Which national park, founded in 1914, is the oldest in the Alps and Central Europe?

Which national park, founded in 1914, is the oldest in the Alps and Central Europe? The answer is Swiss National Park.

Swiss National Park opened on 1 August 1914 in Switzerland’s eastern canton of Graubünden. Its creation reflected an early conservation idea: protect a large alpine landscape by allowing natural processes to proceed with as little human interference as possible. It is recognized as the oldest national park in both the Alps and Central Europe.

The park lies in the Engadin valley near Zernez, S-chanf, Scuol and the Fuorn Pass. It now covers about 170.3 square kilometres and includes forests, high valleys, alpine meadows and peaks such as Piz Quattervals, which reaches 3,165 metres.

Strict rules distinguish it from many recreational parks. Visitors must remain on marked trails, dogs are prohibited even on leashes, and overnight stays are generally limited to the Chamanna Cluozza mountain hut. These restrictions support its IUCN Category Ia status, the strictest protected-area classification.

Vanoise, Hohe Tauern and Gran Paradiso are also major alpine parks, but they were founded later. Swiss National Park is the historical pioneer named in the question.