Roche haute

La Haute Roche is located in the Viroin Valley, south of the village of Dourbes. This predominantly wooded zone is mainly occupied by a calcicole oak charm, but the rocky tracks also have a very interesting xeric lawn. There are also fragments of mesophilic lawns with some old junipers on the plateau.

It would be cumbersome to list the rare plant species in this reserve. But nevertheless let's mention bulbous bluegrass ( Poa bulbosa ), gymnadenia mosquito ( Gymnadenia conopsea ), purple orchid ( Orchis purpurea )…

Herpetofauna includes the coronal snake ( Coronella austriaca ), the wall lizard ( Podarcis muralis ), and the viviparous lizard ( Zoatoca vivipara ).

The prehistory and history of the region are rich in lessons. The ruins of the castle of Haute Roche dominate the Viroin Valley. Built in the 10th century, this medieval fortress was destroyed in 1554 by the Constable Anne de Montmorency.

In the early 1980s, the management was entrusted to the Center Marie-Victorin de Vierves (Cercles des Naturalistes de Belgique). From 2002 to 2006, this reserve was restored as part of the LIFE Haute-Meuse project. Currently, the mechanical management and grazing is continued by Ardenne & Gaume employees with the help of the Marie-Victorin Center.

Willem Vandenameele