The Hammelsberg nature reserve
The "Hammelsberg", opposite the "Strombierg", is an important cross-border nature reserve in Germany and France. In 1992, 38 hectares were designated as nature conservation areas on the German side. 47 hectares were added in 1995 on the French side. In 2004 the protected area was enlarged to 201 ha on the German side. The nature reserve is located in the communities of Perl (Saarland), Apach and Merschweiler (Lorraine). On the slopes of the "Hammelsberg" there is a large mixed deciduous forest with a very large proportion of old beech wood and many spring flowers. In addition, the older part of the protected area consists of meadows, fields and bushes. The nature reserve offers a wide variety of natural habitats, such as woodruff beech forest, bedstraw oak and hornbeam forest, poor lowland hay meadows and limestone semi-arid grasslands, the preservation of which is also important on a pan-European level. In the "Hammelsberg" nature reserve, bird species such as the honey buzzard, gray woodpecker and red-backed killer can be found alongside rare species of butterflies such as the "Spanish flag" and the "scabiosa piebald". Forest visitors and walkers appreciate the "Hammelsberg" as an outstanding vantage point over the Moselle valley. Source: Text information board