The Langon Marshes

Park in the small car park on Rue du Prieuré at the foot of the church.

(S/E) Turn left onto Rue du Prieuré to join Rue de l’Industrie and continue straight on until you reach Rue du Port.

(1) Take Route de Chaillé-les-Marais, heading south, and cross carefully to walk alongside the fishing pond, following the path that runs alongside the road. Ignore the entrance to La Source campsite at the end; turn left about 100 metres further on and walk round the nightclub.

(2) Take the path on the left. About 600 m further on, the path turns left and joins the road. Turn right towards La Gaboge.

(3) Turn right at the bend towards Le Breuil and continue along this small road, which heads back south and crosses the Fossé des Plantes a little further on.

(4) Leave the road by going straight on at the bend onto the path that crosses the Marais Communal du Langon.

(5) Turn right and follow the Canal de la Ceinture des Hollandais. At the end of the path, do not cross the canal but turn right onto the road and cross the small canal a little further on.

(6) Take the D30 (Route de Chaillé-les-Marais) by crossing the bridge to the left. Walk carefully on the left-hand side. After the bend, cross the road carefully and walk on the right-hand side for about 200 m.

(7) Turn right onto the path which descends and, a little further on, joins the bank of the Canal du Langon. Go round a log barrier and continue along the grassy path, which is sometimes very wet.

(8) Cross the footbridge on the left and continue along the path which runs alongside a ditch.

(9) Turn right, leaving the signposted route, and carry on straight ahead along the path bordered on the left by a ditch covered with duckweed (or not, depending on the season), which marks the boundary of the Bois des Arpents, and on the right by a large cultivated field.

(10) Carry on straight ahead along the path, which is signposted again, until you reach Rue de la Grange de l’Abbé. Turn right twice, first into Rue de la Grange de l’Abbé Est, then into Lotissement la Grange de l’Abbé.

(11) Turn right at the statue of the Virgin Mary towards Rue de la Place. Walk past the livestock buildings of the Chapeau Rouge farm and continue to the street of the same name, ignoring Rue de la Halle on your right. When you reach the T-junction, turn right to return to the church car park (S/E).

The route is partially marked in yellow.

Although this route is situated in the drained marshland, some sections may nevertheless be very wet or even submerged in wet weather. It is therefore essential to wear suitable footwear.

At point (8), a shortcut is possible by continuing along the Langon Canal to reach the car park opposite the pond, not far from point (1) on the Route de Chaillé-les-Marais.

If you continue straight on to point (9), you can join a parallel path which extends the route slightly to point (10) (yellow markings).

Hike completed by the author on 25 and 28 April 2023.

See the Langon local council website.