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Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of the Réseau des Grands Sites de France
Sip back and discover France and explore France’s iconic landscapes with the Réseau des Grands Sites de France, a network protecting unique geodiversity, fossils, and cultural heritage. Through sustainable management, conservation, and high-quality visitor experiences, these 23 sites from gorges to coastal cliffs showcase France’s natural beauty while promoting responsible tourism and long-term preservation.
4 days ago18 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Cerin in Marchamp, Department of Ain
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Cerin, a tranquil hamlet in eastern France between Lyon and Geneva, famed for the Cerin Lagerstätte. This Late Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätte preserves fish, jellyfish, crocodilians, pterosaurs, horseshoe crab relatives, and rare plants in exquisite detail within the Cerin Lithographic Limestone Formation. Explore the Musée paléoécologique, Sentier des Carriers trail, and nearby Jura attractions like Gor
6 days ago4 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of the Aurillac Basin in Cantal Department
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Aurillac in France’s Massif Central, a cultural and geological gateway at the foot of the Monts du Cantal. Surrounded by the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d’Auvergne, visitors discover glacial cirques, lava domes, and sweeping views from Puy Mary and Plomb du Cantal, Europe’s largest stratovolcano.
6 days ago4 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Baume de Moula-Guercy in the Ardèche
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Baume de Moula-Guercy in Ardèche, France, is a Late Jurassic limestone cave preserving over 100,000 years of Middle Palaeolithic history. Excavations reveal Neanderthal remains, Mousterian Ferrassie-type stone tools, and diverse fauna from the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e). Layered sediments of cold–warm–cold Pleistocene climates, nearby Soyons Archaeological Site Caves Museum displays mammoth bones, mosaic
Dec 35 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Canjuers Lagerstätte in Var department
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of the Canjuers Lagerstätte on the remote Petit Plan de Canjuers plateau in Var, Provence, a Late Jurassic fossil treasure hidden within the French military camp. Preserved in finely laminated Calcaires blancs de Provence, this Tithonian lagoon captures exceptional fossils, from fishes and marine reptiles to pterosaurs, Compsognathus, and Palaeocarcharias stromeri.
Dec 24 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of the Sansan Paleosite in Gascony
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of the Sansan Paleosite in Gascony, south west France, a Middle Miocene fossil site dating to 13.7–12.75 million years ago. Discover subtropical wetlands, diverse woodlands, and exceptional fauna including Pliopithecus antiquus, mastodons, rhinos, and carnivores. Featuring fine clays, marls, and the “Calcaire de Sansan,” the site preserves fossils from river-influenced lakes and offers a 3 km interpretive t
Dec 15 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of La Grive-Saint-Alban in Isère
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of La Grive-Saint-Alban in Isère, one of Europe’s foremost Middle Miocene fossil sites. Explore its Bajocian limestone hills, karstic fissure-fill deposits, and remarkably preserved mammals, birds, and reptiles dating 16–11 Ma. Uncover how climate shifts from the MMCO to MMCT shaped ecosystems, faunal turnover, and the exceptional fossil record of the Rhône basin.
Nov 304 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Cabrières in Hérault Department
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Cabrières in Hérault, France, where the Montagne Noire reveals extraordinary Ordovician fossils of the Cabrières Biota within the Landeyran Formation. Explore rare soft-bodied organisms, trilobites, and cephalopods preserved from a polar marine ecosystem, alongside rugged Mediterranean garrigue and renowned AOC Languedoc-Cabrières wines.
Nov 285 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Aix-en-Provence
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Montagne Sainte-Victoire near Aix-en-Provence, a dramatic Jurassic limestone massif immortalized by Paul Cézanne and home to one of Europe’s most extraordinary Late Cretaceous fossil sites. Explore jagged karst cliffs, Provençal vineyards, and the “Eggs en Provence,” where thousands of dinosaur eggs reveal colonial nesting behavior, preserved within the Réserve naturelle nationale de Sainte-Victoire.
Nov 275 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of Espéraza in the Aude Valley, Occitanie
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Espéraza in the Upper Aude Valley, Occitanie, where scenic vineyards, Pyrenean foothills, and fossil-rich landscapes meet. Explore the Bellevue Fossil Site, home to Ampelosaurus “Eva” and Europe’s last dinosaurs, and visit the Dinosauria Museum. Hike river gorges, and savor Limoux AOC wines while walking through Late Cretaceous to Paleogene transition and the K-Pg boundary.
Nov 254 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of the Vaches Noires Cliffs in Calvados
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Normandy’s Vaches Noires Cliffs between Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer, a Jurassic fossil treasure on the scenic Côte Fleurie. Explore grey marls, limestones, greensands, and chalk of the Marnes de Dives Formation, revealing ammonites, belemnites, marine reptiles, and rare dinosaur remains. Guided tours from Paléospace Museum showcase this dramatic coastline, erosion-carved ravines, and Calvados heritage.
Nov 244 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of Plagne in Ain, Jura Mountains
Sip back and discover France and explore Plagne in France’s Jura Mountains, home to Dinoplagne and one of the world’s longest sauropod trackways. Discover Late Jurassic fossil footprints, tidal-flat ecosystems, and stunning hiking routes, alongside local Bugey wines and limestone-rich terroir. A unique blend of geology, palaeontology, nature, and regional gastronomy awaits in the Ain department.
Nov 244 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity La Plage aux Ptérosaures in Crayssac
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Pterosaur Beach (La Plage aux Ptérosaures) in Crayssac, Lot Valley, one of Europe’s premier Jurassic fossil sites, where nearly 200 exquisitely preserved vertebrate trackways—including pterosaurs, dinosaurs, turtles, and crocodilians—reveal complex behaviors and movement from 150 million years ago. Visitors can explore raised walkways safely while viewing rare tracks, including the first known pterosaur
Nov 225 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of the Charentese Purbeckian Sequence
Sip back and discover France and explore the Charentese Purbeckian Sequence in southwest France, a world-class fossil corridor spanning Chassiron, Cherves-de-Cognac and Angeac-Charente. Discover Jurassic–Cretaceous bonebeds, evaporite lagoons, tidal-flat ecosystems, Cognac vineyards and scenic Charente River routes. Perfect for geotourism, fossil hunting and nature travel in a landscape where deep time and French culture meet.
Nov 217 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of Cherves-de-Cognac in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Cherves-de-Cognac in Charente: the Champblanc gypsum quarry exposes Purbeckian Berriasian gypsum and marlstone sequences that preserve a rich Early Cretaceous fossil record. Discover tens of thousands of microvertebrates (fish, turtles, crocodylomorphs, dinosaurs, early mammals), a one-metre bone bed, and dramatic regressive facies from hypersaline lagoons to freshwater lakes. Close to Cognac’s distiller
Nov 204 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of Oléron Island in Charente-Maritime
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of Oléron Island, France, at Chassiron, a Late Jurassic Konzentrat-Lagerstätte. Preserved in Tithonian Purbeck Beds, the site reveals a rich paralic ecosystem of dinosaurs, mammals, turtles, amphibians, crocodilians, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Dinosaur footprints, early mammals, and diverse marine-to-freshwater faunas document coastal lagoons, tidal flats, and wetlands.
Nov 197 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of Angeac-Charente in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of the Angeac-Charente Bonebed near Angoulême, a stunning Early Cretaceous fossil site in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Explore beautifully preserved dinosaur bones, tracks, coprolites and crocodile–turtle interactions in ancient lignitic clays. With guided digs, workshops and scenic Charente Valley attractions, it’s an unforgettable journey into Europe’s prehistoric wetland world.
Nov 177 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils and Geodiversity of La Voulte-sur-Rhône in the Ardèche
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of La Voulte-sur-Rhône in France’s Ardèche region, home to the world-famous La Voulte Lagerstätte—an exceptional Middle Jurassic fossil site preserving deep-sea life from 160 million years ago. Explore its bathyal fossils of cephalopods, arthropods, and marine crocodiles, shaped by tectonic and hydrothermal activity. Visit nearby Ardèche Gorges and museums showcasing this extraordinary geological heritage.
Nov 105 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Monts d’Ardèche in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Sip back and discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of the Monts d’Ardèche UNESCO Global Geopark in southeast France—an extraordinary landscape preserving over 500 million years of Earth history. Explore volcanic domes, Triassic dinosaur trackways, and the Jurassic La Voulte Lagerstätte’s exceptional marine fossils. From Massif Central highlands to Rhône Valley vineyards, experience France’s most geologically and paleontologically rich destination.
Nov 106 min read


Discover France and Explore the Fossils & Geodiversity of Massif des Bauges in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Discover France and explore the fossils and geodiversity of the Massif des Bauges, a UNESCO Global Geopark in the northern French Alps between Lac d’Annecy and Lac du Bourget. This limestone “rock fortress” reveals 180 million years of Earth history, from Cretaceous Urgonian Limestone reefs of the ancient Tethys Ocean to Alpine uplift and glacial sculpting. Explore fossils, caves, and karst landscapes in a breathtaking natural park easily reached from Geneva, Lyon, or Grenobl
Nov 64 min read
Find out more about gin, cocktail recipes, our fossil coastline, and the places
along the way that you can enjoy a jigger of Fossil Coast Gin.
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