The leisurely Loire

The Loire Valley offers a rich mosaic of landscapes, including a variety of natural environments such as flood meadows interspersed with bocage and "boires", sandy shores, limestone hillsides...

These varied environments are home to numerous rare or endangered plant and animal species, including migratory fish (salmon, etc.), aquatic mammals (European beaver, European otter), terrestrial mammals (bats) and invertebrates (Rosalie des Alpes, Gomphe serpentin...).

The Natura 2000 site is also an important area for migratory avifauna, with over 30 species of heritage birds such as Common Terns and Ospreys present and dependent on the site.

The site was designated in 2005 under the Birds Directive. The Park has been coordinating the site since 2010 (initially for the period 2010-2016, then renewed for 2016-2019 and 2019-2022), in conjunction with the CPIE Touraine-Val de Loire and the Indre-et-Loire Chamber of Agriculture.

The low valleys are largely covered by natural flood meadows, which are mown and/or grazed. These meadows form large complexes that are home to rare and endangered birds: corncrake, red-backed shrike, meadowlark, spotted crake, etc.

Certain sectors are characterized by a dense bocage network, with pollarded trees surrounding the meadows (Véron bocage): this is the home of the Common Fritillary, Natterjack Toad, Great Capricorn... 

Finally, the banks of the Vienne and Indre rivers are occupied by alluvial woodlands and poplar plantations.