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The Val d’Allier Nature Reserve

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The Val d’Allier

The River Allier has left its mark on the county through its bucolic, royal charm. It is a wild, seemingly mournful river, even lazy between Vichy and Moulins. With its river birds, varied landscapes, whether flat or hilly, its quiet bocages or wild banks, vineyards or pastures, it looks like a Ruysdael painting in the land of the Bourbons.

The Val d'Allier Nature Reserve

The Reserve stretches for 1,450 hectares and 21 kilometres along the river south of Moulins. Open to visitors, it is run by the Office National des Forêts (the National Forestry Commission) and the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (the Bird Protection Society). The site is signposted by theme to help visitors enjoy the site. Birdwatching weekends and walks with a nature guide are organised. In addition, the Espace Nature du Val d’Allier has put together an interesting bird exhibition, with children particularly in mind.

Tel : + 33 (0) 4 70 44 46 29

Rare birds

Over 250 different bird species have been spotted, nearly as many as in the Camargue. Some of these are particularly rare and remarkable. The dwarf stern can be recognized by its small size, white forehead and yellow beak. The squacco heron, a longhaired, chamois-coloured heron, proudly sports its plumage, embellished with a brown crest. The osprey, a medium-sized eagle, shows its impressive wingspan. The European bee-eater has a particularly elegant and very colourful plumage.

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