The history of the Vosges mountains
The Hercynian mountain range was formed 300,000,000 years ago. It consists of granite and volcanic rock. During the Mesozoic Era heavily eroded, it later formed the Rhine valley. The quaternary glacier covered the entire massif and formed special landscapes: gorges, mountain lakes and peatlands.
The rounded shape of the summit, the Ballon, is the result of the erosion of the older Hercynian granite rock.
The uniqueness of the Rossberg massif
The signficance of the Rossberg Massif, is internationally accepted and also called "natural geogical museum". His dominant volcanic formations differ from other acidic granite formations that can be found in the Hautes-Vosges Cristallines. This geological feature and its southern situation have influence on the unique flora of this area.