Hillside’s Mirabel

Here, in the dry grasslands, some twenty species of wild orchid grow. A signposted path, aptly named the Orchid Trail, leads you through this area, which is part of the European Natura 2000 network and has been awarded the “Espace Naturel Sensible” label. Along the way, a number of ruins(…)

Here, in the dry grasslands, some twenty species of wild orchid grow. A signposted path, aptly named the Orchid Trail, leads you through this area, which is part of the European Natura 2000 network and has been awarded the “Espace Naturel Sensible” label. Along the way, a number of ruins bear witness to past farming activities (dovecotes, terraces, etc.).

Concerning the fauna recorded on the site :
– 47 bird species, including 6 breeding species of heritage interest : woodlark, little owl, black kite, black woodpecker, red-backed shrike, meadow sparrow ;
– 62 species of butterfly, including blackthorn moth, elm thecla and skipper ;
– 5 nationally protected reptile species, including the fragile orvet and asp viper ;
– 6 species of bat, including the moustached bat and the lesser rhinolophus.
Among mammals, the muscardin has been observed.

In terms of flora, 17 species have been recorded. The site is well known for its orchids (21 species present on the site), such as fly ophrys, spider ophrys, red duiker and small-leaved epipactis.