Orléans Forest, the domain of the three eagles
There is obviously a wealth of trees in Orléans Forest: from the most ancient legacy of the Gaul forest, the sessile or pedunculate oak, to the young Scots pine, introduced in the late 19th century, and including around fifty species. A lovely 300-year-old specimen stands at the Carrefour du Chêne de l'évangile. There are also giant sequoias, including a young specimen at the Carrefour des Domaines. Those of you who live long enough may see it reach a height of 40 m. But be patient - it can live for up to 2000 years.
The diversity of animal and plant species in the forest can be explained by the richness of the soil and the number of bodies of water: around a thousand ponds, fifty lakes and many springs
In the undergrowth, there are certain mountain varieties such as the arnica or the pyramid bugle. In the wet, often peaty areas you will find the sundew, a small carnivorous plant, or the cotton grass. In spring, the ponds are the theatre for lots of different noises: a symphony produced by the orchestra of toads, common or agile frogs, newts, fire salamanders and even the occasional yellow-bellied toad.
In early autumn, don't miss the magical evening when you can hear the mating call of the stag, king of Orléans Forest. Several hundred stag and deer populate this vast area. Close to the Carrefour de la Résistance, at dawn or dusk, it is not uncommon to spot herds. Even wildcats have been seen.
The show is not over. The forest is also home to three rare species of birds of prey: a remarkable population of booted eagles, a few couples of short-toed eagles, and around 15 couples of ospreys. These couples arrive in mid March from tropical and equatorial Africa, and then go back five months later with between one and four offspring. The Le Ravoir observatory, open to the public, is ideal for you to follow this thrilling adventure.
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