Réserve naturelle nationale de Frankenthal-Missheimle, National nature reserve in Stosswihr, France
The Frankenthal-Missheimle nature reserve is a protected area on the Alsatian side of the Honneck massif. It extends across roughly 746 hectares at an altitude of around 1220 meters and contains glacial cirques, high-altitude beech forests, and peat bogs.
The area was settled as far back as Merovingian and Carolingian times, as shown by traces found in the Dagobert cave. Forest protection rules were first introduced in this region in 1766.
The Frankenthal farm building from 1927 shows how herders once lived here seasonally with their cattle during summer months. The place preserves the memory of this traditional mountain farming way of life.
The GR-5 hiking trail runs through the reserve and offers opportunities for hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. The access points start from the town of Stosswihr, which sits directly below the area.
The area is home to plant species that survived the ice age, sheltered in the peat bogs and high-altitude forests. These rare plants are living reminders of climate conditions from thousands of years ago.
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