The Marais Poitevin in Arçais

Hike in the heart of the Marais Poitevin (wet marshes) starting from Arçais.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.32 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 10 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 10 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 14 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In Arçais, park in the car park next to the campsite on the Damvix road (D102).

(S/E) When you leave the car park, take the road on the right to reach the village.

(1) Follow the towpath on the left that runs alongside the Bief de la Garenne. Cross three footbridges.

(2) At the intersection, take the road on the right. Follow it to reach the village, leaving a path on your left.

(3) At the intersection, turn right to enter the village and follow Rue de la Garenne to the centre of the village. Head towards the church, then follow Rue des Bateliers on the left of the square. Continue along this street, ignoring the streets on the right and left.

(4) Turn left onto Rue des Bouteilles and join the D101. Turn right towards Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud and follow the road to the bike rental shop.

(5) Turn right onto the road in front of the bike rental shop and, at the fork, ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead on the path that continues along the road. At the D101, follow the path on the right that runs alongside this road, then take another road on the right until you reach Grand Jeau. Ignore the paths and roads that branch off to the right.

(6) At Grand Jeau, turn right to enter the marsh. Cross a small bridge and continue straight ahead on the same path that winds through the marshes.

(7) Just after a small bridge, take the dirt track on the right. This track can be very wet in rainy weather. Ignore a track on the right and you will come out onto a white track.

(8) Take it on the right to return to the Damvix road (D102).

(9) Follow it to the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Car park next to the campsite
  2. 1 : km 0.27 - alt. 6 m - Towpath
  3. 2 : km 1.23 - alt. 4 m - Minet watercourse, road on the right - Sèvre Niortaise (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 1.68 - alt. 5 m - Rue de la Garenne
  5. 4 : km 2.9 - alt. 10 m - Bottle street
  6. 5 : km 3.38 - alt. 9 m - Bike rental, on the right
  7. 6 : km 5.07 - alt. 9 m - Grand Jeau, turn right to enter the marshes
  8. 7 : km 6.92 - alt. 4 m - Small dirt track on the right
  9. 8 : km 7.73 - alt. 3 m - White path, on the right
  10. 9 : km 8.97 - alt. 4 m - Route de Damvix, on the right
  11. S/E : km 9.32 - alt. 4 m - Car park next to the campsite

Notes

Bars, restaurants and shops in the village.
Wet passages.
This hike is certified as a Randonnée en Deux-Sèvres hike under the name "Chemin faisant sur l'histoire d'Arçais" (Walking through the history of Arçais). You can find it at: http://randoendeuxsevres.fr/index.php

Worth a visit

Boat trips in the Marais Poitevin.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 264801

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant circuit.

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randonneurs.DS
randonneurs.DS

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very busy in Arçais, then alone for the rest of this rather pleasant hike with a mix of plains and marshes.
The marshland section was very quiet and peaceful.

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emelinecy
emelinecy

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, peaceful walk

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2MC
2MC

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I have done this hike several times, and it is always enjoyable, like all hikes in the Marais Poitevin.
At this time of year, given the rainfall, it is essential to have good waterproof footwear to tackle the inevitable muddy paths.
Beautiful landscapes and peace and quiet guaranteed.

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eric2706
eric2706

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Overall pleasant, but the section after Arçais is not very interesting.

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DAUTET
DAUTET

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

hello,
a beautiful route for exploring the Poitevin marshes. During this very rainy season, we came across a tree that had fallen across the road, but we were able to continue on our way by going through the neighbouring field.

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Ericochets
Ericochets

It's not always easy to make a loop in our marshes!

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Alik
Alik

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

a pleasant walk in sunny weather, especially in the marshes, where you are in the shade
however, the section from Arçais to the entrance to the marshes is difficult in the sun.
If you're hoping to see typical Poitevin marshland scenery, this isn't the walk for you.

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Ericochets
Ericochets

Yes, the route I suggest is part of a marked trail!

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DAUTET
DAUTET

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Be careful in the village where the signposts turn right while the route indicates left.
A tree across the path added some spice to the (all-terrain) hike
Nice ride

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valdeloire17
valdeloire17

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant hike, although part of it is on flat ground (about 2 or 3 km) which is less interesting. However, the marshy section, which makes up at least 80% of the route, is full of charm.

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Camille.cstl
Camille.cstl

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route, except for one section where we had to walk along a busy road.
Otherwise, a very pleasant route, especially in summer

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mitch85
mitch85

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

it is always very pleasant to hike in the marshes, with a particular interest in the port of Arcais

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phbizet
phbizet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An ideal route for a hot Sunday, as it is very shaded and there is water for dogs. A few picnickers add to the bucolic atmosphere at the end of the route. An unsatisfactory explanation at point 7 (white path) led me to take another route, which was nevertheless pleasant and brought me to the campsite. Beautiful houses as you pass through the village.
The day was rounded off nicely with a boat trip and a visit to the local artisans who were open on Sunday. Thank you to them.

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CHENET Marylène
CHENET Marylène

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

an interesting tour for a heritage visit to a small, characteristic village in the Marais region and a pleasant walk through the marshes during the hot weather in May.

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