Réserve naturelle nationale de l'île de Rhinau

Réserve naturelle nationale de l'île de Rhinau protects a stretch of Rhine alluvial forest on the island of Rhinau in Alsace, sandwiched between the Old Rhine and the canalized Rhine. The reserve covers more than 300 hectares and stretches across several municipalities, including Schœnau, roughly forty kilometers south of Strasbourg.

Where exactly is the reserve located?

The island of Rhinau is about 10 kilometers long and lies in the Bas-Rhin department, in the Grand Est region of France. Its territory spans the municipalities of Rhinau, Schœnau and Sundhouse. The reserve's coordinates are approximately 48.25°N, 7.68°E. Sitting right on the Rhine, in the borderland between France and Germany, the area has long been shaped by natural river dynamics — floods, shifting channels and the formation of new oxbow lakes.

What is this reserve protecting?

The reserve was established in 1991 to preserve a mosaic of habitats typical of the Rhine valley: alluvial forests, wet meadows, reed beds, ponds and streams. This diversity of environments makes the area exceptionally rich in wildlife, with more than 1,100 recorded taxa of plants and animals. Particularly notable are the populations of trees and shrubs characteristic of alluvial forests, along with numerous bird species and insects such as dragonflies, bees and wasps, for which this site is one of the more important refuges in the region.

What wildlife can visitors expect here?

Thanks to the presence of both standing and flowing water, the reserve is home to dragonflies, amphibians and rare fish species that find favorable breeding conditions here. The richness of bird life stems from the combination of floodplain terrain, thickets and open meadows — this mix of habitats attracts species tied to water as well as to forest environments. Pollinating insects, including many species of bees and wasps, benefit from the flowering meadows and the edges of the alluvial woodland.

Who manages the reserve?

The reserve is managed by the Conservatoire des Sites Alsaciens, the organization responsible for protecting and monitoring ecologically valuable sites across Alsace. Its status as a réserve naturelle nationale (national nature reserve) means it carries the highest level of legal protection in France, restricting human activity that could disturb the natural ecological processes at work on the site.

Why is the area around Schœnau worth a visit?

The surroundings of the reserve offer a glimpse of what the Rhine valley looked like before the river was regulated — with its meanders, oxbow lakes and floodplain forests. It's also a place that helps illustrate the natural history of this border region between France and Germany, where the river has shaped both the landscape and administrative boundaries for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Rhinau island nature reserve located? In the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace, between the Old Rhine and the canalized Rhine, across the municipalities of Rhinau, Schœnau and Sundhouse, about 40 km south of Strasbourg.

When was the reserve created? In 1991, to protect Rhine alluvial forests and their associated wetland habitats.

How large is the reserve? More than 300 hectares stretching along the roughly 10-kilometer-long island of Rhinau.

Which species are especially notable here? Dragonflies, birds, bees and wasps, plus woody plant species typical of alluvial forests — over 1,100 taxa have been documented in total.

Who is responsible for protecting this site? The Conservatoire des Sites Alsaciens, the organization that manages the network of nature reserves in Alsace.