Cover of the guidebook.
© BRGM
It took 600 million years to shape the different landscapes in this département. Travelling around, one can see the wide range of geological formations: Fenouillèdes, Agly, Albères, Aspres, Corbières, Conflent, Cerdanya, etc. The multitudes of rocks and geological processes: folding, earthquakes, weathering... have made the département one of the richest in France for its widely diverse geological heritage.
Remarkable sites
This guidebook was produced jointly by BRGM and the Pyrénées-Orientales Département, which, since it is investing heavily in the development, enhancement and protection of the environment, wanted to highlight and publicise the rich geological heritage of the Pyrénées-Orientales.
Alongside a presentation of the geological history, the close links between stones and humans, and the different environments, the guidebook presents 23 particularly striking and educational sites, including Cap Béar, the Caune de l'Arago (the Arago cave), the Clue de la Fou (a steep-side valley), the Grotte des Canalettes (the Canalettes cave) and the thermal springs of Conflent-Cerdagne, ensuring that walkers are able to appreciate all the geological wonders of this département.
The guidebook points out the interesting features while providing all the information needed to make it accessible to a slightly wider public. These efforts to make knowledge available to all are the best way of conserving and promoting our surroundings.
The authors
Elisabeth Le Goff: Geologist at BRGM Montpellier since 2010, she participates in many projects both at the research level and in providing support for public policy-makers. As such, she is very involved in the inventory of France’s geological heritage.
Marc Calvet: A professor at the University of Perpignan, he has contributed to the making of several geological maps and to the inventory of France’s geological heritage.
Anne-Marie Moigne: In charge of the collections of the Tautavel Museum, this paleontologist and specialist of the prehistoric age at the French Museum of Natural History is also participating in the inventory of the geological heritage in Occitanie.
Technical characteristics
116 colour pages - Size 12 × 23 cm - Price: € 19 Incl. VAT
The Geological Curiosities Collection
The collection, which already comprises 24 titles, introduces a wide public to the geology of French territories in the form of about twenty sites selected for their educational interest. These discovery trails are accompanied by a brief history and double-page spreads on flora, fauna, architecture and culture.
More information on the geological guides published by Éditions du BRGM can be found on the BRGM website.
About this guidebook
This guidebook is based on the inventory of the geological heritage carried out from 2008 to 2013 by BRGM and the Regional Geological Heritage Commission under the aegis of the DREAL. This work made it possible to inventory and describe 51 remarkable geological sites in the département. This joint work by BRGM and the Pyrénées-Orientales département was 80% financed by the latter. The DREAL, the DDTM66, the Museum of Natural History of Perpignan, the Museum of Tautavel and the Massanne national nature reserve, as well as the members of the Regional Commission of Geological Heritage of Languedoc-Roussillon, all provided invaluable support for the production of the guidebook.
