Between Saint-Vivien and Thairé

A 13 km circular route in Aunis, on the edge of the Yves Marsh. The route follows many hard-surfaced and very little-used farm tracks, with about a third of the route on dirt tracks.
This route can be covered on foot or by bicycle (with a proper mountain bike on the path along the canal surrounding the marsh).

Details

n°4470649

Creation:
27 Dec 2020

Last update:
30 Dec 2020

Last review:
16 Oct 2023

Activity: Walking
Distance: 13.73 km
Average duration: 4h 00
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 22 m
Descent: - 20 m
Highest point: 18 m
Lowest point: 2 m

Country: France
District: Saint-Vivien (17220)
Start/End: N 46.077478° / W 1.053616°
IGN map(s): Ref. 1329ET, 1430OT
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Description of the walk

Start from the car park at Saint-Vivien cemetery, behind the church (difficult to find; coming from La Rochelle, after Saint-Vivien town hall, turn right towards the church).

(S/E) Head east towards the back of the car park. Walk alongside a rainwater retention basin. Cross the tarmac road by first turning left then right and take Rue de l'Ermitage. Continue through the fields.

(1) After about 1 km, turn left towards the Moulin de la Pierre campsite. Cross the tarmac road (D205, caution: heavy traffic) and walk alongside the campsite.

(2) Take the first path (paved at the beginning) on the right after the campsite. Continue straight ahead. When you reach the paved road (D11), cross it and follow the dirt path opposite, slightly to the right.

(3) When you reach another tarmac road, turn right and follow the road for 50 metres, then turn left towards the farm selling direct produce, Les Coutures.

(4) Turn right at the first road after the farm. Continue straight ahead and enter Thairé via Rue de Verdun. At the corner of the cemetery, turn left towards the church.

(5) Go around the church on the right, turn left and pass in front of the post office. Take Rue du Baloir opposite.
Pass under the house that spans the street. This curious construction is called the baloir. Turn right onto Rue de la Corderie.

(6) Turn left onto Rue de la Liberté and walk on the left-hand pavement, which is wide enough. After 200 metres, turn right. After about 500 metres, continue straight ahead on the dirt track.
Cross a road and continue straight ahead on the path that continues opposite.

(7) At the end of the path, when you see two farms (the one on the left has large, noisy but not aggressive dogs that may come towards you), turn right onto the tarmac path and then turn left to join the D110. Turn left (towards Voutron). Walk carefully for 300 metres along the road.

(8) When you reach the canal, turn right onto the path furthest to the right on the marsh embankment. Follow this path between two canals for about 2.5 km.

(9) At the end of the path, facing a barrier, turn right. Pass between the farm buildings; the ground may be very muddy. On the tarmac, turn right to reach the crossroads from the outward journey.

(1) Turn left and follow the same route back to the car park at Saint-Vivien cemetery (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Cemetery car park. - Église Saint-Vivien (Saint-Vivien)
1 : km 1.25 - alt. 8 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
2 : km 2.13 - alt. 16 m - Intersection - Road on the right
3 : km 4.14 - alt. 9 m - Road
4 : km 4.77 - alt. 17 m - Intersection
5 : km 5.15 - alt. 16 m - Église de l'Assomption (Thairé)
6 : km 5.47 - alt. 11 m - Exit Thairé.
7 : km 7.15 - alt. 7 m - Fork to the right.
8 : km 8.35 - alt. 4 m - Start of the marsh embankment
9 : km 11.39 - alt. 3 m - La Grange
S/E : km 13.73 - alt. 4 m - Cemetery car park. - Église Saint-Vivien (Saint-Vivien)

Notes

The route is accessible on foot or by mountain bike. However, the path between (8) and (9) is very uneven (nutria holes).
Be careful along the road before (8). There is traffic on this road.

Worth a visit

During the first part of the hike, you will be able to see the different agricultural activities in Aunis (various cereals and livestock farming).
In Thairé, visit the church and take a look at the curious house built above Rue du Baloir.
Between (8) and (9), enjoy the natural surroundings on the path along the marsh embankment, flanked by two canals. You may spot moorhens and nutria.
In the right season, you can see storks above and on the marsh. Herons and other wading birds are also present.
At (8), on the other side of the canal, a raised observatory allows you to watch the birds.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5

Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5

Route interest
4 / 5

Diégo17

16 Oct 2023 at 12:04 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A pleasant route on the outskirts of La Rochelle, passing through the marshes.
Hedges and trees provide welcome shade in hot weather.

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RONDEDECHARTRES

02 Jul 2023 at 10:17 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good for guidance. The campsite is not signposted in advance and Rue de la Liberté is actually Rue de la Libération. From 7 to 9, a very pleasant, quiet and interesting path between the two canals (herons, nutria, etc.); in places, the grass is tall; after the farm at 9, it would have been nice to cut across the D203 and return along the St Vivien marsh, but is that possible? In St Vivien, there are interesting heritage signs.

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victorien didier

08 May 2023 at 09:51 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

between points 8 and 9, the route is practically impassable.

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phbizet

26 Apr 2021 at 15:01 7200 • Edited: 26 Apr 2021 at 15:03 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

In these times of travel restrictions (10 km) imposed by lockdown, this hike is a very pleasant alternative to coastal hikes. Varied landscapes, heritage sites (including Thairé) and a superb walk through the marshes among storks and nutria. Highly recommended.
Two details:
- Change the route between point 9 and the finish to avoid retracing the same route from point 1 to the finish.
- Personally, I had no difficulty reaching the starting point by heading towards the church (I'm not necessarily better than others at reading maps). Near the church, there are communal gardens and a gardener was happy to show us his work and crops, which was nice!

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jeanpierrestef

03 Feb 2021 at 19:01 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in the countryside. The descriptions of the route are clear and there is little risk of getting lost.
Despite the recent heavy rains, the path through the marshes was perfectly passable and not very muddy. We were lucky enough to see deer, storks, several other birds common to the marshes and, of course, our friend the nutria.
The section marked as very muddy really is. The farmer was cleaning it up, but despite this, our shoes were completely covered in mud. That's a negative point.
I still recommend this hike. I will definitely take members of my club there.
Access to the starting point is not easy, so thank goodness for GPS. Be careful when leaving, as the no entry signs are tricky.
Thanks to the person who created this route.
Jean-Pierre

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josiane cousin

01 Feb 2021 at 15:19 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Almost at the end of the route, walking along the canal for 2.5 kilometres seems endless, and the farmyard you have to cross is really very muddy.

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