An exceptional place to visit Information Les Rochers Although it is situated amongst private lands, this site is accessible Chemin du Moulin des Étangs - 21600 Fénay to the public. Ph : +33 3 80 79 25 99 • [email protected] • Follow the trail ! www.cen-bourgogne.fr This trail is marked and maintained, allowing year round access. Burgundy Nature Antenne de Saône-et-Loire du Carnaval This leaflet will guide you during your visit. Sites Conservancy Pont-Seille - 71290 La Truchère Trail length: approximately 0.3 miles (550 meters) Ph : +33 3 85 51 35 79 Optimal wild flower viewing season: May and June ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks • Follow the guide ! Town Hall Bourg - 71190 Uchon • Ph : +33 3 85 54 30 78 Guided tours may be reserved for groups upon request to ‘Guides en Morvan‘ : www.guidesenmorvan.com Discovery trail Directions

A French natural heritage jewel to be preserved ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks are located within the ‘Parc naturel régional du Morvan‘, on the Uchon hill, around 9 miles (15 kms) West of and 12 miles (20 kms) The ‘Carnaval Rocks‘ natural site has been desi- South of . From the village of Uchon, follow road D275 and signs for ‘Rochers gnated a ‘classified site‘on July 28, 1940. This is a strong re- du Carnaval‘. gulatory protection, which guarantees the conservation of individual sites of exceptional interest. State conservancy

services are the attentive stewards of Natural Heritage sites Nevers D978 1 Yonne

that are representative of rich and diverse French landscapes. N8 Côte-d’Or Autun Nièvre 1 The remarkable biodiversity within this unique natural envi- N8 Saône-et-Loire ronment is sensitive. We thank you for being respectful and N80 leave only footprints, so as to preserve this site for the benefit of future generations. D6 Nevers 1 Chien admis en laisse Étang-sur-Arroux No camping in the Do not approach car park or on site livestock La Chapelle- sous-Uchon 6 Uchon

Moto interdite Déchets interdits D25 D228 Le Creusot

Voiture interdite D47 D994 Dijon Chalon A few guidelines to respect Leaflet produced by the ‘Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Bourgogne‘ • So as not to disrupt the livestock, do not go past the pas- with financial support from : ture fencing. Dogs are welcome in the park providing they are on a leash at all times. • For your safety, do not climb on the rock formations. • On warm sunny days, be mindful of vipers sunning themselves near rocks. • Part of this site is shared with soaring sports enthusiasts To learn more about nature in Burgundy : www.bourgogne-nature.fr (paragliding and hang gliding). Thank you for respecting the Cover photograph : C. Najean - CENB / Illustrations : O. Girard - CENB practice space dedicated to these pastimes. English translation : Géraldine Aubert / Printing ... - ... 2019 - 4000 ex

Otherwise similar the rest of the ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks site map Morvan region, the Uchon granite massif hides at its heart curious geolo- To Uchon gical formations that are an unusual sight in Burgundy and a rarity in : D275 granite ‘chaos‘.

Follow the marked trail and discover ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks strange blocks of rounded rock piles, trail Grasslands with their peculiar shapes defying Carnaval * balance. The end of this trail, pas- Dog’s nose sing through exceptional natural * viewpoints, leads you to an awe ins- Acidic moorland P ‘Signal The ‘chaos‘ d’Uchon‘ piring view point over the Arroux bo- Mammoth * D275 cage valley and the Morvan range. The forest

Let the beautiful and magical appeal 0 25 50m of this site move you ! N To La Altitude : 659 m Tagnière

Site boundary Viewpoints Acidic moorland : a realm for Scotch broom and Heather Trail entrance On both sides of the trail, Scotch broom and Heather moors dominate. Dry grassland

This natural milieu, typical of Morvan, is rare elsewhere in Moorland Scotch broom Burgundy. Plants found here with Calluna moor are characteristic of acidic granite soils, which are espe- Oak forest Chestnut trees cially dry and nutrient poor.

If you stop for a while, you Granite ‘chaos‘ Forest may be in luck and catch a Scotch broom (Cytisus sco- Calluna (Calluna vulgaris) The ‘Lulu‘ lark (Lullula rock formation sight of the ‘Lulu‘ lark. parius) flowers from April to or False heather displays arborea) is at home in June. As its name suggests, pink flowers that blos- this mixed environment its branches were once used som in autumn. of low vegetation and * given names for the major granite ‘chaos‘ to fashion brooms. G. Doucet - CENB shrubs. formations, inspired by their shape G. Doucet - CENB F. Croset Granite ‘chaos‘ : natural phenomenon or devil’s work ? How do granite ‘chaos‘ form?

Granite ‘chaos‘ or granite piles stand before you as if Appearance of granite blocks Erosion and block Granite arena dropped in place by magic. But they are in fact the result unearthing deposits contri- of a history going back 300 million years, that of erosion of Granite arena Granite ‘chaos‘ bute to the Granite arena Granite arena solid rock originating in the primary geological era. Cracks development of sand deposits acidic soils Over millennia, frost and temperature fluctuations deepen natural cracks in the granite rocks to lead to eventual breaks and block release. Rainwater is then able to infiltrate and slowly dissolve granite into a type of sand named ‘granite arena‘. As these sands drain to the surrounding lower areas, granite blocks gain prominence as sculptures shaped by erosion. Some rocks slide away or may stack to form granite Intact granite rock ‘chaos‘. 300 million years

Acidic grasslands : who goes there ? Landscape etched by history

Encircling the ‘chaos‘ and along the discovery loop, low grasslands lay under your feet : these are acidic moors. They play a big role in the rich ecology of this site and foster plant species that are specifically adapted to these conditions.

View over the Arroux valley landscape F. Jeandenand - CENB

The top of ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks opens over a landscape sculp- The leaves of Festuca Jacobea adonidifolia is Sheep’s-bit scabeous Lamb-succory ted by spring and rain water erosion of granite rocks, by filiformis (a type of usually found along the or Jasione laevis is a (Arnoseris minima) tectonic shifts, as well as by human activity over millennia. ryegrass) are ultra fine atlantic regions and is a mountain species, very rare grows in areas devoid and serve to limit water rare sight in Burgundy. and protected in Burgundy. of other vegetation, In the Morvan near Autun, prairies were once more spread loss. A great asset on dry O. Bardet - CBNBP It flowers from June to directly from rock bed. out. Land parcels are still delineated by low hedges with terrain! September. O. Bardet - CBNBP interspersed oak trees forming what is termed a bocage. A. Poirel - CENB M. Jouve - CENB The evolution of agricultural practices and a move away from agriculture have led to a gradual reforestation of slopes as These open, dry and rocky environments support a specific fauna, notably reptiles, who seek the warmth from the sun heated rocks. well as some prairies and moors. More recently, forestry ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks are also the habitat of residence, mating and hunting for many birds and insects. plantations have accelerated this phenomenon. Darker green patches show up softwood plantations dotted over the landscape. The Baton blue butterfly Pseu( - dophilotes baton) is at home in grasslands and dry moors with low rising plants. (seen April to September) M. Jouve - CENB Bocage: when landscape meets function

The purpose of hedgerows was and remains today to mark the boundary of land parcels. They serve to shade lives- Wart-biter (Decticus The Western Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata), verrucivorus), a reaching up to 18 inch. (45 cm) with its tail, tock and shield soils from wind and erosion. They once grasshopper, dwells in mesmerizes with its vibrant green colour. also provided firewood and a foodsource with wild berries the tall grass prairies G. Doucet - CENB and fruit. Hedgerows are the realm and foraging grounds and moors. for many birds and bats alike. G. Doucet - CENB

Cricket or grasshopper : can you tell ? Grasshopper Cricket A fine balance between nature To get it right every time, do not trust their colour but check and human activity out their antennae ! Grasshopper : thin antennae - longer than its body Although natural, the evolution of vegetation encroaching Cricket : shorter antennae than its body on open sites endangers the ecologically valuable species that predilect such environments. Without protective inter- vention, this very site would become fully forested within a couple of decades !

Rich diversity of the Morvan forest Rocky Moor with silkyleaf broom Sessile oak and grassland and false heather chesnut forest Festuca Moor with scotch The ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks site is surrounded by forest. Oak, Chestnut trees, thought to have been introduced by the Romans, (ryegrass) broom and false beech, hornbeam and birch trees can all adapt to poor, dry appear to have thrived in this area ! grassland heather and acidic soils to grow naturally on the Uchon massif. Deciduous forests, a unique charm of Morvan landscapes, are slowly being replaced by softwood plantations due to eco- nomic interests. Unfortunately, softwood forests do not favour biodiversity.

Progressive dynamic of vegetation over 20 to 30 years

To preserve the ecological value of ‘Carnaval‘ Rocks, the Woodpeckers : adapted to a life in trees ‘Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Bourgogne‘ (Burgundy Nature Sites Conservancy) owns part of the lands and actively Woodpecker feet consist of two sets of two manages the entire site since 1996, in partnership with other opposing claws, which allow them to grip and private owners, local partners and State services. Ancient climb tree trunks. They hammer with their customs, once used to manage grasslands, are applied re- strong beak to defend their territory, or to seek gularly at this site and include selective tree felling, removal delicious insects through the tree bark. Fruit and leaves of of shrubs as well as grazing by livestock. These approaches the sessile oak tree allow for the maintenance of open grasslands and moors G. Doucet - CENB so that all of us can enjoy the ‘chaos‘ and their surrounding landscape for many years to come.