The Park in Figures

Created in 1989 at the initiative of the Lorraine and Franche-Comté Regions, the Ballon des Vosges Regional Natural Park regroups 201 communes across four departments: Vosges, Haut-Rhin, Territory of Belfort and Haute-Saône.

Data Sheet

2 regions
4 departments
201 communes
2,700 km2
240,000 inhabitants
1,600 km2 of forest (61% of Park)
280 peatlands over 1,300 ha
4 National Nature Reserves
5 Regional Nature Reserves
1,3% of high stubble
200 ha of calcareous grasslands
1,691 native plants (1/4 of the flora in France)
60 endangered animal species
35% of the territory sheltering outstanding natural species
22% of the territory within the Natura 2000 Network (33 sites of which 20 are managed by the Park)
45 classified or listed landscape sites (6% of the Park)
65 museums and heritage sites
7% of built-up territory
30 cities of more than 2,000 inhabitants
60 land use plans
3,497 farms over 57,924 ha
43 farmhouse-inns
37 tourist offices
14,000 enterprises
41 Park-labelled enterprises including 19 holiday-cottage, guest-house and Panda guest-room owners, and 6 “Hôtels au Naturel”