5 National Parks in France Which Let You Experience the Romance of Nature

Les Gorges du Verdon is the largest gorge in Europe. This 25 km, 700 m deep gorge attracts many outdoor enthusiasts. There is also Lac de Sainte-Croix which has a jade green color. There are two main starting points for traveling: St. Mary's Village of Moustier-Saint-Marie in the west, and Castellane Village in the east. Located at the entrance to the Vallee De Verdon, Lake of Sainte-Croix is a reservoir formed by a dam. In addition to hiking, there are many outdoor and water activities: canyoning, rock climbing, rafting and boating. The most exciting thing is bungee jumping from the 182m Pont de l'Artuby bridge in the canyon, which is the highest bungee jump in Europe.

Parc national des Calanques is the youngest national park in France, and includes the natural rock fjords from the suburbs of Marseille, the small town La Ciotat, and the great forest and sea between them, which is nearly 20km away. Here you will find unique reddish-brown limestone walls and small beaches. Some places can only be reached by kayaking. From June to October, the best way to explore the Fjord National Park is to follow the trails in the Mediterranean bush. Every year, it attracts countless outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world who come for various outdoor sports such as hiking, rock climbing, diving, and kayaking. Calanque de Sormiou is the largest stone island. Its Le Chatearu and Le Lunch are very nice restaurants with a good view.

The Regional Park of the Camargue is a French national reserve. The town is located approximately 15 km south of Arles. You can drive there by yourself or join a local tour. Lovers of wildlife and photography must not miss this place, which has salt fields, herds of bison, white horses, and 500 species of birds, including pink flamingos. In the reserve, you can visit the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau and the Domaine de la Palissade. There are more than 400 species of birds in the wetlands at the ornithological park. You can take a map at the door which shows a variety of bird watching locations. In some of the fenced parks you can go horseback riding, and some tours pass through the local Giraud Salt Field which is a vast salt flat.

Parc National du Mercantour is located more than 50 km north of Nice and is close to the Italian border. It consists of six canyons. It is described by the French as "the last pure virgin land in France". There are no residents in the core area, only some villages in the outside area. The more popular places in the six canyons are Ubaye, Vesubie, and Merveilles. Ubaye is known for its outdoor activities. The Pra Loup ski resort is one of the best ski resorts in Europe. The only town in the surrounding area, Basronette, is known for its Mexican heritage. Vesubie is known as "Little Switzerland". Here you can also see the lives of wild wolves. Merveilles, translated into the “Valley of Wonders”, has the largest and most bronze age rock carvings in the world that depict images of humans and animals.

The Parc naturel régional du Luberon is located in the Luberon region in the east of Avignon, close to the small town Apt and the lavender fields of Sénanque Abbey. If you are an animal and geological enthusiast, make sure you don't miss this place. The park was awarded the title of “Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO. In the lush forests and steep canyons, you can see rare wild animals such as Egyptian vultures, eagle owls, wild boars and Bonelli's eagles. Cycling enthusiasts can also try the famous cycling route which is a total of 236km long.