Réserve naturelle nationale de la plaine des Maures, National nature reserve in Var, France
The Réserve naturelle nationale de la plaine des Maures is a protected natural area in the Var department of southern France, covering cork oak forests, pine woods, scrubland, and seasonal ponds across the territory of several communes. The terrain alternates between dense forest and open clearings with low vegetation, crossed by shallow valleys and small wetland areas.
Discussions about protecting this area began in 1991, driven by concern over the rapid loss of native species and wild habitats in the Var plain. The site was officially designated a national nature reserve in 2009, following nearly two decades of work between landowners, local communities, and the French state.
Cork oak trees here have long been harvested by hand, and visitors walking the trails can still spot trees with sections of stripped bark left to regrow. This visible mark on the trees tells a lot about how the local economy and the landscape have grown together over time.
The reserve is accessible on foot via marked trails starting from several nearby villages, where parking is available close to the main entry points. Going early in the morning gives the best chance of seeing wildlife before the heat of the day settles in.
The Plaine des Maures holds the largest group of Hermann's tortoises in France, a species that no longer lives wild on the French mainland outside this reserve and Corsica. These slow-moving reptiles are sometimes spotted on open paths in the morning when they come out to warm themselves in the sun.
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