France Has a New National Park, and It's Only a Short Trip From Paris

There are lots of incredible parks outside the U.S., and France is just about to get a new one to put on your bucket list.

According to Lonely Planet, a new park is opening up on the border between Champagne and Burgundy in France. The Parc National des forets de Champagne et Bourgogne (National Forest Park, Champagne and Burgundy) will have over 250,000 hectares (about 617,000 acres) of beautiful flowers, trees, and rivers, as well as magnificent animal species.

First conceived by former Prime Minister François Fillon in 2009, the new park will become the country’s 11th national park, Lonely Planet reported.

But the best part is that it is a three-hour drive from Paris, so nature loving tourists and locals alike can take advantage of the conveniently located park.

In addition to its natural assets, visitors can enjoy 2,000 kilometers (about 1,243 miles) of hiking trails and 700 kilometers (about 435 miles) of rivers, according to the Local France. “This national park is very representative of both the French countryside and its forests,” said Hervé Parmentier, director of the French Public Interest Group (which planned the park and worked to preserve the forests), to the Local France. “Eighty percent of the trees here already were there at the time of the French Revolution.”

The park is the natural habitat of several animal species, including black storks, deer, wild boar, deer, and wild cats, according to the Local France.

Not only can visitors take in the natural beauty of this massive park, they can also enjoy shopping at local business, including ones selling fresh produce.

According to the Local France, visitor count is expected to rise from 30,000 a year to 100,000 within two to three years.

More information about visiting the park can be found on the Parc National des forets de Champagne et Bourgogne website.