Forest of Tronçais
| Forêt de Tronçais | |
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| Location | Allier, Auvergne, France |
| Coordinates | 46°37′N 2°46′E / 46.617°N 2.767°ECoordinates: 46°37′N 2°46′E / 46.617°N 2.767°E |
| Area | 10,600 ha (41 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 205–360 m (673–1,181 ft) |
| Designation | ZNIEFF, Réseau Natura 2000, réserve biologique intégrale |
| Administrator | Office national des forêts |
The Forest of Tronçais (Forêt de Tronçais) is a French national forest, a forêt domaniale, comprising 10,600 hectares (26,000 acres) in the Allier, managed by the National Forests Office. Its oaks, planted by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of Louis XIV to supply the French Navy, constitute one of the principal stands of oaks in Europe.
Within the forest boundaries are the communes of Braize, Cérilly, Isle-et-Bardais, Le Brethon, Meaulne, Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais, Urçay, Valigny and Vitray. It is mainly made up of sessile oak. It also contains 130 ha of ponds and is deemed by many as the most beautiful oakwood in Europe. It is managed by l'Office national des forêts.
The massif is located in the Bourbonnais and Allier department. The oakwood spans the communes of Braize (776 ha), Cérilly, Allier (1788 ha), Couleuvre (405 ha), Isle-et-Bardais (2788 ha), Le Brethon (1400 ha), Meaulne (112 ha), Saint-Bonnet-Tronçais (1176 ha), Urçay (343 ha), Valigny (17 ha) and Vitray (1728 ha).
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