La Butte aux Chilloux, Chinon

Near Chinon there is a group of ten or so lumps in the landscape. They are known as the Puys du Chinonais, and they form a remarkable nature reserve, with a habitat unique in Centre Val de Loire. 

The Puys are limestone ridges with sandstone tops which have degraded so that they are no more than a hundred metres above sea level, and the sand from the top is now distributed all over the gentle lower slopes. They are extremely free draining and dry, and home to many curiosities and rareities.

Here is a selection of photos from Saturday 15 April from one of the Puys, known as the Butte aux Chilloux. The Association de Botanique et de Mycologie de Sainte Maure de Touraine had an outing there led by my friend Marie-Claude, a lichen expert.

Mountain Alyssum Alyssum montanum (Fr. Alysse de montagnes). The photo also includes storksbill, geranium and grape hyacinth.

White Rockrose Helianthemum apenninum (Fr. Héliantheme des apennins) growing through Field Wormwood Artemisia campestris (Fr. Armoise champetre).

Hen-bit Deadnettle Lamium amplexicaule (Fr. Lamier amplexicaule).

Typical low growing vegetation on the Butte aux Chilloux.

The vegetation includes masses of Common Storksbill Erodium cicutarium (Fr. Bec-de-grue à feuilles de ciguë), Grape Hyacinth Muscari sp, and Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias (Fr. Euphorbe petit-cyprès).

Spiny Heath Lichen Cetraria aculeata, outside of the Arctic, found on sandy sites.

Vinegar Cup fungus Helvella acetabulum (Fr. l'Helvelle en gobelet).

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi (Fr. Thècle de la ronce).

A view over the lower slopes of the Butte aux Chilloux, looking towards Les Trottes-Loup. The buildings are the Chinon shooting club and was in constant use while we were there. Always a bit disconcerting to have firearms going off in the background.

Smooth Cat's-ear Hypochaeris glabra (Fr. Porcelle glabre).

An info board telling you that this is a nature reserve funded at a European and French regional level and managed at a local level. "The Puys du Chinonais nature reserve extends over 125 ha, and abounds in emblematic landscapes and animal species." In order to preserve the site it is forbidden to ride motorised vehicles over it, dump rubbish, and pick flowers. You are asked to pay attention to fire risks and keep your dog on a lead.