Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron, National nature reserve in Charente-Maritime, France.
The Réserve naturelle nationale de Moëze-Oléron is a protected natural area at the mouth of the Charente River, consisting of extensive marshes, tidal flats, and water zones. The terrain is shaped by tidal movements that daily reshape the landscape, creating a complex mosaic of water, reeds, and muddy expanses.
The area took shape between 1830 and 1850 through the creation of polders that modified the salt marshes and wetlands. Official protection status was established in 1985 to preserve the valuable ecosystems and migratory birds.
The name comes from the two towns of Moëze and Oléron that border it, reflecting the close relationship between local communities and the natural environment. Visitors find birders scattered throughout the reed beds, moving with the changing water levels that shape daily patterns in this working landscape.
You can explore the area year-round using marked trails and viewing platforms, with the best bird sightings during cooler months. An information center provides guidance and background knowledge to help you navigate the terrain independently.
The reserve is one of France's five most important wintering sites for water birds and attracts tens of thousands of migratory birds each year. This international richness of bird species makes it an ecologically significant place, even though it remains less well known than other French protected areas.
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