Réserve naturelle nationale de la plaine des Maures, National nature reserve in Var, France
The Plaine des Maures reserve is a large protected area covering cork oak forests, pine woods, scrubland, and seasonal pools spread across several villages. The landscape shifts between dense woodlands and open clearings with low vegetation.
The area became an official reserve in 2009 after discussions about protection began in 1991. This decision came from the need to safeguard a specific animal species and the region's wild plants and creatures.
Cork oak forests here have long mattered to local people who used the wood for crafts and trade. Visitors can still see how these trees shape the landscape and reflect the region's identity.
Visitors can walk on marked trails and find parking in nearby villages like Le Cannet-des-Maures. Early mornings or late afternoons offer the most pleasant conditions for exploring the woods.
This place holds the largest population of Hermann's tortoises in France, a rare reptile found nowhere else in the country except Corsica. These creatures are hard to spot, but visitors can learn about their lives and the challenges they face.
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