Géologique de Haute-Provence National Nature Reserve

The domain of the nature reserve spreads over 18 sites bearing fossils and outcrops with a cumulated area of 269.316 hectares, over the communes of Barles, Barrême, Chaudon-Norante, Clumanc, Digne-les-Bains, Entrages, Hautes-Duyes, La Javie, La Robine-sur-Galabre, Saint-Lions, Senez and Tartonne.

It is completed by a protection area[2] which regulates[3] fossil collections, spreading over 52 communes in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and 7 in Var. The total area of the protected area covers more than 2300 km²[4] and covers the communes of Aiglun, Angles, Archail, Authon, Auzet, Barles, Barras, Barrême, Beaujeu, Beynes, Blieux, Bras-d'Asse, Le Brusquet, Castellane, Le Castellard-Mélan, Le Chaffaut-Saint-Jurson, Champtercier, Châteauredon, Chaudon-Norante, Clumanc, Digne-les-Bains, Draix, Entrages, Estoublon, Hautes-Duyes, La Javie, Lambruisse, Majastres, Mallemoisson, Marcoux, Mézel, Mirabeau, Montclar, Moriez, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, La Palud-sur-Verdon, Prads-Haute-Bléone, La Robine-sur-Galabre, Rougon, Saint-André-les-Alpes, Saint-Geniez, Saint-Jacques, Saint-Julien-d'Asse, Saint-Lions, Selonnet, Senez, Seyne-les-Alpes, Tartonne, Thoard, Verdaches, Vergons et Le Vernet in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Bargème, Brénon, Le Bourguet, Châteauvieux, Comps-sur-Artuby, La Martre and Trigance in Var.[5]

Ammonite from the Haute-Provence geological reserve showcased in the Digne-les-Bains museum

130 millions of years ago, giant ammonites more than one meter wide colonized the ocean that then covered ths area of the Préalpes.[6]

Those fossils can be discovered either in the Musée Promenade at Digne-les-Bains, or in situ in the wrinkled and fractured layers of geological sites.[6]

The most famous site is the Dalle à ammonites, on the RP 900 at 1.5 km north of Digne-les-Bains. With a 60° incline, it bears over 1 500 ammonites, 90% of which belonging to the species Coroniceras multicostatum from the Sinemurian (Early Jurassic). Those ammonites could attain a diameter of 70 cm. Remains of nautilus, belemnites, Pecten and other bivalves can also be seen. The deposit thickness is estimated to be around 20 cm, laid over a 100 000-year period.[7]

La Robine ichthyosaur

The La Robine ichthyosaur, showcased in the Digne museum, lived during the late Toarcian, 185 millions of years ago. This marine reptile was quickly buried, which limited its decomposition. Its conservation is due to paleogeographic conditions favouring the tilting of blocks, caused by the rifting following the opening of the Piemont-Liguria Ocean.[8]

Castellane sirenian

At Castellane, the museum of the Maison Nature et Patrimoine allows to go back 40 millions of years ago. A warm sea covered then this part of the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence and was populated with marine mammals such as sirenians.[9] Also known as sea cows, as they mostly eat algae and aquatic plants, they gave birth to the antic myth of the mermaids.[10]

• Ammonites from the geological reserve
• 
  Arietites bucklandi
• 
• 
  Arietites bucklandi

The museum of Castellane, Sisteron and Digne-les-Bains offers marked discovery tours, accessible to anyone.

• 
  Roc de Castellane
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  Adret de l'Escure in Digne-les-Bains
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  Montagne du Brouis in Bargème

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Once managed by the Association pour la gestion de la réserve géologique de Haute Provence, established in 1984,[4] the nature reserve is now under the gestion of the Departmental Council of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Reglementations forbid collections and extractions of any fossils. The collection of naturally released fossils is tolerated, but only in limited quantities.[5] It is a UNESCO-labbelized area, affiliated with the Global Geoparks Network, and founding member of the European Geoparks Network.[4]