Protected Areas and Natural Landscapes Situated Near Franches-Montagnes in the Jura

Combe Grède Nature Reserve: Geological Gorge and Protected Mountain Landscape in Bern

Folded Jura limestone terrain and biodiversity hotspots.

The Combe Grède nature reserve presents a striking half-cluse gorge carved into Cretaceous limestone. This protected area within the Canton of Bern showcases an instructive geological sequence, ancient pine stands, and diverse mountain habitats that span from shaded cliffs to alpine pastures.

Area

12 km²

Established

1932

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Linkes Bielerseeufer Protected Landscape: Map and Regional Geography in Canton of Bern

Protected Jura lakeshore and vineyard terrain

Investigate the precise boundaries and varied micro-landscape of Linkes Bielerseeufer. This protected area showcases a dramatic rise from Lake Biel into the Jura range, encompassing karst topography, historic dry-stone terraces, and diverse forest ecosystems within the Canton of Bern.

Area

7.079 km²

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Access

Easy access

Réserve naturelle régionale du Crêt des Roches: Protected Landscape and Geography Atlas

Lomont range limestone corniche and regional nature reserve map

Situated southeast of Pont-de-Roide-Vermondans, this regional nature reserve preserves a compact forty-three hectare area of Jurassic limestone cliffs and mesophilic forests. The site provides a critical reference point for studying Mediterranean-margin flora, including rare relict plant populations, and stands as a major topographical observation corridor for autumn bird migrations in eastern France.

Area

0.434 km²

Established

2009

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Naturschutzgebiet Aare bei Altreu: Protecting Aare Valley Floodplains and Alluvial Forest

Riverine meander habitat in the Solothurn canton landscape.

Naturschutzgebiet Aare bei Altreu serves as a vital refuge for floodplain flora and fauna, standing out for its intact meander loops and silver willow gallery forests. Located in the Solothurn region, this protected area preserves a rare stretch of the Aare river ecosystem that contrasts sharply with adjacent canalized banks. Studying its terrain reveals the importance of alluvial corridors in maintaining wetland connectivity within the Swiss Mittelland.

Area

0.205 km²

Established

1992

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Stausee Niederried Protected Landscape: A Geographic Map and Atlas of Swiss Floodplains

Mapped alluvial terrain and sandstone cliffs in the Canton of Bern.

Stausee Niederried functions as a vital protected landscape, blending a historic hydroelectric reservoir with a four-kilometer riverine floodplain. The area is characterized by high geomorphic contrast, ranging from the vast Runtigenfluh molasse cliff to critical riparian marshes and orchid-rich pine forests. This entry provides a structured look at the park boundaries, geological features, and the wider fluvial mosaic found near the confluence of the Aare and the Saane.

Area

2.97 km²

Established

1991

IUCN

V

Relief

Mixed relief

Réserve naturelle régionale de la basse vallée de la Savoureuse: Regional Nature Reserve

Protected alluvial floodplain geography in Doubs, France.

This nature reserve safeguards a significant fragment of the Savoureuse river floodplain. The protected area offers a complete alluvial sequence within 42 hectares, including active gravel bars and mature ash-alder woodlands, providing a high-density ecological core amidst an industrial landscape in the Doubs department.

Area

0.419 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Creux du Van et Gorges de l’Areuse Natural Monument and Regional Protected Landscape

Geological exploration of the Folded Jura and Areuse river valley

Spanning the Cantons of Neuchâtel and Vaud, this protected area unites the dramatic rock bowl of the Creux du Van with the narrow, cascading passages of the Gorges de l’Areuse. The site provides a comprehensive view of Jura mountain landforms, highlighting millions of years of river erosion, glacial activity, and karst weathering in a singular, well-defined geographic corridor.

Area

21.21 km²

Established

1876

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Regionaler Naturpark Thal: Protected Jura Landscapes and Regional Geography in Solothurn

Examining the folded ridges and pastoral terrain of the Swiss Jura

The Regionaler Naturpark Thal encompasses the entire Thal district, presenting a cohesive regional environment defined by the eastern Jura chain. This protected area features a unique mosaic of cattle-grazed heights, biodiversity-rich dry meadows, and dense mixed forests that anchor the Solothurn landscape. The terrain showcases the classic Jura topography of parallel ridges, secluded valleys, and dramatic klus incisions, providing a rich area for understanding regional mountain ecology.

Area

139 km²

Established

2009

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle régionale Im'Berg: Mapping a Unique Protected Nature Reserve in France

A rare calcareous grassland habitat in the Grand Est region.

Réserve naturelle régionale Im'Berg preserves a sun-drenched limestone slope in the commune of Tagolsheim. Known as the Buxberg, this protected area guards one of the most significant natural boxwood populations in Europe alongside specialized dry-habitat flora. The reserve functions as an essential geographic reference for studying how steep, calcareous terrain creates isolated, warm microclimates within the broader Alsatian landscape.

Area

0.017 km²

Established

2013

IUCN

IV

Réserve naturelle nationale de la Petite Camargue alsacienne: Protected Rhine Floodplain Geography

A unique wetland and alluvial forest habitat in Haut-Rhin

Investigate the geographic significance of the Réserve naturelle nationale de la Petite Camargue alsacienne. This site acts as a protected reference for Upper Rhine floodplain ecology, showcasing a rare intersection of relict river meanders, marshy depressions, and diverse vegetation types near the French, Swiss, and German borders.

Area

9.04 km²

Established

1982

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Aareknie Wolfwil-Wynau: Geographic Profile of a Swiss Protected River Landscape

Mapping dynamic river bends and lowland floodplains in the Swiss Mittelland.

Aareknie Wolfwil-Wynau preserves a rare, non-engineered river reach where the Aare cuts through molasse rock. The area is defined by its active gravel bars, rapids, and federally protected floodplain habitats. This site provides a critical look at how lowland river ecosystems function alongside historic cultural landmarks like the medieval church at Wynau.

Area

1.1 km²

Established

1996

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle régionale des Grottes du Cirque: Regional Nature Reserve and Karst Network

Protected limestone valley and bat hibernation site in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Located in the pre-Jura hills, this regional nature reserve features a compact reculée landscape defined by six limestone caves. These protected underground habitats serve as vital wintering grounds for various bat species and contain significant prehistoric fossil remains, marking the site as a key area for both geological and ecological study in eastern France.

Area

0.153 km²

Established

2015

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Regionaler Naturpark Gantrisch: Protected Terrain and Map Exploration in Canton of Bern

A diverse transition zone from glacial moraines to high mountain ridges.

Spanning over 400 square kilometers, Regionaler Naturpark Gantrisch offers a unique look at the Swiss landscape. Its boundaries encompass everything from low-lying agricultural valleys and historic castles to the steep, forested gorges of the Sense and Schwarzwasser rivers and the high-altitude vistas of the southern Gantrisch mountain range.

Area

414 km²

Established

2012

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Réserve naturelle régionale des marais et landes du Rothmoos Protected Landscape and Geography

Regional nature reserve in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace

The Réserve naturelle régionale des marais et landes du Rothmoos encompasses a rare inland saline habitat complex within the Nonnenbruch forest. Its terrain is defined by stable pools created from mining subsidence, transitioning into heathland and oak forests. This protected area stands as an ecological refuge for migratory waterbirds and specialized aquatic species within an industrial-legacy environment.

Area

1.457 km²

Established

1988

IUCN

IV

Relief

Lowland

Aarelandschaft zwischen Thun und Bern: Protected Landscape and River Corridor Geography

Mapping the floodplain remnants of the Aare river corridor

The Aarelandschaft zwischen Thun und Bern protects a unique corridor of riparian forest, wet meadows, and springs along the Aare river. Situated in the Kanton Bern, this landscape retains evidence of historic river engineering alongside ongoing restoration programs that reconnect vital lowland ecosystems. It stands as a significant natural corridor in a densely populated region, marked by its molasse hills and varied alluvial topography.

Area

10.4 km²

Established

1983

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Tourbières et lacs de la montagne jurassienne: Mapping High-Altitude Wetlands and Glacial Landscapes

A vast protected wildlife reserve in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region

Covering more than 12,000 hectares, this wildlife reserve forms a crucial conservation benchmark for peatland and glacial lake systems in the Jura Massif. The landscape encompasses deep combes, broad plateaus, and clear-water basins like Lac de Saint-Point, providing a vital habitat mosaic for diverse flora and fauna across the French highlands.

Area

121.56 km²

Established

2021

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle régionale de la forêt des volcans de Wegscheid: Geological Protected Area

Mapping volcanic terrain in the Grand Est region of eastern France.

Located in the Haut-Rhin, this regional nature reserve preserves a distinct volcanic landscape characterized by rocky promontories, basalt columns, and mature forest stands. The protected terrain features varied elevation from 700 meters to the Rossberg ridge, showcasing geological formations that have remained largely untouched by intensive historical forestry.

Area

1.015 km²

Established

2008

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

Réserve naturelle régionale de la tourbière de la Grande Pile: Regional Nature Reserve

Protected peatland ecosystems and climate archive in eastern France

This regional nature reserve provides a compact study of peatland development and palaeo-environmental history. It preserves diverse wetland habitats at the edge of the Vosges saônoises, offering a rich environment for rare flora and dragonfly species within the wider Région des Mille étangs.

Area

0.593 km²

Established

2016

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

Dinkelberg und Röttler Wald: Geographic Overview of this Baden-Württemberg Nature Reserve

Protected karst landscapes and mature beech forest habitat

Uncover the ecological and physical geography of Dinkelberg und Röttler Wald, a protected area stretching across diverse limestone plateaus and sandstone slopes in Germany. This site offers a valuable look at managed cultural landscapes that bridge the gap between rural meadows and wild forest reserves, providing critical habitat for European bat populations and rare flora across its varied elevational zones.

Area

46.47 km²

Established

2015

Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve: Mapped Protected Landscapes in the Canton of Lucerne

Exploring karst formations and alpine wetland ecosystems

Entlebuch stands as a pioneering example of community-driven conservation in the Swiss Alps. This protected landscape encompasses extensive peatlands, forested slopes, and the iconic Schrattenfluh karst massif. Use this geographic entry to understand the regional topography and the spatial distribution of protected habitats throughout this central Swiss valley.

Area

397 km²

Established

2001

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine