Creation of the Aquitanian floor 1858 (≈ 1858)
Charles Mayer defines local faluns.
1892
Creation of the Burdigalian floor
Creation of the Burdigalian floor 1892 (≈ 1892)
Established by Charles Deperet from the outcrops.
1980
Foundation of the Protection Association
Foundation of the Protection Association 1980 (≈ 1980)
Creation to preserve the geological site.
5 septembre 1982
Classification as a national nature reserve
Classification as a national nature reserve 5 septembre 1982 (≈ 1982)
First geological reserve of France.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Charles Mayer - Geologist
Defined the Aquitanian floor in 1858.
Charles Depéret - Paleontologist
Established the Burdigalian floor in 1892.
Origin and history
Saucats-La Brède National Nature Reserve (RNN62) is a geological reserve located in the department of Gironde in the communes of Saucats and La Brède. Ranked in 1982, it spans 75.5 hectares and protects six outcrops of solidified shellfish sands, called faluns, as well as the stratotypes of Aquitanian and Burdigalian. These formations, dated from the Miocene (between 23 and 11.2 million years), testify to three successive marine invasions in the region, providing an exceptional geological heritage.
The outcrops, visible along the Saucats and Broustyrot streams, served as a reference for defining the geological stages of the Aquitanian (created by Charles Mayer in 1858) and the Burdigalian (created by Charles Deperet in 1892). Studyed by renowned paleontologists such as Benoist, Degrange-Touzin or Daguin, these sites were also exploited by collectors before they were protected. The creation of the reserve in 1982, impulsed by the Association pour la réserve géologique de Saucats-La Brède, made it the first geological reserve in France, combining preservation and educational development.
The site is home to remarkable biodiversity, with ripisylves populated by glutinous alder, marsh iris or marsh populage, as well as animal species such as the Vison d'Europe, the Genette or the Martin Fisherman. Seven flagship areas, set up as "site museums", allow to observe these geological cliffs, while the reserve house plays an educational role. Managed by a local association, the reserve combines geological heritage conservation and public awareness.
In addition to its scientific interest, the reserve offers a unique eco-landscape, where small enclosed valleys and wetlands host rare bryophytes and amphibians such as Spotted Salamander. Its status as a national nature reserve, acquired by ministerial decree in September 1982, makes it a key place to understand the geological history of the Aquitaine and the interactions between past marine dynamics and current ecosystems.
