Charras Canal - Côte de la Lance

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...

Details

277318
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.65 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 21 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 22 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 18 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Description of the walk

Park along the canal, on the north side, at Pont de Lagord (Ciré-d'Aunis).

(S/E) Cross the Charras Canal and turn right after the bridge (left bank). Follow the canal to the Pelle Rouge (a sluice gate that regulates the amount of water in the marsh).

(1) Just after the Pelle Rouge, the canal turns westwards. Leave the path that runs alongside it and continue straight ahead on the road.

(2) Turn right with the road after a little less than 200 metres. Continue and 1,200 metres further on, leave the access path to the Cabane de Moins on your right.

(4) About 150 metres further on, in a bend, a path climbs the embankment and continues along the ridge parallel to the road. Beautiful view of the marsh, the lake and the Moins observatory. Orientation table on the path.

(5) Descend to Route de Liron and continue left towards the hamlet of the same name and the Isle Ronde Equestrian Centre.

(6) In the centre of the hamlet, follow the same road which turns left, heading north-east, and soon descends into the marsh. Follow it until you find yourself facing the Côte de la Lance.

(7) Facing the Côte, take the path that branches off to the left between two canals. Follow it straight ahead until you reach the road just before the Pelle Rouge, at the start of the circular route.

(2) Continue straight ahead to the Pont de Lagord car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Pont de Lagord car park on the edge of the - Devise (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 1.97 - alt. 3 m - La Pelle Rouge. Carriant intersection
  3. 2 : km 2.16 - alt. 3 m - Fork in the circular
  4. 3 : km 2.73 - alt. 3 m - Variation intersection
  5. 4 : km 3.67 - alt. 3 m - Take the path that climbs up the embankment
  6. 5 : km 4.47 - alt. 3 m - Liron Road
  7. 6 : km 4.69 - alt. 11 m - Hamlet of Liron
  8. 7 : km 6.32 - alt. 3 m - Côte de la Lance
  9. S/E : km 9.65 - alt. 4 m - Pont de Lagord car park

Notes

Alternative route: (1) Leave the road and continue along the Charras canal on the path that branches off to the right. After about 500 m, turn left onto a small wooden bridge, continue along the path through the woods, then continue along the wide path on the left which rejoins the road further on, at (3), at a cattle gate.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
User 27521051

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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eriba-17
eriba-17

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that the route leaves out the most interesting part:
- You can cross the canal on the red shovel footbridge, which saves you from having to walk 2 km on tarmac on the way there and the same 2 km on the way back
- you can continue along the canal on the grassy path and walk through a very pretty little wood for 1 km

See the "In the Rochefort marshes from the Lagord bridge" route, which includes these changes

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filiplacour
filiplacour

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant circular with a lovely view of the marsh. However, as with other hikes, the car park is not ideally located. You have to walk almost 2 km along the road before you actually start the circular, when you could easily park further away... It's a shame that this stretch along the road adds nothing to the hike.

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jmejas
jmejas

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Recommended: a very pleasant hike due to its variety and interesting location in the marshes; numerous birds to observe and absolute tranquillity. Ideal for taking wonderful photographs.

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chersun
chersun

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy, peaceful route with superb views of marshes and birds. Option to take the path on the right bank to La Pelle Rouge (to avoid the road) and cross the canal at this point (note: there are safety ladders for crossing).
Chersun

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isarouselle
isarouselle

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Difficulty finding the starting point. The riding centre no longer exists.

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Josetteaubry
Josetteaubry

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Varied, and beautiful views!
Thank you for this type of route 😉

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ap75rb17
ap75rb17

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An interesting hike, surrounded by nature, with lots of birds to see.

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MarieMadeleineGuégan
MarieMadeleineGuégan

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

For those seeking tranquillity, this is an easy and accessible route. Of course, it's flat, as it's the marshlands. In any case, the storks are definitely there... and so are the wild boars.

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judami1
judami1

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A peaceful landscape along the canal.
Even though most of the route is along the road, we only saw one car.
We saw nutria swimming in the canal and a mother and her young grazing on the grass on the bank.

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PampleQuicke
PampleQuicke

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2018
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Passing through La Rochelle, we chose this hike for a change from the Alps.

It was really great, we loved this tour through the marshes and nature. Lots of birds, pretty paths (mostly along the road, but you quickly forget that). The observatory is a bonus, check the opening hours to make sure you can get in.

We recommend it (but not in very hot weather as there is little shade).

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debaye serge
debaye serge

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Superb, lots of birds and an extraordinary view of the marsh from La Bute. Don't forget your binoculars

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bezette
bezette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 18, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Country route with landscapes that are sometimes a little dreary

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norbert.poiret@orange.fr
norbert.poiret@orange.fr

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

for those who love the dish, from the marsh, always from the marsh!!!

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marc01.theodore
marc01.theodore

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

no problem

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