New national park to open in 2012

10,000 hectares of forest on Champagne-Bourgogne border will become France’s 11th national park - with more on way

A NEW national park crossing the border between the Haute-Marne and Côte-d’Or departments has been announced by Prime Minister François Fillon.

The 10,000-hectare Champagne et Bourgogne is expected to open by 2012.

Sited in the middle of 100,000 hectares of forest with beech trees and populated by stags and wild boar, its attractions include the Cascade d’Etufs waterfall (pictured).

Champagne et Bourgogne will become France’s 11th national park – and the Grenelle de l’Environnement includes plans for two more. Sites for these are being examined and the locations should be announced shortly.

In May, the Calanques limestone formations between Marseille and Cassis were chosen to become a national park by the end of 2010 or early 2011.

Photo: chelmsfordblue