What residents say
RenéeShe introduces us to Les Grées, a place that holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Rochefort and the surrounding area.
She introduces us to Les Grées, a place that holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Rochefort and the surrounding area.
The view of the Grées from Rochefort-en-Terre castle immediately explains why this site was chosen for its construction: its position on a rocky promontory facing the Grées provides both effective natural protection and an unobstructed view of the strategic axis linking La Roche-Bernard to Malestroit and Josselin. This natural heritage was shaped by the slate quarries, which were used until the early 20th century to build houses and cut slate for roofing. A revival attempt in 1946 was unsuccessful. The landscape has evolved over the centuries. The pine trees you see today were not always there. They were planted by man when the slate quarries were being exploited. They were planted by man when the slate quarries were exploited, to provide a supply of wood for working.
Les Grées is part of the Vallée de l’Arz, an area classified as “Natura 2000”, a European network designed to protect sites of ecological interest. This massif is a remarkable natural heritage, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The abandoned slate quarries are now home to bat colonies. Some fifteen of the twenty-one bat species found in Brittany have been observed in the area: Little Rhinolophus, Great Rhinolophus, Barbastelle, Stilt-Eared, Bechstein’s and Great Wall Bats. Other animal species include the Hen Harrier, which nests on the moors, and the Pitchou Warbler. Rarer species include the Wood Lark and the European Nightjar.
In terms of flora, the landscape is marked by heather, gorse and Arrondeau asphodel. There are also rarer plants such as the umbellate helianthemum, the drop helianthemum and the asterocarpus.