Discover the Marais and the Sèvre Niortaise in Irleau

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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.

Details

n°846720
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.99 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 7 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 7 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 12 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m
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Photos

Bridge closed between 5 and 6

Description of the walk

Departure from "La Chaume" (Irleau exit on the Route de Coulon) opposite a vacant lot that was once the site of a carpentry business that no longer exists.

(S/E) Follow the signposted route towards the village (D123), take the first street on the right and enter the village.

(1) You will arrive near the port. Continue on the left along the Grand Rue d'Irleau and cross the village until you reach the intersection with Rue du Gué. Turn left in front of a grassy, tree-lined esplanade and continue along Rue des Essarts until you reach the "white path" on your right, which you will take. You are now entering the marsh.

(2) Cross the bridge (with a barrier that can be crossed), (caution: forestry work is underway, so there may be machinery operating in this area) and continue along the path, which turns 90° to the left. Cross the pastures and continue along the path. At the end of the path, cross the tree plantation via a passageway for pedestrians (marked).

(3) Cross a small bridge over a stream and continue straight ahead. Turn right onto the tarmac road that leads to the banks of the Sèvre.

(4) Cross the footbridge (rest area) and walk along the right bank of the Sèvre.

(5) Follow the meandering path to the Pont d'Irleau bridge; a slight incline will take you up to the bridge.

(6) Cross the Sèvre again on the right and continue straight ahead on the road (D123) towards "la Chaume", where you will find a car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 5 m - Place known as La Chaume
  2. 1 : km 0.32 - alt. 5 m - Port d'Irleau
  3. 2 : km 1.3 - alt. 3 m - Bridge
  4. 3 : km 1.84 - alt. 2 m - Small wooden bridge
  5. 4 : km 2.87 - alt. 4 m - Footbridge and banks of the Sèvre - Sèvre Niortaise (fleuve)
  6. 5 : km 4.18 - alt. 4 m - The meanders, the maraichines
  7. 6 : km 5.38 - alt. 3 m - Irleau Bridge
  8. S/E : km 5.99 - alt. 5 m - Place known as La Chaume

Notes

About halfway along the route, after crossing the footbridge, you can take a break at a picnic area.

Worth a visit

The port: small jetty with "plates" (traditional boats used in the marshes).
The "chemins blancs": local name for the dirt tracks through the marshes or countryside.
(4) On the other side of the footbridge, you are in the Vendée. The tarmac road opposite the footbridge leads to the marshland village of Le Mazeau, a quiet road with little traffic, offering a long detour for the more adventurous (you must return via the same route to rejoin the original route; allow an extra hour for this option).
Beautifully restored Maraîchine farmhouses line the Sèvre river.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Fête nationale
Fête nationale

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, with a bit too much tarmac on the section along the Sèvre river.
It's flat, so it's suitable for all walkers!

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Isard63
Isard63

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, first through the marshes, then along the Sèvre river. Gentle, peaceful landscapes that are very pleasant at this time of year. Note that as the marsh was flooded, a small section of the trail was under water... Fortunately, I had waterproof shoes. The very end of the hike, on the main road, requires a little caution as it is busy with motorists.

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Peptia
Peptia

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route. The section crossing to the other side of the Sèvre between points 4 and 6 is safer in summer as there is no traffic. Take particular care when crossing the RD123, which unfortunately has no pavements until the finish point. Be careful during busy periods.

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guimo
guimo

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

the hike started well, but when we reached point 2, the path was not marked and it was impossible to cross the meadow, which was still partially covered with water, so we turned back to the starting point. What a shame!

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Tiphaucun
Tiphaucun

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

We started the route in the opposite direction, quite late in the day.
When we reached the small bridge mentioned below, we had to turn back.
Luckily, we hadn't followed the recommended route, otherwise we would have had to do the whole walk backwards.
This information should be included in the app, as unfortunately it can only be found on the website.
Otherwise, if you take the opposite bank, it's fine.

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jjpprr
jjpprr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lack of precision during certain changes of direction. I agree with the comments made on 31 October and 2 August. It is regrettable that the marsh managers do not take this detour into account by providing more detailed explanations. We were caught by nightfall and rescued by a local resident who gave us a lift back.

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jjpprr
jjpprr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lack of precision when changing direction

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Tillane
Tillane

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We encountered two problems during this hike. An arrow was on the ground at the end of a path facing a field, which caused us to hesitate. Then we were diverted because of a footbridge that was in danger of collapsing. A detour was suggested to us, which meant a detour of at least 4 km. It would have been necessary to specify this, as we might then have chosen to turn back.
Kind regards

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Sneg
Sneg
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Tip: do not cross the Sèvre before point 4 and reach the IRLEAU bridge via the left bank. On the right bank, you will be stuck because a small bridge is blocked. There are no problems on the left bank and there is less tarmac (a VERY ENJOYABLE walk this morning, Monday 3 August).

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Elo79
Elo79

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant walk along the Sèvre. A short section at the end along the district road, but only 500 metres long. Lots of bicycles along the Sèvre at the end of May.

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Ericochets
Ericochets

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I am very familiar with the wild marshland near Mazeau, and I was delighted to discover this short hike near Irleau. Apart from the short stretch of road leading back to the village, the rest of the route is very pleasant. I did this hike just after the floods a few weeks ago, so be careful when crossing the meadow at point 2, which was still covered with water. I was still able to go around the field to reach the footbridge!

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Sneg
Sneg

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very beautiful walk but a lot of tarmac. Lack of signposts at the start.

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tantone
tantone

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

An easy hike, pleasant in the winter sunshine, even with part of the marsh flooded. Only a small section at the end is on the district road. A lovely little walk through the marsh.

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jjousseaume
jjousseaume

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 27, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Another beautiful hike in the Poitevin marshes. An easy hike that allows you to discover various aspects of the marshes: fauna, flora, crops, habitat... following the Sèvre river.

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