The old quarries of Villebois, ENS de l'Ain

Natural wonder

01150 Villebois

Front de taille de la carrière des Meules — ©Département de l'Ain / M.Leorier

Carrières des Meules vu d'en haut et aperçu des Demoiselles — ©Département de l'Ain / M. Léorier

Chaos de blocs de pierres de la carrière de l'Orange — ©Département de l'Ain / M. Léorier

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Overlooking the Rhône, at the foot of the Bugey Massif, the site of the former Villebois quarries showcases what made the commune of Villebois famous: its limestone, sometimes called "choin de Villebois", quarried until the mid-20th century.

The Meules quarry is the only quarry in the region to feature all the extraction techniques (manual and mechanical), as well as the elements associated with the operation (forge, powder hut and marinière).

The Octave slabs and the Orange quarry feature traces of carts that attest to the transport of stone to the Rhône.

The quarries and the dalles de l'Octave are linked by footpaths, making them ideal for walking tours. Free activities are organized by the Conservatoire des espaces naturels Rhônes-Alpes.

An interpretation trail introduces visitors to this built heritage and the natural environments whose biodiversity and landscapes are linked to choin mining.

The "ENS" of Ain :
All three environments were awarded the "Espace naturel sensible" label in 2017. True natural and landscape jewels of the Ain department, the sites awarded the ENS "Espaces naturels sensibles" label are managed in such a way as to preserve the biodiversity they host, and developed for opening to the public (barring exceptions due to the fragility of the environments)