Reculée de Poligny, Steephead valley in Franche-Comté, France.
The Reculée de Poligny is a steephead valley in Franche-Comté with limestone cliffs, featuring a narrow gorge that widens slightly before ending abruptly at a sheer rock face. The valley floor sits well below the surrounding plateau, creating a dramatic enclosed space with walls of exposed stone.
This valley formed millions of years ago when water gradually dissolved and carved through limestone layers stacked above harder marl bedrock. The continuous erosion process shaped the distinctive steep-sided form we see today.
Local people call this type of formation a reculée, a name tied to how the valley looks and functions in the landscape. The term reflects how residents understand and talk about the natural world around them.
Several hiking trails lead through the valley, offering different routes and difficulty levels for various abilities. Parking near Poligny town provides convenient access to most trail entrances and viewpoints.
Natural springs pour directly from the cliff faces at the valley head, feeding streams that flow through the gorge. These water sources are easy to miss but are remarkable features that continue to shape how the landscape develops.
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