The Eperon Barré de Murat is a ridge of limestone (Fr. tuffeau jaune) topped by a plateau at about 120 metres above sea level. This site, frequented by Mankind since the Neolithic was formed by the confluence of the valleys of the Brignon and the Larçon. It is a well known site for wild orchids and the habitat they require is maintained by a flying flock (Fr. troupeau itinerant) of grazing sheep. The calcareous grasslands shelter a number of insects, such as cicadas (Fr. cigales) and the Large Blue butterfly (Fr. papillon Azuré du serpolet) which require dry sunny places.
Tassel Hyacinth Muscari comosum (Fr. Muscari à toupet).
Two ancient defensive walls, called a vallum, are still visible at the narrow end of the site. They served to protect and 'bar' access to a prehistoric settlement.
There were lots of caterpillars of the localised and increasingly rare Small Eggar moth Eriogaster lanestris (in French the caterpillars are called la Laineuse du cerisier).
The site is managed by the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels Centre Val de Loire.
Small Heath butterfly Coenonympha pamphilus (Fr. Procris).
Earlier this month Simon and I did the 3.5 km circuit around the site so I could check the progress of the orchid flowering season. It was a hot sunny day in the mid-twenties temperature wise, and about half the walk is not shaded. Just to warn you -- this is a hot site much of the year, so take water to drink. We took about an hour to get around and saw 5 species of orchid in flower. Unbeknownst to me, my friend François, who is an ecologist for the Conservatoire, was also there that day. He bagged an extra species of orchid, damn him...
Downy Oak Quercus pubescens (Fr. Chêne pubescent).
Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea (Fr. Orchis pourpre).
View looking north-east from the vallum.
Violet Fritillary Boloria dia (Fr. Petite violette).
Narrow-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia (Fr.
The uncommon Green-underside Blue butterfly Glaucopsyche alexis (Fr. Azuré des cytises).
A number of Early Spider Orchids Ophrys sphegodes (Fr. Ophrys araignée) lurking about in the grass.
Further Reading: https://espacesnaturels.touraine.fr/eperon-de-murat.html (page for the nature reserve, in French).
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