french ardennes nature & wildlife
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Getting closer to nature & wildlifein The French Ardennes
Visitors staying in a chteau in The French Ardennes are being giventhe opportunity to join the owner in his 4x4, for a Wildlife Safari insearch of deer, wild boars and foxes.
A stay with Jacques Huet in Chteau de Chatel, in Chatel-Chhry, isjust one of several ways that holiday makers can now get up-close-and-personal with a wide range of local wildlife in this particular regionof France. These wildlife excursions, can be booked directly through
Monsieur Huet at http://chateaudechatel.pagesperso-orange.fr, or bytelephoning +33 (0)3 24 30 78 54.
Not far away from Chatel-Chhry, which lies in the southern reachesof the Ardennes, Olizy-Primat also offers a great opportunity for anyonewho wants to see, or photograph, some wildlife.
In this instance, its the Parc Argonne Dcouverte (Nocturnia), a visitorcentre which helps to illustrate why this region of France is especiallyrenowned for its nature and its wildlife.
Located in the dense Argonne forest, Parc Argonne Dcouverte has
established itself as a popular family attraction where visitors candiscover nature by night, and a new wolf park by day.
The appearance of the Wolf Park last year added an entirely newdimension to the experience. Initially featuring three wolves - twomales and one female, with luck, the Park will be showing-off the firstof its wolf cubs from June of this year.
Visitors who visit the Centre are able to observe the relationshipbetween the animals, watch them eat, and also get close enough forsome wonderful photographs. The attraction will organisers specialoccasions when experts are on hand to accompany visitors, to see the
wolves at night (www.parc-argonne-decouverte.com).
Another wild animal synonymous with the Ardennes, of course, is thesymbol of the French Ardennes - wild boar, which still roam free in thearea, and are hunted for their meat which finds its way onto the menusof many of the region's best restaurants.
But there are several other ways that the visitor can come into contactwith the animals not least, in the animal park of Saint Laurent, one ofthe most popular family attractions near to Charleville-Mzires. Andanyone approaching the French Ardennes by road from the south willalso come into close contact with Woinic the worlds largest boar, andthe Ardennes equivalent of The Angel of the North.
http://chateaudechatel.pagesperso-orange.fr/http://www.parc-argonne-decouverte.com/http://www.parc-argonne-decouverte.com/http://chateaudechatel.pagesperso-orange.fr/ -
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Created by artist Eric Slziak, Woinic took 11 years and 12,000working hours to make, from small metal pieces. Regions of Italy andBelgium also coveted Woinic, but the local council, Conseil Gnraldes Ardennes, took delivery of the world's greatest wild boar on theoccasion of the Ardennes Fest on August 8th, 2008. And it nowstands proudly in its true 'homeland' as the symbol of the FrenchArdennes.
And while the Ardennes horse - one of the oldest breeds of draft horsein the world is also peculiar to this part of Europe, visitors looking toget closer to nature are constantly reminded that the end of Septemberand beginning of October is one of the best times of the year to visit,
during the annual Autumn rutting season.
In a destination with such a small density of human population (in someareas there are only 14 inhabitants per square kilometer), its nosurprise to learn that there are something close to 270 different birds,and 60 different mammals, and several thousand of insects to befound.
An organization entitled RENARD leads around 40 guided tours a year(in French) in search of the French Ardennes natural habitats(http://renard-asso.org).
And there are also hopes this year that a section of The FrenchArdennes may soon be named a Regional Nature Park(http://www.parc-naturel-ardennes.fr).
The French Ardennes boasts that its one of the greenest areas of allFrance; and its latest Discovery Guide to the French Ardennes stronglyreflects that fact. Copies can be obtained by telephoning +33 (0) 3 2456 06 08, or by [email protected]. For further information,visit www.ardennes.com.
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Images, further information, and full press packs can be obtained bycontacting:
Jrg HartwigTEL: +33 (0) 3 24 56 67 77
E-MAIL: [email protected]
Or
Ian WeightmanTEL: +44 (0)1782-680963E-MAIL: [email protected]
http://renard-asso.org/http://www.parc-naturel-ardennes.fr/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ardennes.com/mailto:%[email protected]%20mailto:%[email protected]%20mailto:[email protected]://renard-asso.org/http://www.parc-naturel-ardennes.fr/mailto:[email protected]://www.ardennes.com/mailto:%[email protected]%20mailto:[email protected]