| Regional Natural Park of the Ardennes | |
|---|---|
 | |
  | |
| Location | Ardennes, Grand Est, France |
| Coordinates | 49°54′N 4°39′E / 49.900°N 4.650°E |
| Width | 1,160 km2 |
| Max. elevation | Croix Scaille |
| Established | December 21, 2011 |
| Website | www |
The Regional Natural Park of the Ardennes (PNR Ardennes) is a regional natural park established on December 21, 2011, encompassing approximately 116,000 hectares of the Ardennes department.
Following a lengthy gestation period and numerous discussions regarding the merits of this designation, it encompasses 92 municipalities and 76,000 inhabitants. It occupies 22% of the surface area of the Ardennes department. Charleville-Mézières, the prefecture of the Ardennes, holds the status of a gateway city associated with the park.
This territory is distinguished by the coexistence of rural and forestry traditions alongside a manufacturing tradition, which collectively accounts for 36% of the department's industrial jobs. From a geological perspective, the region represents a transition zone with a remarkable diversity of landscapes and a rich natural heritage. This includes 54 areas of ecological, faunal, and floral interest, as well as seven Natura 2000 sites, forests, peat bogs, heathlands, dry grasslands, slate quarries, rocky cliffs, deep valleys, and bocages. The area is rich in legend and conflict, functioning as a border zone where numerous disputes have arisen. The region's architectural heritage reflects its history, landscapes, and geology, featuring limestone from Thiérache, blue stone from Givet, half-timbered houses, fortified churches, medieval citadels, and castles, as well as industrial buildings and villages that bear witness to ironworking and the history of ironmasters.