Explore the Marais Poitevin by bike, in the heart of the Atlantic coast
The Marais Poitevin, a natural region of France located between the departments of Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, and Charente-Maritime, stretches over 100,000 hectares from Niort in the east to the Baie de l'Aiguillon in the west. Designated a Regional Natural Park and a Grand Site de France, it is the second largest wetland in France after the Camargue!
It is a veritable labyrinth of canals where ancient trees and European otters share an ecosystem with no fewer than 250 bird species, 38 fish species, 60 dragonfly species, 80 butterfly species, and 126 heritage plant species benefiting from European protection.
Developed by man, the marsh is composed of three completely different areas:
- The wet marsh, known as the "Green Venice," is the best-known part. Here, the Marsh is crisscrossed by a multitude of tree-lined canals: 8,000 kilometers of waterways, 350 of which are marked. Numerous piers offer boat trips.
- The Dry Marsh is also lush, with water everywhere, but unlike the Wet Marsh, it is not prone to flooding. This area is characterized by vast expanses of crops and meadows. The Dry Marsh is particularly renowned for producing high-quality wheat.
- Aiguillon Bay, or the Maritime Marsh, alternates between sandy beaches, dunes, and forests. It is a marine world subject to the winds and tides, a migratory crossroads for birds from all over the world.
The Marais Poitevin is a place where you can enjoy boat trips and even bike rides!
The Vélodyssée: 70 kilometers of cycling circuit in the Marais Poitevin
Two cycling stages along the Vélodyssée route allow you to discover part of the so-called "dried-out" section of the Marais Poitevin:
Along the route: the La Belle-Henriette lagoon and Pointe d'Arçay
From Marans, a former lookout on the Sèvre Niortaise estuary, the Vélodyssée cycle route is dedicated to water and the canals that connect to the Marais Poitevin. Follow the canal from Marans to La Rochelle, originally built to connect the two 18th-century port cities, and return to the ocean.
A 25-kilometer cycle route in the heart of the Marais Poitevin
Between Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm and Marans, a marked 25km loop will take you deep into nature amidst vast landscapes with incomparable flora and fauna, passing through Luçon and Triaize.
Tailor-made itineraries
Tailor-made itineraries
20 La Tranche-sur-Mer / Marans
Cycle through vast expanses of marshland and farmland dotted with farms and cabins until you reach Marans, a pleasant riverside town bordered by the Sèvre Niortaise River. Be curious and explore the marina, the historic center, and the church with its futuristic bell tower, all of this town that lives to the rhythm of the water.
