Réserve naturelle nationale d'Hettange-Grande, National nature reserve in Hettange-Grande, France
The Réserve naturelle nationale d'Hettange-Grande is a protected natural area covering about 6 hectares near the borders with Luxembourg and Germany. It combines limestone formations, wet meadows, and calcareous grasslands in a diverse landscape.
The site gained international recognition in 1864 when Swiss geologist Eugene Renevier designated it as the reference point for the Hettangian geological period. This designation has influenced geological science worldwide ever since.
The name reflects the ancient Gries quarry, which supplied building stone from Roman times through the mid-20th century. Visitors walking through the reserve can still see traces of this long industrial past in the terrain.
The reserve is open daily and offers guided tours led by environmental specialists at the information center. Well-maintained paths allow you to explore the different habitats without special equipment.
The reserve contains fossils approximately 200 million years old from the early Jurassic period. This makes it a global reference site for geological research and the study of Earth's history.
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