Explore the fauna and flora of the Vosges Mountains!
With several national nature reserves, a transborder UNESCO biosphere reserve, and environmentally sensitive areas, the Vosges Mountains boast unique natural heritage!
A protected area for memories
Rising to an elevation of 1,424 m, the mountain range has a diverse range of natural environments, with flowery meadows, vast forests, and the wide-open summits of the Higher Vosges. This rich variety of landscapes harbours numerous species of plants and wildlife.
Let's take a closer look at the different zones of the Vosges Mountains!
● The first is the foothills zone at an elevation below 500 m. The forests in this area are usually comprised of oak and beech trees.
● Next, between 500 m to 1,000 m, is the montane zone. The natural vegetation in this area includes forests of beech and fir.
● Finally, there's the subalpine zone, covering the areas above 1,000 m, up to the summits of the Vosges Mountains. The landscapes in this zone include the stubble of upper mountain pastures and the ancient glacial cirques that date back to the last ice age. In spring, the first flower to appear is often the spring snowflake, a plant very similar to the snowdrop, but with a larger flower.
Environmental and climatic conditions vary depending on the altitude and the zone. The plant and wildlife species that live in these different zones are those that manage to adapt to the conditions.
During your outing, don't forget that the environment around you is fragile. Find out more about good practices here !
And for the more curious by nature, you'll find more information below.
