Réserve naturelle régionale du bas-marais tourbeux de la Basse Goulandière

The Réserve naturelle régionale du bas-marais tourbeux de la Basse Goulandière is a small but ecologically remarkable peat-bog reserve in the commune of Parigné-l'Évêque, roughly 12 km southeast of Le Mans in the Sarthe department, western France. Covering nearly 38 hectares, it protects one of the last well-preserved alkaline lowland fens (bas-marais alcalin) in Sarthe, stretching along the Roule-Crottes stream.

Why is this site protected?

The area was designated a Regional Nature Reserve (Réserve Naturelle Régionale, RNR) in 2011. The land itself has belonged to the commune since 1966, and since 1997 its management has been entrusted to the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de la Sarthe (CEN Sarthe), the local body responsible for safeguarding valuable natural habitats across the department. A bas-marais is a type of wetland fed by calcium-rich water, which supports a highly specialised and increasingly rare plant community — one that is under serious pressure across the region due to drainage and conversion of wetlands for agriculture.

What species live here?

The reserve shelters at least seven nationally protected plant species and twelve protected animal species, several of which are considered rare in France. Among the notable flora:

• Round-leaved sundew — a small carnivorous plant typical of nitrogen-poor peat bogs
• Grass-of-Parnassus — a species associated with damp, calcium-rich meadows
• Marsh lousewort — a scarce plant found in wet, extensively managed grasslands

Fauna highlights include the Mercury damselfly (agrion de Mercure), a small damselfly with a blue-and-black body considered an indicator of healthy wetland habitats, and the great crested newt, an amphibian with a distinctive orange-and-black belly that is strictly protected across Europe.

What should visitors know before coming?

Because the ecosystem is fragile and hosts species sensitive to trampling and disturbance, access to parts of the reserve may be restricted, or visitors may be asked to keep to marked paths. Anyone planning a visit should check current conditions directly with the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de la Sarthe, which also occasionally organises guided walks and educational open days to help visitors discover the fen under expert supervision.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the reserve located? In the commune of Parigné-l'Évêque, Sarthe department, about 12 km southeast of Le Mans, along the Roule-Crottes stream.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers close to 38 hectares.

Since when has this site been protected? It was officially classified as a Regional Nature Reserve in 2011, though the land has belonged to the commune since 1966.

Who manages the reserve? The Conservatoire d'espaces naturels de la Sarthe has managed it since 1997.

What are the most valuable species found here? Seven protected plant species (including round-leaved sundew and marsh lousewort) and twelve animal species, notably the Mercury damselfly and the great crested newt.