The storks of the Marais de Benet as seen from the Village de la Sèvre

Park at the picnic area in the Village de la Sèvre (a hamlet in the commune of Le Mazeau).
To get there: from the centre of Le Mazeau, follow signs for “Embarcardère”. The first sign for “Village de la Sèvre” will be visible at the junction near the jetty.
This picnic area is situated near the footbridge spanning the Sèvre Niortaise.

(S/E) Leave the picnic area and, facing the Sèvre Niortaise, turn left onto the Route des Cabannes (the sign is in the hedge).

(1) Ignore the Chemin des Hectares on the left and carry on straight ahead.

(2) At the next crossroads, turn left onto the Chemin du Lancier. After the bend, the road becomes a grassy track down the middle. You can see the first stork’s nest on the route in the fourth field on your right. 

(3) At the crossroads, carry on straight ahead. The ground may be muddy. About 200 m further on, look out for the second stork’s nest in a poplar tree lining the Chemin du Lancier.

(4) At the junction with the gravel path (Chemin du Pavillon) running alongside the ditch on the right bank, turn right. Do not follow the yellow signpost to the left, which marks another walking route. Continue straight on along this gravel path, ignoring the next path on your right, before joining the road. 

(5) Ignore the bridge on the left and the gravel path opposite marked ‘no entry for vehicles except local residents – 900 m’. Continue along the road, turning right. After the road bridge, immediately on the right you’ll see the third stork’s nest, then a fourth 200 m further on the left, just before the bend in the road. 
Once past the bend, at the end of this straight stretch, you’ll find the largest cluster of stork nests – there are nine in total, two more than in 2024. 

(6) Carry on along the road and, at the next junction, head towards the Sèvre de Benet.

(7) Ignore the dead end on the left and carry on along the Route des Cabanes, turning right.

(2) Carry on straight ahead and, following the route in reverse to the one taken on the way there, head for the picnic area (S/E).

This walk across varied terrain requires suitable footwear.
This route, which presents no navigational difficulties, is not signposted, but may cross other signposted routes. Consequently, it is advisable to follow the instructions in the route description and on the map, whilst also paying attention to the landscape. Distance indications from the starting point, or even the GPS coordinates of waypoints (including the start), can also help the walker find their way.
Hike completed by the author on 20 March 2025.

Benet.
The Church of Saint Eulalie: a masterpiece of Romanesque and later Poitevin Gothic art.

The ‘Circuit des Peux’: a charming walking route lasting around an hour, following the ‘peux’ (a local expression meaning ‘path leading up to’) from the Place du Champ de Foire. Thanks to the information boards dotted along the route, you’ll learn about the history of this small town, with its medieval garden, the remains of the 12th-century castle and the Church of Saint Eulalie.