Dry Hills Nature Reserve - Holiesel

Holiesel is a remarkable natural site located in the foothills of the Vosges mountains, within the Collines sèches du Bischenberg, Immerschenberg and Holiesel regional nature reserve. This area is distinguished by the presence of dry limestone grasslands, rare and fragile natural environments that are characteristic of this region.



These dry grasslands are home to exceptional biodiversity, with specialised flora adapted to dry, well-exposed limestone soils. Nationally, these environments contain a significant proportion of plant diversity, but declined sharply during the 20th century, mainly due to the gradual abandonment of pastoral practices. On the Holiesel, this development has led to the gradual abandonment and afforestation of the site.


Today, the Holiesel is a sensitive natural area, bearing witness to open landscapes once shaped by human activity. Its preservation aims to maintain these threatened habitats and promote the biological diversity they host.


The site can be explored in a way that respects the natural environment and offers a privileged setting for observing the typical landscapes of the foothills of the Vosges.