Ile de la Motte walks

On this route, you’ll discover the vast floodplain of the Saône, stretching as far as the eye can see. Once you reach the banks of the Saône, you can see Île de la Motte, which has been designated a Sensitive Natural Area. Île de la Motte is home to colonies of herons: the little bittern, the little egret and the cattle egret, which can sometimes be sensitive to disturbance during the breeding season. The island’s presence on the river also helps to maintain fish diversity. Sediments carried by the Saône have been deposited and accumulated at La Motte, gradually creating small islets and secondary channels. Together, these form a mosaic of natural habitats that is home to an exceptional diversity of species.Beavers are present on the site and, indeed, contribute to its management by cutting branches from willows and poplars to eat their bark.