Réserve naturelle nationale des Hauts de Chartreuse, National nature reserve in Chartreuse Mountains, France.
The Réserve naturelle nationale des Hauts de Chartreuse is a protected area spread across roughly 4,450 hectares in the Chartreuse Mountains. Limestone cliffs, dense forests, and mountain grasslands form the main features of this terrain, which rises from 900 meters to over 2,000 meters elevation.
France established this protected area in 1997 to prevent construction and preserve the Chartreuse mountain environment. Since then, the reserve has been managed to keep the natural environment largely untouched by development.
The seven alpine pastures within the reserve show how traditional farming still shapes the landscape today, with herds grazing across open meadows. Visitors walking through these areas can see how rural life and nature conservation work together here.
Visitors explore the reserve by following marked trails while respecting strict rules designed to protect the natural habitat. Dogs are not permitted, and plant collection or open fires are forbidden to safeguard the environment.
The reserve contains one of Europe's longest cave systems, carved out by water flowing through limestone over millions of years. These hidden passages beneath the mountains reveal the powerful geological forces that shaped the Chartreuse range.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
