Beech grove

La Massane

Crests

Situated on Argelès-sur-Mer territory, the National Nature Reserve of La Massane, also called forest of Les Couloumates, located in the eastermost part of Les Albères Mountains, stretches for 300ha, at altitudes between 600 and 1150m with Pic des 4 Termes as its highest point.

It is situated at the heart of a real bio-geographical crossraods. Located only 5km from the Mediterranean, it is just about thirty kilometres from the highest summits of the Pyrenees and covers the upper part of the catchment area of the Massane river. The major part of this forest includes beech trees.

Since the foundation of Arago Laboratory at Banyuls-sur-mer in 1872, La Massane has become one of the classical stations for international zoology, in the same way as Fontainebleau forest. Under the Prefect, the 'association des Amis de la Massane' (Association of the Friends of La Massane) is in charge of the scientific management and activities in the Reserve.

Visit
The forest of La Massane, popular among walkers, is traversed by GR10 on the crestline. La Massane forest was listed as a Nature Reserve in 1973, and is managed by an association since then.

Further information 
Association des Amis de la Massane  - Laboratoire Arago -  B.P 44
66651 Banyuls-sur-mer - Tel and Fax: 00 33 4 68 88 05 89.