Benon walks

This is a hike to do in autumn, for the colours, or in hot weather, in the shade under the oak trees. Moderator's addition on 23/08/2021: Private property at the start of this route. See the comments at the bottom of this page for an alternative starting point.

This is an easy walk between the Canal du Mignon and the marshes. Wear good walking or hiking shoes as, depending on the season and how well the banks are maintained, you may encounter tall grass in places or muddy paths.

As you follow this route through the wet marsh, you will discover its unique features, such as the trous de bris (former clay extraction sites used for tile manufacturing until the 1980s), poplar groves and a wide variety of plants and animals.

Located in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-La-Pallud, the start is at a place called Monfaucon in the small car park near the pier. The route begins with a small paved road to the place called La Roche. This start is not the most interesting, but you will quickly forget it as you discover the wild marshland, first along the Vieux Mignon and then the canals, which you follow on a small white gravel path.

A beautiful walk along Frace Lake, which is popular for fishing and walking, and on through the little town of Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis, where you can visit the Ouchettes cheese dairy and goat farm.

A peaceful walk in the Marais Poitevin along the banks of the canals and the Sèvre Niortaise, where you will pass beautiful houses with blue shutters typical of the region.

This is a short loop in the Marais Poitevin, starting at the Croix des Marys and following the Mignon canal before returning along the Sèvre Niortaise.Please note: read the comments in the Practical Information section

Relaxation and a change of scenery guaranteed! Come and enjoy the peace and quiet, the authentic landscape and the rich flora and fauna. The Marais Poitevin, also known as the "Green Venice" for its tourist attractions, is a vast area of water and greenery where nature lovers will find peace and tranquillity along 400 km of canals.

Between fields and small woods, between shellfish beds, canals and the Sèvre Niortaise, this loop starting from the port of Damvix is accessible to all.Along the route, there are some lovely spots for picnics and even small restaurants by the water in Bazoin and Damvix where you can stop for a bite to eat. This walk can be continued by boat on the Sèvre Niortaise (boats can be hired at the port of Damvix). You will come across fishermen, swans, cows and ducks and hear tree frogs croaking.

Hike in the heart of the Marais Poitevin (wet marshes) starting from Arçais.

This route will allow you to discover the rich flora and fauna of the marshes along the white paths, as well as the small protected and restored rural heritage in the heart of the village of Saint-Georges-de-Rex.

A short walk along dirt tracks through the marshes and their nutria.

An easy, safe and peaceful round trip walk through the marshes and along the banks of the Sèvre. Whatever the season, you will enjoy the peace and quiet, the flora and fauna, and discover the market gardens and the beautiful local cows. Along the banks of the Sèvre, you can admire the traditional "maraîchines" farmhouses.

A walk in the wild marshes of Le Mazeau, criss-crossed by a multitude of canals and ditches. Here, summer and winter alike, the light is always beautiful through the poplar plantations!

This path between the "wet" and "dry" marshes, passing by a characteristic feature of the marsh (the Aqueduct), will take you from the Romanesque church to the majestic Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Maillezais.

Starting from the Garette Leisure Park, you will walk through the heart of the Marais Poitevin, mostly on dirt tracks, to Le Vanneau. After the port of this village, you will cross magnificent vegetable gardens and return to your starting point along creeks, canals and ditches crossed by beautiful, sturdy footbridges. There's no reason why you can't do this route by bike.

Starting from Coulon, you will walk along the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise for more than 5 km to reach the village of Magné, which you will cross to reach the Epineaux marsh and return to your starting point.

Circuit in the middle of the Poitevin marshes, following the Sèvre Niortaise between Magné and Coulon on the way back.

The Charras Canal, the Marais du Roy, the Cabane de Moins, walks with little elevation gain (average altitude = 3 m). Between Châtelaillon and Rochefort, a large marsh area provides an opportunity to observe numerous seabirds and migratory birds. A few hills dot the horizon, former islands from Roman times: Voutron, Liron, Flay, Île d'Albe...

This is an easy, short walk that allows you to discover the wild side of the Green Venice. In the heart of nature, you will always be close to the water, in the shade of pollarded ash trees and poplars. And you may even be lucky enough to spot some nutria or deer.

Walking along the Rigole d'Aziré to the Courdault canal, then returning via the Marais des Nattes, you may spot some nutria, purple herons or lapwings, and perhaps even a deer or two.

Merger of two very well-marked routes, marked in two colours: yellow-orange and yellow-blue. The route is mostly shaded and very pleasant in the Poitevin marshes!

Most of the route follows the coastal path between the Baie d'Yves nature reserve and the town of Fouras. You will pass numerous fishing pontoons along the way and can visit Fort Vauban at the mouth of the Charente. The landscape will look completely different depending on the tide.