The nature reserve, which covers well over 300 hectares in total, straddles the municipalities of Perl (Saarland), Montenach, Apach and Merchweiller (Lorraine) and is known for its abundance of orchids. It offers a wide variety of natural habitats, including extensive areas of calcareous semi-arid grassland, the conservation of which is important at a pan-European level.
The Mediterranean ambience of the slopes is home to many unusual, thermophilic animal and plant species: orchids, orchids, birds such as the honey buzzard, grey-headed woodpecker and red-backed shrike, rare butterflies and lizards. Visitors to the forest and walkers appreciate the Hammelsberg as an outstanding vantage point over the Moselle valley. The municipality of Perl offers guided walks through the nature reserve, especially in spring. A good starting point for an excursion to the Hammelsberg nature reserve is the car park at the Dreiländereck viewpoint in Perl (navigation: Zum Hammelsberg 26, 66706 Perl).
