The park contains the world's largest concentration of Fagus sylvatica tortuosa, known as the 'dwarf' or 'tortured' beech trees.
The landscape is shaped by cuesta landforms, creating a distinct transition between the chalk plains and the forest-topped plateaus.
The park was established as a Regional Nature Park in 1976 to balance human activity with environmental conservation.
The forest covers approximately 40% of the total park territory, providing a significant carbon sink for the region.
It sits at the northern limit of Champagne production, where the specific microclimate is vital for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
The Parc naturel régional de la Montagne de Reims covers 53,000 hectares between the cities of Reims and Épernay. It is uniquely characterized by a plateau covered in forests, surrounded by hillsides dedicated to the cultivation of Champagne vineyards. The park's landscape features a geological contrast between the chalky subsoil of the slopes and the clay-limestone plateau. It is designated as a protected natural area to preserve its ecological diversity and heritage. The park includes the Faux de Verzy, an internationally known botanical site featuring hundreds of rare, naturally contorted beech trees. Over 100 municipalities fall within its boundaries, integrating rural villages with agricultural zones. Visitors can access a network of marked hiking trails that traverse both the vineyard slopes and the dense beech and oak forests. The site acts as a biodiversity corridor, housing protected species like the middle spotted woodpecker and various orchid populations.
The elevated lookouts near the Verzenay Lighthouse offering panoramic views of the vineyard patchwork.
Download the digital park map and trail guides from the official website before heading into areas with limited cell reception.
Plan your visit to include a stop at a village viewpoint to contrast the forest trails with the structured vineyard rows.
Respect private agricultural lands and stay strictly on marked paths to protect the sensitive vine roots and forest undergrowth.
Attempting to traverse the entire 53,000-hectare park in a single day or straying from marked paths into private vineyards.
Wear sturdy hiking boots; observe quiet zones for wildlife; do not remove any flora, particularly the protected forest species.
