Réserve naturelle régionale du Ried de Sélestat, l'Ill*Wald, Regional nature reserve in Sélestat, France
The Ill*Wald is a regional nature reserve covering about 1,855 hectares of wetlands in the Alsace plain. It contains a dense network of waterways, forests, and meadows organized across 30 different habitat types.
The reserve received its official designation as a regional protected area in February 2013 following a request from the city of Sélestat. This status was granted for an initial period of 25 years with the possibility of renewal.
The name Ill*Wald links the river Ill with forest, where the asterisk symbolizes the connection between natural habitats and human stewardship. Visitors experience this blend directly by moving through different landscape types.
The reserve is open for visits, though sections may temporarily close during strong winds for visitor safety. Guided tours run throughout the year and offer the best way to explore the different habitat zones.
The reserve holds France's largest wild fallow deer population, an exceptional concentration of these animals found nowhere else in the country. Additionally, 78 heritage plant species grow within its boundaries.
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