This is a typical cave-dwelling species that roosts year-round in natural or artificial underground sites, but colonies in buildings are occasionally observed in summer. Colonies may be mixed with other species, and association with Myotis emarginatus is frequent. The species forages on the wing or by perch hunting in forests, riparian vegetation, and olive groves, often preferring mosaic-like landscapes that provide edges, and avoiding conifer or Eucalyptus plantations (reviewed in Garin and Goiti 2020). Artificially illuminated/urban areas are also avoided (Russo et al. 2002). Moths (especially Geometridae and Noctuidae) account for at least 80% of the species' diet in the different European countries where it was studied, and this also holds for winter feeding activity (Garin and Goiti 2020). Rhinolophus euryaleis sedentary, and the longest recorded distance is 134 km (Hutterer et al. 2005).

This is mostly a circum-Mediterranean species showing a patchy distribution. In Europe, it occurs from the Iberian Peninsula to the Black Sea in Romania and European Türkiye, although it reaches different northern latitude limits across this range: northern Spain, central France, northern Italy south of the Alps, the Balkan Peninsula, isolated subpopulations between Serbia and Slovakia, western Romania; the easternmost limits in Europe are the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye, where the species is relatively frequent (reviewed in Garin and Goiti 2020). Presence in Northern Cyprus was confirmed by Benda et al. (2018). It occurs in the Spanish territory of Ceuta, North Africa (Palomo et al. 2007). The range of altitudes where this species can be found varies between 0 and 1,700 m asl.

Outside of Europe, it occurs, often with small subpopulations, in the Maghreb from Morocco to Tunisia. It is absent from Egypt and Sinai, but is present in the Levant, South European Russia (out of the European Red List assessment area), Transcaucasia (Georgia, Armenia, and northern Iran), south to the Zagros Mountains in Iran, east to the north-eastern regions of Iran and probably southern Turkmenistan (Garin and Goiti 2020).

Rhinolophus euryale is protected by national legislation in most European range states. There are also international legal obligations for the protection of this species through the Eurobats Agreement and Bern Convention, where these apply. The species is included in Annexes II and IV of the 92/43/EC Habitats Directive and hence requires special measures for conservation, including the designation of Special Areas for Conservation. In the 2013-2018 Article 17 reporting made under the above Directive, the range, population and habitat prospects for R. euryale are inadequate-unfavourable in most EU biogeographic regions where it occurs, except the Black Sea and Continental regions, where such prospects are unknown. There is some habitat protection through Natura 2000, and some roosts are already protected by national legislation. Namely, 857 Natura 2000 Sites have been designated to protect this species in its EU range. The species has been directly or indirectly the target of EU LIFE-funded projects in several EU countries.

In order to conserve this species, it is crucial to strictly protect its roosting sites, reduce pesticide use in agroforestry systems, and mitigate or avoid light pollution and urban development in areas where it is found.