Amazing European forests you'll want to explore

[jw5]

Did you know that 35% of Europe's land is covered by forests? That's a lot of trees! Nearly a quarter are protected, with several designated by UNESCO as natural World Heritage Sites. Some 70% of these forests are accessible to the public, which adds an enchanting dimension to any vacation where outdoor adventure is top of the itinerary. But with such a vast spread of woodland to explore, where are the most beautiful forests located?

 

[jw5]

Black Forest, Germany -

The Black Forest is the central mountain range of Baden-Württemberg, a state in the southwest corner of Germany. The region, a hugely popular European tourist destination, is named for its astonishing veil of dark pine trees.

 

[jw5]

Hallerbos Forest, Belgium -

Make your way to Hallerbos Forest in spring and be greeted by a gorgeous quilt of bluebell—a natural feature that has made this region near Halle, in Flemish Brabant, popular with locals and visitors alike.

 

[Eisenhut]

I exploring ang mo dua liao forest for long time

 

[eatshitndie]

I exploring ang mo dua liao forest for long time

what about lush, bushy, wet, swampy spg jungle?

 

[jw5]

New Forest, England -

The New Forest in Hampshire was once a royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England. His third son, William II, commonly referred to as William Rufus, was killed by an arrow while also out hunting, in circumstances that still remain unclear.

 

[jw5]

Wild Taiga, Finland -

Finland's taiga forests, also referred to as boreal forests or snow forests, constitute part of the wider belt of taiga that lies between the tundra to the north and temperate forests to the south. Alaska, Canada, and Siberia also have taigas.

 

[jw5]

Forest of Fontainebleau, France -

Just 50 km (31 mi) south of Paris, the beauty of Forêt de Fontainebleau has inspired numerous artists, including Rousseau and Renoir. A mixed deciduous woodland, Fontainebleau is renowned for the large banks of sandstone boulders that lend further character to its remarkable canvas.

 

[jw5]

Crooked Forest, Poland -

Surely Europe's weirdest-looking woodland, the aptly named Crooked Forest near the town of Gryfino is so named for a grove of oddly-shaped pine trees. The forest is a protected natural monument.

 

[jw5]

Irati Forest, Spain -

Draped over the Navarre region in northern Spain, the Irati Forest is the largest wooded area on the Iberian Peninsula. It's also the second largest beech and fir forest in Europe.

 

[jw5]

Durmitor Forest, Montenegro -

The Durmitor massif in northwestern Montenegro gives its name to the national park that comprises it. The region, a UNESCO natural World Heritage Site, is blanketed with a rare old-growth stand of European black pine. A series of glacial lakes heightens the breathtaking scenery.

 

[jw5]

Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell, Norway -

The centuries-old woodlands enclosed by the Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell Nature Reserve lure nature lovers with a pristine landscape of untouched wilderness and a collection of cultural sites. And the reserve is just a two-hour drive from Oslo.

 

[jw5]

Paimpont Forest, France -

Also known as Brocéliande Forest, Forêt de Paimpont in Brittany is associated with the legends surrounding King Arthur: the forest is said to contain the tomb of Merlin. More tangible is the chêne à Guillotin (the oak of Guillotin), a 1,000-year-old oak and more than 9 m (29 ft) in circumference.

 

[BTSS]

 

[jw5]

Very apt description of Jeremy Quek.

 

[jw5]

Sherwood Forest, England -

Famous because of its historic association with the legend of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire is crisscrossed with nature trails, one of which passes the famous 800-year-old Major Oak, which according to local folklore was Robin Hood's principal hideout.

 

[jw5]

Ardennes, Belgium and Luxembourg -

The Forest of Ardennes is actually a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills, and precipitous ridges primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg. The region was the scene of the bloody Battle of the Bulge in 1944. Pictured is one of the forest's most famous beauty spots, Le Tombeau du Géant, near Bouillon.

 

[jw5]

Glen Affric, Scotland -

One of the most alluring glens in the Highlands, Glen Affric is wrapped in a mantle of Caledonian pinewood—one of the largest expanses in Scotland. In fact, the entire area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve.

 

[jw5]

Forest of Dean, England -

One of the surviving woodlands of England, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is composed of deciduous and evergreen trees, predominantly oak. The thick undergrowth is home to wild boar.

 

[jw5]

Forest of Lyons, France -

Surrounding the picturesque village of Lyons-la-Foret in Normandy is a vast forest of beech, often cited as the most beautiful beech grove in France.