The Forest of Tronçais is a national forest comprising 10,600 hectares in the Allier department of central France. It is managed by the National Forests Office (ONF). Its oaks, planted by Louis XIV's minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert to supply the French Navy, constitute one of the principal stands of oaks in Europe.
Forest of Tronçais
Typical straight roads through the forest
Path near the "Chêne carré" (December 2011)
L'étang de Pirot (December 2011)
A national forest is a forest owned by the French state. This status originates with the Edict of Moulins of 1566. French national forests are managed by the National Board of Forestry (NFB) under the national forestry law, the successor of ordinances and regulations that have taken place since the time of Charlemagne "at the discretion of political, economic and demographic context of France, making the first state-owned natural forest areas whose management is rigorously controlled".
The Orleans Forest is the largest national forest in France.