Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park | |
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![]() Trail in Gorges de Villiers | |
Location | Normandy Pays de la Loire, Orne Manche Mayenne Sarthe, France |
Governing body | Fédération des parcs naturels régionaux de France |
Website | www.parc-naturel-normandie-maine.fr |
Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park (Fr.: Parc naturel régional Normandie-Maine) is a protected area of forest and bocage located in the French regions of Normandy and Pays de la Loire.[1]
Spanning the departments of Orne, Manche, Mayenne, and Sarthe, the Normandie-Maine park was created in 1975 with a total area of 234,000 hectares (580,000 acres).[2] As of 2011, the parkland has expanded to a total area of 257,000 hectares (640,000 acres) and includes 164 communes with fourteen associated partner communes; the number of inhabitants within the park is approximately 171,000.[3][4] The park encompasses the Sarthe river valley and the large Forest of Andaines.[5]