Rohrmatten Ornithological Observatory

The Rohrmatten cover about 14 hectares in the heart of the Ill*Wald, a regional nature reserve.

This site, once a poplar plantation, was deeply transformed after the 1988 storm.

Between 1992 and 1995, the City of Sélestat developed this area into a reed bed, using the storm-felled logs while preserving the stumps on site. A network of ponds, pools, and channels was created to provide wildlife with varied habitats suited to their needs. The Rohrmatten serve as a refuge for over 130 bird species that nest, feed, or stop here during migration.

The site also plays a major ecological role as a spawning ground for pike and as a habitat for beavers, reintroduced in 1999. Botanically, the Rohrmatten host protected heritage species such as marsh spurge, listed on the regional protected plants list.

Since last autumn, a new access has been created: a pedestrian footbridge connects the site to the B.10 dam on Marckolsheim Road, and a parking area for motor vehicles has been established at the entrance to Hollockgraben.