The forest of Fontainebleau soon to be classified by Unesco?

What if the Fontainebleau forest were soon to be classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site? Located some 60km southeast of Paris, this marvellous natural area of over 25,000 hectares is one of France's largest state-owned forests. A former hunting ground for the kings of France, the Fontainebleau forest is famous for its rocky chaos and sandstone boulders, making it a topclimbing spot for enthusiasts.

Biodiversity is also exceptional, with over 7,000 plant and animal species recorded, including deer, roe deer and wild boar, as well as rare plants such as the Fontainebleau sandwort, endemic to the region.

This enchanting and unique atmosphere has inspired many artists (notably Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, two painters from the Barbizon school who laid the foundations of realism in painting, as well as the author George Sand), and attracts over 13 million visitors every year.

Classified as a 'biosphere reserve' by Unesco since 1998, this protected area could soon be listed as aUnesco World Heritage Site. The mayor of this Seine-et-Marne commune , Julien Gondard, slipped the information to Sortir à Paris, during an impassioned interview with the elected official on the subject of Fontainebleau and its surroundings.

"You won't believe it, but this forest is truly magical. Once you start walking, running or cycling through it, you're hooked! It has a unique power of attraction, whatever the season. It stretches over 25,000 hectares, and is ideal for hiking and climbing. Some say it's one of the most beautiful forests in Europe. We're currently working with the Château de Fontainebleau and the Office National des Forêts on its Unesco listing," says Julien Gondard.

• To be read
• Soon a French championship for Fontainebleau (the dessert) in Fontainebleau (the town)?
• Hiking: our favorite routes and circuits in the Fontainebleau massif and forest (77)
• Le tour du massif de Fontainebleau, the great hike to discover a mythical forest

How is a site classified by Unesco?

Classifying a site, monument or landscape as a Unesco World Heritage Site is a long, demanding and highly regulated process. First, the country must include the property on its tentative list, a sort of pre-list of properties that the country intends to propose to Unesco within the next 5 to 10 years. An application file is then prepared (with a full description of the property, its exceptional interest, maps and photos) before being submitted for examination.

The site must meet at least one of the ten criteria defined by Unesco (for example: be a masterpiece, represent an exchange of values, bear witness to a civilization, etc.), be authentic, of integrity, and be the subject of effective protection and management measures. Two independent bodies mandated by Unesco then examine the dossier - ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) for cultural properties and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) for natural properties.

Next comes the World Heritage Committee (composed of 21 member states elected for 4-year terms), which meets once a year to decide whether to accept, defer, postpone or reject the nomination. If accepted, the property is then officially recognized as a "World Heritage Site". To be continued!

Hiking: our favorite routes and circuits in the Fontainebleau massif and forest (77)
In Seine-et-Marne, the Fontainebleau massif is a must for hikers, so we've selected our favorite itineraries in this natural corner of the Île-de-France region. [Read more]