Le Côteau

Le Côteau is a managed biological reserve (réserve biologique dirigée) located within the Russy state forest, in the commune of Chailles, in the Loir-et-Cher department of the Centre-Val de Loire region. The reserve was established in 2001 on the initiative of the Office National des Forêts (ONF), the French national forestry office responsible for managing state-owned forests. It covers 11.28 hectares and is one of several examples of nature conservation carried out directly within productive state forests.

What does the reserve protect?

The main reason for creating Le Côteau was to protect a remarkable population of the wild peony known as male peony (Paeonia mascula). Within the reserve, a particularly valuable area of 1.42 hectares has been designated, hosting a rich assemblage of spring-flowering plants that includes numerous specimens of this rare species. Beyond the peony itself, the reserve's purpose is to preserve and enhance the overall biodiversity of the site.

What type of forest grows here?

The area is covered by an oak-beech forest (chênaie-hêtraie), classified as an Asperulo-Fagetum habitat type. This deciduous forest type is recognized as a habitat of European significance under the EU Habitats Directive, meaning its conservation matters beyond France's own borders.

Is this a Natura 2000 site?

The Office National des Forêts proposed the reserve for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network, precisely because of the habitat value of the oak-beech forest and the presence of the protected plant species. This status highlights the site's importance within the European network of protected areas, not just at a local level.

How is the reserve managed?

Management of the reserve is based on a plan drawn up by the ONF. The management plan, covering the period 2000–2007, ran to 25 pages and included an analysis of the natural environment, the economic and social context of the surrounding region, an action programme with defined objectives, and financial forecasts. Such a plan allows the reserve's protective function to be reconciled with the forestry operations carried out in the rest of the Russy forest.

Where exactly is Le Côteau located?

The reserve lies within the boundaries of the Russy state forest, in the commune of Chailles in the Loir-et-Cher department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of central France. The surrounding area belongs to a small agricultural region of valleys and hillsides along the Loire, where forest land sits alongside vineyards and market-gardening, both typical activities of this stretch of the Loire valley.

Frequently asked questions

What is Le Côteau? It is a managed biological reserve within the Russy state forest, created to protect a rare wild peony and an oak-beech forest habitat.

How big is the reserve? The whole area covers 11.28 hectares, of which 1.42 hectares form a particularly valuable zone hosting the peony population.

Who manages the reserve? It is managed by the Office National des Forêts under a dedicated management plan.

Does the site have European recognition? Yes, the Asperulo-Fagetum oak-beech forest habitat has been proposed for the Natura 2000 network as a habitat of European significance.

Which plant species is protected here? The wild peony Paeonia mascula, present in numerous specimens within a small but botanically rich part of the forest.