The Bastberg (, ), also called Petit-Bastberg, is a summit located near the

Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park The Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park ( French: ''Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord'') is a protected area of woodland, wetland, farmland and historical sites in the region Grand Est in northeastern France. The area was officially de ...

, in the

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

of Bouxwiller. It culminates at 326 meters. The ecosystem is fragile due to human and natural intrusions, and has been the subject of conservation measures since 1989.

Geography

Location and topography

The Bastberg hill culminates at an altitude of . Not far away, between the Bastberg and Bouxwiller, is the hill of Galgenberg (). Although this peak is only 321m high, its other name is ''Grand-Bastberg''.

Geology

The soil of the Bastberg is made up of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

rocks. Its structure is a

syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold with younger layers closer to the center of the structure, whereas an anticline is the inverse of a syncline. A synclinorium (plural synclinoriums or synclinoria) is a large syncline with superimpose ...

synform In structural geology, a syncline is a fold with younger layers closer to the center of the structure, whereas an anticline is the inverse of a syncline. A synclinorium (plural synclinoriums or synclinoria) is a large syncline with superimpose ...

. The most recent layers are superimposed on the oldest. But by the folding of the structure and by erosion, the oldest geological layers outcrop at its summit.

Fauna and flora

The vegetation is sparse and the hill has remarkable flora and fauna. There are orchids such as ''

Ophrys fuciflora ''Ophrys holosericea'', the late spider orchid, is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native to western and central Europe and the Mediterranean region. There has been considerable confusion about the identity of this species ...

'' and Lizard orchid and insects such as

swallowtail butterfly Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the large ...

and

praying mantis Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They ha ...

. File:Bastberg tilleul Goethe.jpg, alt=, Goethe's lime tree on the Bastberg File:Ophrys fuciflora (plant).jpg, alt=, '' Ophyrs fuciflora'' (late spider orchid) File:Thomas Bresson - Machaon-1 (by).jpg, alt=, Swallowtail File:Mantis religiosa pg.jpg, alt=,

Praying mantis Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They ha ...

Activities

Environmental protection

Since 1 December 1989, part of the site has become a voluntary protected nature reserve covering 6.45 hectares. It is managed by the ''Conservatoire d'espaces naturels Alsace'' () and is subject to measures aimed at perpetuating this ecosystem. Dated March 16, 2012, this area has been classified as a regional nature reserve (transformation of the status of RNVA into RNR) by deliberations of the

Regional Council of Alsace The Regional Council of Alsace (, ) was the Regional council (France), regional council of the Regions of France, French region of Alsace from 1982 to 2015. As a result Regions of France#Reform and mergers of regions, of reforms, the administra ...

. The Bastberg site is classified by the DGAC and has been listed on aeronautical charts 8380-a-LF (aeromodelling). It is therefore known from military and civilian planes and helicopters: area 8020 currently.

Astronomical observation site

This hill has been the privileged place for astronomical observations for many years, mainly in the summer period (July - August), for the "''Ciel d'Alsace''" () and "''Nuits des étoiles''" () events. These demonstrations were made by the Némésis club of

Saverne Saverne (french: Saverne, ; Alsatian: ; german: Zabern ) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km (27& ...

in partnership with other clubs (Artémis of

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

, Astro Junior of

Hœnheim Hœnheim (; also spelled ''Hoenheim''; ; gsw-FR, Heene) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Heraldry "D'or aux trois corbeaux de sable posés deux et un". ("Of gold, three sand crows posed two and one ...

) and associations, for many years before the year 2000; as with the 1999 solar eclipse which was almost completely unobserved, the sky covered with rain clouds. Since 2006, the Hanau Astronomie club has been organizing them.

Legend

According to local traditions, the Bastberg was a

sabbath In Abrahamic religions, the Sabbath () or Shabbat (from Hebrew ) is a day set aside for rest and worship. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day, commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as G ...

place for the sorcerers of the region.

References

{{Reflist Landforms of Bas-Rhin Hills of France