Grand Ried

What whispers does the wind carry across the Grand Ried? This vast plain, stretching between Strasbourg and Colmar, holds secrets in its shallow waters and whispering reeds. The Grand Ried isn’t just a geographical feature, it’s a patchwork of landscapes shaped by the Ill and Rhine rivers. The Ill, with its variable flow, floods the meadows, forests, and fields each spring, creating a serene, shallow paradise for canoeing across the heart of the Grand Ried. This cycle of flooding is essential to the Ried’s unique ecosystem. In the summer, the Ill can dwindle, yet north of Colmar, the groundwater keeps the river flowing, providing a constant invitation for aquatic adventures. The Grand Ried’s waterways haven’t all been tamed. The Bornen River near Ebersmunster, for example, remains wild, its meandering path creating alluvial channels and deposits. These natural formations provide nesting grounds for kingfishers and plovers. The Illwald forest, a vast nature reserve within the Grand Ried, teems with life. Kingfishers, herons, swans, mallards, and wagtails fill the air with their calls. With a bit of luck, you might spot a curlew, the symbol of the Ried’s floodplains. Or perhaps you’ll glimpse the fallow deer, a unique population thriving within this protected haven. Even beavers, recently reintroduced, are making their mark on the Ill’s network of waterways. The Grand Ried is more than just reeds and water; it’s a testament to the power of nature and a haven for biodiversity in the heart of Alsace.