Morvan Regional Park designated as France’s newest International Dark Sky Reserve

Saint-Brisson, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, France 

The Morvan Regional Natural Park has officially been designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve, known locally as “Réserve Internationale de Ciel Étoilé du Morvan” (RICE Morvan). This recognition marks the culmination of a territory-wide effort to improve night sky quality, protect biodiversity, and enhance the region’s appeal. The success of the initiative was made possible by the collaboration of municipalities, energy syndicates, local associations (astronomy, environmental, and cultural), scientists, and residents.

This project began nine years ago and is part of the Park’s broader mission to reduce energy consumption, raise awareness about the impacts of light pollution, and promote nighttime tourism—because in the Morvan, “the stars are the spectacle!”

Dan Oakley of DarkSky International, who supported the application process, praised the Morvan team for their perseverance and dedication in achieving lighting compliance in a complex and varied landscape. The Morvan now joins the growing RICE network in France and will undoubtedly inspire others to take action.

Located in the center of Burgundy, the Morvan Park is part of the Massif Central Parks network and has held its designation as a Regional Natural Park for 55 years. This mid-mountain region is characterized by forests and meadows, dotted with small towns and remote hamlets. The area has a low population density and is well-connected by an extensive network of roads and trails. Tourism, agriculture, and forestry are the main economic activities.

The newly designated RICE Morvan lies in the southern part of the Park, covering 1,297 km² across 50 municipalities. The core zone includes 16 municipalities over 455 km², encompassing several protected natural areas:

• A Natura 2000 Special Protection Area
• The Canche Canyon Biological Integral Reserve
• The Regional Natural Reserve at the Yonne River spring and adjacent ponds and bogs
• Natural Areas of Ecological, Fauna, and Flora Interest (ZNIEFF types 1 and 2)

The region also boasts cultural heritage sites such as the Bibracte Eduen archaeological center and a network of eco-museums.

The four departmental energy syndicates, involved from the project’s outset, hold the mandate to manage public lighting for the municipalities. They conducted a complete inventory of the lighting infrastructure—986 points in the core zone—and produced a technical status for each. This data, combined with nighttime satellite imagery, enabled DarkSkyLab to create light pollution simulation maps. Continuous monitoring with SQM sensors (Ninox) confirmed the sky quality, with an average zenith luminance of 21.6 mag/arcsec² in the core zone. Impressively, 99.8% of lighting points are now turned off from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The project benefited from widespread local support. Numerous elected officials at various levels, along with national and regional astronomy and biodiversity organizations, voiced their commitment. RICE municipalities, representing 88% of the region’s population, formally supported the initiative.

With help from CNRS scientists (Collectif Renoir), the Park organized educational campaigns for local officials in participating municipalities. A guide titled *Guidelines for Mindful Lighting* was produced and distributed. With the support of energy syndicates, municipalities in the core zone developed a 10-year plan to continue public lighting renovations and further reduce light pollution.

A vibrant range of activities offered by local associations—astronomy events, night walks, photography workshops, and storytelling—further boosts the region’s tourist appeal and creates year-round opportunities for community connection.

“When an amateur astronomer is looking for a new site, they always start by viewing nighttime satellite images of France. One black area between Paris and Lyon stands out: the Morvan,” said Laurent Vadrot, an amateur astronomer. “As part of the RICE project, I regularly measure sky quality with SQM and Ninox sensors provided by the Park. These help track night sky conditions over time. The RICE label is a tremendous asset for promoting skywatching.”

“In a collective project like this, there’s no such thing as a ‘small action’—only a shared will to succeed, which must continue,” added Yvon Létrange, president of *Vents du Morvan* magazine. “The activities carried out have laid the foundation, raising awareness among the people of Morvan about the incredible treasure we have in our pristine night skies. This label is the result of a dedicated team’s persistence since 2018.”

“Anost, a pilot municipality, has fully committed to protecting the night sky by shortening public lighting hours and replacing outdated light sources, resulting in notable savings,” shared Mayor Louis Basdevant. “Events organized with the Park’s support helped bring residents and visitors on board. The RICE designation inspires us to keep going—and to take pride in this international recognition.”

“The Morvan is a haven of biodiversity at the heart of Burgundy,” said Daniel Sirugue, Director of the Natural History Society of Autun. “It shelters rare and diverse flora and fauna, many of which—such as bats, nocturnal birds, and insects—are sensitive to light. Reducing light pollution is essential to restoring habitats for these species. We hope this label will help accelerate nature conservation efforts for the benefit of all life here.”

With the RICE certification in hand, the Park and its partners are more determined than ever to continue their efforts to protect the starry sky and biodiversity. Future plans include expanding the RICE zone through continued lighting renovation, raising awareness among private stakeholders, developing observation sites across the territory, and advancing the Château-Chinon astronomical observatory project.

About the International Dark Sky Places Program:

Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. RICE Morvan now joins more than 240 places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting www.darksky.org/conservation/idsp.

About DarkSky International:

The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org

Contacts:

Emmanuel Clerc
Project manager, Natural Regional Park of Morvan
+33 (0) 3 86 78 79 17
[email protected]

Pascal Pommé
Delegate for RICE Morvan project – International Relations
+33 (0) 6 75 71 43 22
[email protected]

DarkSky International
Amber Harrison, Dark Sky Places Program Manager
+1 (520) 347-6363
[email protected]