Capitaine Monté

Capitaine Monté is a section of state-owned forest (forêt domaniale de Bezange) near the commune of Bezange-la-Grande, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department of France. The site carries two layers of history: a military one from the First World War, and a present-day one tied to nature conservation as a full biological reserve (réserve biologique intégrale).

The name and its wartime past

The name refers to one of the forest sections that, once the front line stabilized at the end of the Battle of the Grand Couronne, came under German occupation. From the opposing slopes, in the neighboring forest sections (Ranzey, Sainte Marie, Faulx), French troops held their positions. Over the years of trench warfare on this stretch of the front, the forest became a witness to prolonged, static conflict rather than short offensive battles — a history that left its mark on the landscape and on fortification remains still found on the ground.

A biological reserve today

Today the same forest area functions as a full biological reserve within the Bezange state forest, managed by the French national forestry office (ONF). Reserves of this kind follow a strict non-intervention principle: all forestry operations are suspended, except in specific cases such as removing invasive alien species or securing access routes used by visitors or forest services. The goal is to allow the natural, spontaneous dynamics of forest habitats to unfold without human interference.

Integral biological reserves like this one serve a dual purpose: scientific and protective. On one hand, they act as sites for observing and studying the ecological processes that take place in a forest left to itself — without logging, planting, or the removal of dead wood. On the other hand, they protect biodiversity, particularly species tied to decaying wood (saproxylic organisms), which need large amounts of dead wood from different tree species and at different stages of decomposition in order to thrive. In practice, this means fallen trunks, broken branches, and dying trees are left in place, creating habitats for insects, fungi, and other organisms dependent on these microenvironments.

Who it's for

Capitaine Monté appeals to visitors interested both in the wartime history of the Lorraine region and in natural forest processes left free from human management. It is not a conventional tourist attraction with visitor infrastructure — rather, it is a forest section carrying a double significance: a remnant of the First World War front line and a present-day tool for nature conservation.

Frequently asked questions

What is Capitaine Monté? A section of state forest near Bezange-la-Grande that is both a full biological reserve and a site connected to the First World War front line.

Can forestry work be carried out there? No — in full biological reserves, forestry operations are suspended, except for removing invasive species or securing access routes.

Why is the area protected? For its scientific value and for the protection of biodiversity, especially organisms that depend on dead wood.

What is the site's connection to the First World War? Once the front stabilized at the end of the Battle of the Grand Couronne, the area came under German occupation, while French forces held positions in the neighboring forest sections.