Réserve naturelle nationale des hauts plateaux du Vercors, National nature reserve in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
The Réserve naturelle nationale des hauts plateaux du Vercors is a large protected area on a high plateau spanning two French departments. The landscape features limestone plateaus, cliff faces, open alpine meadows, and forests distributed across different elevations.
The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and passed through various political domains over the centuries. By the 13th century, records show that local communities had established regular pastoral activities across the plateau.
Shepherds have grazed livestock on these high meadows for centuries, and this pastoral tradition remains visible in how the land is managed today. Local communities continue to move animals seasonally across the plateau, shaping the landscape as they have for generations.
Plan your route ahead of time, as the vast area offers limited navigation aids once you arrive. Water sources are scarce throughout the reserve, so bring adequate supplies for your visit.
The reserve holds remarkable biodiversity with thousands of plant species and numerous mammal types living across its terrain. Alpine ibexes, which were once hunted to extinction in the region, have been successfully reintroduced and now inhabit the rocky areas.
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