Protected Areas and Natural Landscapes Near Creux du Van et Gorges de l’Areuse

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

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

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

Franches-Montagnes Nature Reserve: A Detailed Atlas of Jura Plateau and Peat Bog Geography

Protected karst limestone landscapes and highland pasture geography.

The Franches-Montagnes nature reserve spans a unique high plateau in the Swiss Jura, characterized by its complex karst substrate and iconic raised bog systems like the Etang de la Gruère. This protected area supports a mosaic of traditional wooded pastures and wetlands, serving as a primary site for understanding the intersection of human pastoral heritage and sensitive highland ecology.

Area

39.57 km²

Established

1977

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Réserve naturelle régionale des tourbières de Frasne-Bouverans Protected Landscape Atlas

Peatland mosaic geography in the Drugeon valley of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Trace the boundaries and ecological features of this significant regional nature reserve. Spanning the Forbonnet massif and the wider Drugeon basin, the area features a dense concentration of raised bogs, woodlands, and mire habitats defined by complex glacial geology.

Area

2.926 km²

Established

1986

IUCN

IV

Visitors

17.5K annual

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

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 de la Seigne des Barbouillons Protected Landscape Atlas

Geography and wetland boundaries in the Jura plateau of France

The Réserve naturelle régionale de la Seigne des Barbouillons protects a characteristic raised bog ecosystem in the Mignovillard commune. This compact area serves as a vital reference point for understanding the distribution of sphagnum mires and specialized butterfly habitats across the Jura plateau, illustrating the contrast between protected peatlands and their surrounding agricultural environment.

Area

0.346 km²

Established

2014

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Réserve naturelle nationale du ravin de Valbois: Protected Jura Blind Valley and Limestone Ravines

Geographic landscape exploration of the Doubs department's protected natural reserve.

Spanning 235 hectares, this protected nature reserve in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté preserves a textbook Jura reculée. The terrain showcases vertical limestone cliffs, deep forested ravines, and a 40-meter cascade. As a hotspot for butterfly diversity and Mediterranean-montane vegetation, the area offers a significant study in microclimatic gradients and old-growth forest conservation within the French landscape.

Area

2.35 km²

Established

1983

IUCN

IV

Relief

Mountain

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

Chanivaz, Delta de l’Aubonne: Geography, Map, and Protected Landscape Context

A rare glacial geotope and river delta on Lake Geneva.

Chanivaz, Delta de l’Aubonne provides a rich look at the alluvial fan of the River Aubonne. Explore its layered terrace terrain, protected reedbeds, and riparian forests in the canton of Vaud, representing one of the best-preserved natural river mouths remaining on the northern shore of Lake Geneva.

Area

3 km²

Established

2003

Relief

Lowland

Climate

Temperate

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

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

Réserve naturelle régionale des grottes de Chenecey: Protected Karst and Limestone Cliffs

Regional Nature Reserve in the Doubs, France

This nature reserve protects a diverse mosaic of habitats along the Loue valley. The site integrates surface calcareous grasslands with fragile underground cave galleries, providing critical refuge for rare bat species. It represents a significant conservation effort in the Jura region, mapping the intersection of subterranean voids and exposed limestone terrain.

Area

0.214 km²

Established

2017

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

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

Diemtigtal: Protected Alpine Landscape in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Mapped valley geography and mountain terrain context

Explore the structured geography of Diemtigtal, a regional nature park in the Bernese Oberland. This valley landscape is defined by its enclosed U-shaped topography, the Niesenkette skyline, and a network of traditional settlements nested between mountain ridges and alpine streams. Gain insight into the protected boundaries and the distinctive terrain of this Swiss Alpine region.

Established

2009

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Alpine

Scope

Terrestrial

Réserve naturelle régionale du gouffre du Creux à Pépé: Protected Karst and Bat Landscapes

Jura foothills nature reserve with critical cave habitats

Located in the Doubs department, the Réserve naturelle régionale du gouffre du Creux à Pépé protects a rare limestone sinkhole within a mosaic of dry calcareous grassland. This site stands as a key node in regional bat conservation efforts, providing essential wintering and spring transit roosts within the Jura mountain foothills, all anchored by a dense network of biotope and Natura 2000 protective instruments.

Area

0.007 km²

Established

2015

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

Réserve naturelle régionale des grottes de la côte de la Baume, Jura Regional Nature Reserve

Karst caves and cliff-slope forest geography in France

Located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, this nature reserve protects a vital network of karst caves and unmanaged scree-slope ash forests. The site represents a specialized conservation effort centered on cliff-side habitats and underground sanctuaries within the Jura limestone landscape.

Area

0.054 km²

Established

2017

IUCN

IV

Relief

Upland

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