park objectives.
Var already has a natural park; Port-Cros.
Nationwide, there are 11 natural parks in France. These include the Calanques (Bouches-du-Rhône), Cévennes (Lozère, Gard, Ardèche, and Aveyron), Écrins National Park (Isère, and Hautes-Alpes), and Mercantour (Alpes-Maritimes, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).
