After the retreat of the glaciers, grasslands covered the parts of Europe that had a continental climate. Some of these areas survive today in certain climatic zones in Spain, in the Caucasus and in dry inter-alpine valleys.

The rocky southern slopes of Valais and the Pfyn-Finges Forest plateau offer an unforgettable feast for the eyes in May and June, with golden feather grass gently billowing in the wind. The diversity of flora explains the wealth of insects here: this is a paradise for field crickets, wild bees, the praying mantis and the European green lizard.