| Lorraine Regional Natural Park | |
|---|---|
| Parc naturel régional de Lorraine | |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 TheCôtes de Meuse, viewed from theButte de Montsec | |
  Location in France | |
| Location | Departments ofMeuse Meurthe-et-Moselle Moselle,Grand Est Region,France |
| Coordinates | 48°53′23″N6°02′39″E / 48.88967°N 6.04428°E /48.88967; 6.04428 |
| Area | 205,000 ha (790 sq mi) |
| Governing body | Fédération des parcs naturels régionaux de France |
Lorraine Regional Natural Park (French:Parc naturel régional de Lorraine) is aprotected area of pastoral countryside in theGrand Estregion of northeasternFrance, in the historic region ofLorraine. The park covers a total area of 205,000 hectares (510,000 acres).[1] The parkland is split in two non-contiguous parcels of land between the cities ofMetz andNancy,[2] and spans the threedepartments ofMeuse,Meurthe-et-Moselle, andMoselle.[3] According to theWorld Database on Protected Areas, it is anIUCN category V area.[4]
Ancient ruins and modern monuments are common throughout the area.[3] The land was officially designated aregional natural park in 1974.[1]
The park is crossed by theLGV Est high speed rail line, with large viaducts.[5]
Animal species found in the park include badger, European wildcat, fox, polecat, roe deer, weasel, wild boar, and wolf, as well as a large variety of birds.[6]
Forests are composed ofbeech and hardwoods such as maple, cherry andwhitebeams. Sessile and pedunculate oaks are often accompanied byhornbeam. There are also ash trees, lime trees, alders, birches and aspens.
There are 193communes within the parkland boundaries.[7]
