This former royal forest was purchased by Le Havres city council in 1909 and was, eventually, converted into a public park. (During WWII, the whole forest was used as a German ammunition depot and then an American military camp, finally being used to accommodate the over 3,000 city inhabitants who had been left homeless after the bombing of the city.) Today, Montgeon Forest contains two man-made lakes, an animal reserve, a 4-star campsite, several soccer fields, running tracks and the starting point for a nature-hike trail.