Marais de Lavours National Nature Reserve, National nature reserve near Culoz-Béon, France
Marais de Lavours National Nature Reserve is a protected wetland area in southeastern France covering nearly 500 hectares of marshes, ponds, and water channels. The landscape features layers of peat soil beneath the shallow waters, creating distinct ecological zones that support birds, amphibians, and water insects.
The site formed roughly 15,000 years ago when the melting Rhône glacier created a vast proglacial lake in this valley. Over millennia, sediment accumulation and vegetation decay gradually transformed this water body into the marshy landscape visible today.
Since the 12th century, local communities have used these marshlands for livestock farming, with traditional hay harvesting during summer months for vine mulching and cattle bedding.
A wooden boardwalk measuring around 1,200 meters winds through the marsh and remains accessible throughout the year, with trailheads near Culoz and Ceyzérieu. The path offers several observation points where visitors can pause to watch wildlife without disturbing the habitat.
Grazing animals including Highland cattle and several horse breeds have managed the vegetation since the 1980s, creating a living landscape that develops through their natural movement and feeding. This approach keeps the ecosystem balanced while avoiding heavy machinery that might damage the delicate peat layers.
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