Because it has been home to both people and nature since prehistoric times, the Roque Saint-Christophe cliff in Périgord has, since 2016, received various certifications to highlight and affirm its ecological commitment and respect for this precious environment. By preserving a millennia-old site where humans first settled 55,000 years ago, the team at this major tourist destination in the Vézère Valley helps ensure the survival of species and the region’s unique biodiversity.
Download our Environmental and Social PolicySite certified by NF Environnement as a “Visitor Site”
Nature conservation has long been a priority for the Roque Saint-Christophe site, which received its first award in 2016. That year, the troglodytic village earned the NF Environnement certification for visitor sites, becoming a pioneer in the Dordogne in making ecology a major focus of tourism.
Energy savings on lighting and heating, responsible water management through reduced flow rates, packaging made from recycled paper, a sustainable purchasing policy in the store that prioritizes locally made products… The entire site team works together to meet the stringent criteria and earn this certification. They’ve even gone so far as to enlist sheep to “gently” graze the green spaces (ecopastoralism).
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The LPO Refuge Label
By becoming an LPO Refuge, La Roque Saint-Christophe is making the most of one of its assets: its many rock cavities and its orientation, which give it a diversified plant cover creating multiple ecological niches, favorable to avifauna.
The emblematic species of La Roque is the Peregrine Falcon. One pair has been breeding successfully for several years. This species, which was on the verge of extinction in the 1970s, has seen its numbers increase and is recolonizing favorable sites. The Kestrel also nests here, and in front of the cliff you’ll find Black Kites, Common Buzzards, Redshanks, Sparrowhawks and Honey Buzzards.
Nocturnal birds of prey are well represented, such as the Barn Owl and the Long-eared Owl.
The vermilion-red-winged Tichodrome échelette is present some winters, roaming the rock faces in search of insects. The Alpine Accentur, another winter visitor, frequents sunny rocky outcrops.
Other rare species can also be observed. Today, in a world where mankind attacks its natural environment on a daily basis, giving back this immense limestone wall to birds and biodiversity is a fitting return for us!
