The Fresnay Marsh

de fr

Until the 10th century, the sea bordered the village of Fresnay, then gradually receded, leaving behind a marsh that you can explore on this walk.

Details

n°253118
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 7 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m
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Photos

A riot of colours
View of the church of Saint-Cyr-en-Retz.
The marsh is transforming
The ducks aren't afraid of us!

Description of the walk

(S/E) The walk starts from the town hall car park. Head towards the road and cross at the pedestrian crossing.
Take the alley opposite for a few metres, then turn right onto Rue du Champ de Foire and turn left. This is the start of a stony path lined with hedges and trees. You will soon reach a grassy path flanked by two "Etiers" (marsh waterways).

(1) On your right is La Petite Île, a lodge in the heart of the marsh. Admire the many birds that nest here: ducks, herons and egrets. If you are quiet enough, you may see a muskrat or a coypu.
In the distance, there is a beautiful view of the village of Saint-Cyr-en-Retz and its white church. Continue along the same grassy path.

(2) Take the path on the right and follow a grassy trail through the water. You will come to a stone path and then a small road.

(3) Turn left to return to Fresnay-en-Retz, where you started. Another aspect of the marsh is revealed to you: its agricultural side. Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction with the D13.

(4) Cross the road (take care) and continue for about 100 metres.

(5) Take the first road on your left, Grande Rue, which continues as Rue du Puy Civaux. Keep an eye on the bell tower as you follow Rue du Calvaire on your left. Go around the church to return to the town hall car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 7 m - Parking at the town hall.
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 3 m - Start of the grassy path
  3. 2 : km 1.99 - alt. 3 m - At the junction, turn right.
  4. 3 : km 3.22 - alt. 3 m - Small road, turn left.
  5. 4 : km 6.08 - alt. 5 m - Crossing the D13
  6. 5 : km 6.16 - alt. 5 m - Path on the left
  7. S/E : km 6.98 - alt. 7 m - Parking at the town hall.

Notes

In the village, you will find two restaurants, a bakery and a bar-tobacconist-newsagent.
Rural lodge in the marshes at "Petite îÎe".

Worth a visit

Don't forget to visit the church, which has several listed statues and a remarkable 18th-century black marble high altar.

Make the most of your visit to Fresnay-en-Retz to visit the bamboo garden: 4 hectares where you can discover more than 100 varieties of bamboo, as well as flowers, ponds and vegetable gardens.
Visits by appointment on 06 26 2 784 49.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Chrisr
Chrisr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is the second time I've done this route. The first time, it was cut off after the first third because the path hadn't been mowed. The route is flat, with little shade. It's a rural route.

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ROLBERN
ROLBERN

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Flat route with no shade. More than half on tarmac roads. Numerous ponds on the right and left with marsh birds, waders and birds of prey. I won't be doing it again.

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Yogui44
Yogui44
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The grassy paths bordering the ponds are very wet...
We had to take little foot baths to move forward!
Otherwise, it's a beautiful little route.

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brigittelahaxe
brigittelahaxe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk in the marshes, easy especially with a dog that can run free without danger to itself, the fauna or the flora.

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Elisa_rando
Elisa_rando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Enjoy your walk through the vegetation and marshes.
A great route for birdwatching.
Highly recommended.

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PatrickG
PatrickG

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a very pleasant little walk in the marshes, done at dawn, with lots of marsh birds (ducks, herons, storks, etc.), encounters with a few nutria in and out of the water, and the song and presence of numerous passerines along the way.
There is only one small drawback to the route: as it is a circular route, the second part is almost exclusively on roads.
If I were to do this route again, I think I would take the path on the left at La Taillanderie on the way back to rejoin the path I took on the way there and finish the route by taking the path on the right to return to Fresnay-en-Retz.

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Sonja
Sonja

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant walk in the marshes...

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