New ways to enjoy ‘the great outdoors’ in The French Ardennes

From The Ardennes forest to The Green Path, The French Ardennes is renowned as one of the best “outdoor playgrounds” in France.

Most of it was designated as a Parc Naturel Régional (PNR) in February, 2012. Created by the local authorities and the national government as a way of recognising a rural area of outstanding beauty, a PNR is similar in status to the UK’s own National Parks.

French holiday makers to the region know exactly what to expect: a great outdoors where it’s possible to commune with nature, and spend day-after-day in the open air enjoying the sights and sounds of one of the most unspoilt regions of France.

As a result, it’s one of those places where new ways of enjoying those great outdoors are created ever year.

These are some of the highlights for 2017…

The French Ardennes offers its visitors one of the highest, and fastest, zip wire experiences in Europe. Setting off 110 metres above the River Meuse, FantastiCable gives holiday-makers a birds-eye view of the dramatic valley, and travels at an average speed of 130kph (80 miles per hour) over a distance of more than one kilometre. It has already carried more than 150,000 thrill seekers on the quickest available route across the river, and will this year introduce the option of adopting a seating position (as opposed to the traditional heads-first position for individuals and couples). Also home to a variety of tree-top activities and courses, including bungee humping, TerrAltitude is introducing yet another experience to its great outdoors collection: the Free Jump, which uses the same air bag cushions used by professional stunt performers. The “breathtaking” Free Jump can be performed from either the 5 metre or 8 metre diving platform, by anyone aged 6 and above. For further details, visit http://www.terraltitude.com/en/.

Cycling the 50 miles of The Trans-Ardennes path between Charléville and Givet has been a popular option for visitors to The French Ardennes for some time now. Another twenty four miles has been added in the direction of Sedan; and it also now continues northwards from Givet into Belgium, where it joins the cycle path RAVEL. All of it can be walked or cycled. Other options include hiring segways, and even gyropodes (http://www.arden-gyropode.fr).

A new adventure park will open on July 1st, in the historic fort of Givet - previously home to a Commando training unit. It will offer more than 200 activities, divided into three trails - for children, teenagers and adults, and advanced. Some of the obstacles it features are the same as those used by the Commando training unit. The Citadel, perched high above the attractive town of Givet, has already made a name for itself in the last 12 months as a leading venue for paintball and airsoft activities. For further details, visit http://www.citadel.events/.

The Parc Argonne Découverte is a rapidly growing outdoors venue, which offers an insight into the wildlife of the French Ardennes, as well as one of the leading Wolf Parks in France. New for 2016 is the chance for visitors to take care of the animals for a day - an experience which will now be available at the park from April to August. Activities include feeding the animals, weighing them, and counting them. Available only by booking in advance, it is on offer to anyone 16 years of age and above for €70. For further details, visit http://www.parc-argonne-decouverte.fr.

Ardennes Tourism produces a wealth of literature in the theme of Nature & Adventure in The French Ardennes, including a map illustrating 45 services providers http://www.calameo.com/read/00002300712c8b42acdc5.

Further details about The French Ardennes, meanwhile, are featured in the new, 2016 edition of the Discovery Guide to The French Ardennes which can be ordered by emailing info@ardennes.com, or by telephoning +33 324 56 06 08.

And for further information, visit http://gb.ardennes.com .

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For press information, contact:Djamila DaoudT: +33 3 24 56 67 77E: daoud@ardennes.com