A Jurassic Seabed Exposed
The story of the Mourèze Dolomite Cirque begins around 160 million years ago, during the Jurassic period. At that time, this part of southern France was a warm, shallow sea. Layers of marine sediment, containing calcium and magnesium carbonate, accumulated on the seafloor and eventually compacted into the dolomite rock seen today. Tectonic movements during the Cenozoic Era lifted this ancient seabed, exposing the soft, porous rock to the elements.
This vast natural amphitheater, covering over 300 hectares, is a a ruiniform landscape. The term describes a terrain sculpted by erosion into shapes that resemble the ruins of an ancient city. The process is driven by the chemical composition of the rock and the erosive power of water. Rainwater, slightly acidic, slowly dissolves the carbonates in the dolomite, a process that subtly alters the landscape.
The Sculpting of a Stone Forest
The fantastic shapes of the cirque are a result of differential erosion. Water exploits natural fissures and areas of softer rock, carving them away more quickly than the harder, more resistant sections. Over millions of years, this process has left behind a chaotic labyrinth of freestanding pillars, arches, and monoliths. The ground is covered in a powdery golden sand called "grésou," which is the terminal residue of the eroded dolomite.
The area is a geological site, with more than 70 distinct rock formations given names based on their shapes. Visitors can identify figures like the Sphinx, the Oracle, the Bear, and the Guardian. These shapes are not static; the forces of wind and water constantly, if imperceptibly, continue their work.
The cirque also has a human history. Archaeological evidence shows the area has been occupied since the Middle Neolithic period. The Parc des Courtinals, located at a viewpoint overlooking the landscape, features reconstructions of Iron Age dwellings and explains the long history of human settlement in this unusual terrain.