The Marais Poitevin is much closer than one generally thinks to the
resorts of the coast of Charente-Maritime.
We suggest you take our one-day tour of discovery in the Marais Mouillé (wet
marsh), in the part which is most typical and disorientating, the Venice
Verte (Green Venice).
Our point of departure is the town of Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon, well situated
on the N11 road to quickly reach the Green Venice.
The distances to reach Coulon, "Capital" of the Green Venice are as
follows :
Royan – Coulon, by Rochefort, Surgères, Mauzé: 100 km
Rochefort - Coulon, by Surgères, Mauzé: 60 km
La Rochelle – Coulon, Mauzé: 55 km
The proposed circuit, from Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon to Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon, is
about 80 to 100 km, depending on the detours that you may be tempted to
make on the spur of the moment.
You'll have plenty of time to enjoy an unforgettable trip in a boat and to
taste the local specialities in one of the good restaurants of the
villages.
You'll pass through three departments of the Marais Poitevin, Deux-Sèvres,
Vendee and Charente-Maritime without noticing any visible change.
At Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon, go eastward on the N11 for a dozen km until
Epannes.
After the ascent to Epannes, leave the N11 to turn left on to the D1 which
goes to Coulon by Sansais and Garette.
Leave Coulon by taking the D123, in a westerly direction towards Irleau,
the Le Vanneau, Arçais.
The D123 goes along the right bank of the river Sèvre Niortaise for
approximately 8km.
This touristic road really has to be taken in order to see the typical
sights which it offers of the marsh, as for example "The house with the
blue shutters".
After the bridge on the Sèvre
Niortaise, continue along the D123 on the right bank and rejoin, after
Irleau, the D102 which goes to Arçais.
From Arçais, you can, if you
began early enough in the morning, drive to Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud and
back which is 4 km away.
After Arçais, continue on the
D102, direction Damvix.
The D102 follows the left bank of the Sèvre Niortaise, then take the D104
which goes to Damvix.
At this point we leave the
department of Deux-Sèvres to enter that of Vendee.
At Damvix, take the D25
continuing westward, direction Maillezais, up to the crossroads with the
D15 which goes to Maillezais.
At Mailllezais you return towards Sèvre
Niortaise by the same D15, direction La Ronde.
You will cross again the Sèvre
Niortaise in the locality of La Croix des Marys, to join the left bank.
At
this point, one leaves Vendee to enter Charente-Maritime.
You can immediately join La
Ronde, Courçon and Mauzé, but we would like to recommend to you a route
which will let you discover the wild Marais Poitevin, outside the tourist
circuits.
For this purpose, immediately
after the second bridge on the Sèvre Niortaise, take the small road on the
left at the sign post " Venise Verte ", "Marais Bazoin".
Follow the small road which goes
along the canal du Mignon, up to the jetty of the Marais Bazoin, then
continue along the small road which joins La Ronde, passing through the
hamlets of Caillaude and Chalogne.
After La Ronde, take the D116
until Courçon, then the D114, direction Laigne.
The D114 joins the N11
which goes to Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon.
The traditional boat trip
For a
traditional boat trip, you've a wide selection of jetties in the various
villages, which offer varied formulae, adapted to your wishes of the
moment.
You can also rent boats and canoes without a guide-skipper.
For the first time, it's obviously better to take a tour with a
guide-skipper!
During the tourist peak season,
it is wise to make the boat trip in the morning or to choose a jetty in a
hamlet a little away from the most frequented places.
