Spessart Nature Park (
German: Naturpark Spessart) is a
nature park in
Germany, managed by Naturpark Spessart e. V. The park spans the states of
Hesse and
Bavaria, and covers an area of 2,440 km² within the German hill range known as the
Spessart. The geological foundation of the park is formed by a
Bunter sandstone plate, up to about 400 metres thick, which tilts towards the southeast. The nature park includes the largest contiguous area of
mixed forest in Germany. Deep valleys, gentle hillsides and heights characterise the landscape of the Spessart.
Spessart Nature Park consists of two parts:
The Bavarian Spessart Nature Park (Naturpark Bayerischer Spessart), founded in 1961, in Northwestern
Bavaria, which covers an area of 1,710 km² and lies in the so-called
Main rectangle.
The Hessian Spessart Nature Park (Naturpark Hessischer Spessart), founded in 1962, in southeastern
Hesse, which has an area of 730 km² and lies in the northern Spessart, south of the A 66 motorway between
Hanau and
Schlüchtern. A large
clearing known as the Bergfeld is within the Hessian portion of the park.