Réserve naturelle Régionale-Anciennes carrières d'Orival

The 12-hectare site includes a former quarry used to extract Bathonian limestone since the 10th century. Situated on the banks of the Seulles river, it is of great botanical interest for its numerous calcicole plant formations.
The xerophytic lawn is home to the most important Lower Normandy station of bitter gentian and a fine station of delicate raiponce. In the cool ravine ash grove, exceptional for the region, grows the nationally protected Fontainebleau alisier. A shrub zone is dominated by junipers and shrubs, while the pioneer vegetation zone is home to bryophytes.
Two former lime kilns, built directly into the rocky mass of an old quarry face, provide wintering sites for bats.
Insects present on the site include the pearly blue argus, the dazzling calopteryx, the brome cricket and the depressed dragonfly.