Peter

The Montagne Saint-Pierre is the region located between the low valleys of the Geer and the Meuse, limited to the north by the confluence of the two waterways at Maastricht, and to the south by a line connecting Bassenge and Hallembaye-Haccourt. On this hill, formed by various Upper Cretaceous limestone rocks (chalk, tuff), and enjoying favorable climatic and orographic conditions, diverse environments can be found (calcareous lawns resulting from former agro-pastoral practices, edge thickets, calcareous coppices, thermophilic oak-hornbeam forests...) that are extremely rich in animal species (Arachnids, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Gastropods, reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals...) and plant species (Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Angiosperms, including many orchids...). The Meuse side of the Montagne Saint-Pierre is now protected, except for the "Thier de Caster," where thousands of bats from thirteen species hibernate each year! The extractive industry remains a potential threat to this part of the site. The management of the calcareous lawns through grazing is ensured by a flock of sheep of a local breed ("Mergellandschap") accompanied by a few goats. A short distance from the reserve, in Lanaye, the Montagne Saint-Pierre museum provides visitors with all the information they need. (J.-L. Gathoye).

Public Access:
Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie