The La Robine ichthyosaur was one of the first sites in Europe where a skeleton was preserved and protected in situ. It can be discovered after a pleasant hike accessible to all.
The La Robine Ichthyosaur is around 185 million years old and is of great scientific and educational interest. Its name comes from the Greek words ikhthus (fish) and sauros (lizard). Although it looks like a fish or a marine mammal, it is in fact a reptile. It once lived in the sea that covered the region. Ichthyosaurs disappeared around 90 million years ago, leaving no descendants.
After its death, this ichthyosaur was covered by a bacterial veil that protected its skeleton, while sedimentation on the ocean floor only resumed several thousand years later. The mud then formed a protective gangue before transforming into rock.
Enhanced by a new protection and mediation infrastructure, this listed site is managed by the Réserve naturelle nationale géologique de Haute-Provence and is open to visitors all year round.
