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Marans walks
Marans Maritime Canal
Association / Club / Walk leader
7.95 mi
+10 ft
-10 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from Charron (Charente-Maritime)
Walk along the navigable canal from the Sèvre Niortaise estuary to the Port of Marans. Western part of the Marais Poitevin where you can observe many species of seabirds, varying according to the seasons.
Montreuil Marsh Trail
Tourism professional
5.57 mi
+7 ft
-10 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Montreuil, in the 85 department, situated between the plains and the marshes, was once located on the shores of the Gulf of Pictons, hence its name Montreuil-sur-Mer until 1945. The commune consists of a market town and four hamlets. Thefirst part of this trail follows small roads and runs alongside three old ports where there are small jetties that once provided access by boat to the cultivated plots: these are the ports of Baude (the most visible), Écoué and, finally, Fraigneau.
The trail is marked in yellow.
Circular route around the Étier du Marais d’Écoué, starting from Baude
5.89 mi
+7 ft
-10 ft
2h 45
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Starting from the Baude de Montreuil municipal trail, the walk leads into the commune of Vix. The outward and return journeys follow the embankment between the drained marshes of Vix and the wet marshes of Baude. Part of the route follows the path that crosses the drained marshes, protected by the Écoué dyke or embankment
North-west of Marsilly
6.16 mi
+69 ft
-69 ft
2h 55
Easy
Departure from Marsilly (Charente-Maritime)
Discover Marsilly, a small seaside town with its golf course, ostrich farm, oyster huts and fortified church.
Around the hamlet of Grandes Rivières
Visorando Member3.52 mi
+551 ft
-423 ft
2h 05
Easy
Departure from Dompierre-sur-Mer (Charente-Maritime)
Walk around the hamlet of Grandes Rivières. This route is accessible in both summer and winter. Almost 90% of this route is in the countryside.
There are a few possible variations at point (4), where there are three parallel paths, and at point (8), where you can continue along the street and then turn right to cross the hamlet of Grandes Rivières. Then turn right at the end of the hamlet and take Rue Monplaisir back to the starting point.
Massigny circular route via the Auzay marshes and Les Gazettes
5.54 mi
+13 ft
-13 ft
2h 35
Easy
Departure from Le Poiré-sur-Velluire (Vendée)
A circular route partly along the Vendée river, passing through the Marais d’Auzay: a mix of flatlands and marshland!
Tour of Dompierre West
7.01 mi
+98 ft
-105 ft
3h 20
Moderate
Departure from Dompierre-sur-Mer (Charente-Maritime)
Discover the small hamlets of Dompierre-sur-Mer and the Marans Canal in La Rochelle.
Courçon via the forest
4.42 mi
+102 ft
-98 ft
2h 05
Easy
Departure from Courçon (Charente-Maritime)
Courçon is situated in the Marais Poitevin Regional Park; its Romanesque-style church was built at the end of the 11th century.
The battlements are merely decorative; they were added at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Croix des Marys and the Bazoin locks
4.73 mi
+10 ft
-10 ft
2h 10
Easy
Departure from La Ronde (Charente-Maritime)
This is a short loop in the Marais Poitevin, starting at the Croix des Marys and following the Mignon canal before returning along the Sèvre Niortaise.Please note: read the comments in the Practical Information section
Discovering Montreuil’s heritage
4.77 mi
+56 ft
-52 ft
2h 15
Easy
Departure from Montreuil (Vendée) (Vendée)
Montreuil has preserved some traces of its past, including its Romanesque church, the courtyard gate, the Écoué porch, the homes of local dignitaries, wells, and so on. Its landscape of plains and marshes invites you to explore. The town was known as Montreuil-sur-mer until 1945, due to its former location on the edge of the Gulf of Pictons. The former gulf is now occupied by the Marais Poitevin, hence this woodcarving of a heron taking flight, the bird emblematic of wetlands. It is accompanied by the names of the hamlets within the commune: Écoué, Baude, Fraigneau.
Around Auchay-sur-Vendée
7.19 mi
+92 ft
-92 ft
3h 25
Moderate
Departure from Auzay (Vendée)
Starting from the Eiffel-style bridge linking Auzay to Chaix (now merged into the commune of Auchay-sur-Vendée).
This route through lush countryside (steep, wooded hillsides, vast fields and meadows) will take you to the Moulin de la Boissière (in the commune of Velluire-sur-Vendée) before reaching the banks of the Vendée at the Massigny Dam.
Around the Marais Boutin in Bazoin
3.26 mi
+7 ft
-7 ft
1h 30
Easy
Departure from La Ronde (Charente-Maritime)
A peaceful walk in the Marais Poitevin along the banks of the canals and the Sèvre Niortaise, where you will pass beautiful houses with blue shutters typical of the region.
Circular path in the wet marshes of Doix-lès-Fontaines
7.03 mi
+16 ft
-16 ft
3h 15
Easy
Departure from Doix (Vendée)
An easy hike that takes you along the levees created four centuries ago by man to protect the drained marshes from river flooding. You will walk through a landscape entirely created by man, with plantations of pollarded or topped ash trees and rows of trees (poplars) lining the canals.We are in the wet marsh: the route may be impassable in late autumn and winter on a small section. (see practical information).
Benon North Forest
5.64 mi
+98 ft
-98 ft
2h 40
Easy
Departure from Benon (Charente-Maritime)
A walk best enjoyed in autumn for the colours, or in hot weather, in the shade of the oak trees.Moderator’s note added on 23/08/2021: Private property at the start of this route. See the comments at the bottom of this page for an alternative starting point
⚠️ 15 June 2026: description updated to indicate a start from the carpool area (1).
Le Morillon - Le Chêne Vert
6.29 mi
+49 ft
-49 ft
2h 55
Moderate
Departure from Périgny (Charente-Maritime) (Charente-Maritime)
Walk along the slopes of the valley floor that feeds the Moulinette stream via surface runoff.
Between land and sea: from Lagord to L’Houmeau and Nieul-sur-Mer
9.63 mi
+105 ft
-98 ft
4h 30
Moderate
Departure from Lagord (Charente-Maritime)
The appeal of this walk lies in the diversity of ecosystems encountered: high ground with sweeping views over the towns north of La Rochelle; marshes – the Gâtineau marshes and the Pampin marshes – frequented by numerous species of birds; the coastline, its cliffs, its oyster beds and the charming little port of Le Plomb with its footbridge.
Chassagné - Pommerou
6.98 mi
+52 ft
-52 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from La Jarne (Charente-Maritime)
Discover Pommerou, a charming little village, tucked away in the Aunis countryside, off the beaten track, yet well worth a visit. Here you can admire a few old Charente-style houses, tastefully restored.
Stroll through La Rochelle
2.28 mi
+23 ft
-23 ft
1h 05
Easy
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
A very pleasant stroll through the streets of La Rochelle will allow you to discover the old town and all its charms.
In the footsteps of Georges Simenon in La Rochelle
4.14 mi
+20 ft
-23 ft
1h 55
Easy
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
Take a stroll through La Rochelle, passing by the iconic locations featured in Simenon's novels. This literary tour will also give you a glimpse of La Rochelle's most interesting sights. From the station, pass by the Café de la Paix where he was a regular, the bourgeois streets of Réaumur and L'Escale where his heroes live, the La Genette district where he lived, and other places.
Discovering La Jarne
6.13 mi
+62 ft
-62 ft
2h 50
Easy
Departure from La Jarne (Charente-Maritime)
Discover a small village near La Rochelle. The Aunis countryside on the city’s doorstep!
Encan - Chef de Baie
7.87 mi
+30 ft
-30 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
Discover the seaside in La Rochelle. From the new Maritime Museum, through the Old Port, the Parks, the Casino and Port Neuf, to Chef de Baie beach. A blend of history, greenery and human activity.
This is La Rochelle: "Beautiful and Rebellious"!
Frace Lake in Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis
6.81 mi
+46 ft
-46 ft
3h 10
Moderate
Departure from Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis (Charente-Maritime)
A beautiful walk along Frace Lake, which is popular for fishing and walking, and on through the little town of Aigrefeuille-d'Aunis, where you can visit the Ouchettes cheese dairy and goat farm.
Chemin de Pampin
6.12 mi
+66 ft
-43 ft
2h 50
Moderate
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
A beautiful walk along the Charente coastline, between Pointe de la Répentie and Port du Plomb. Beautiful views of the Île de Ré bridge, the northern shore of the island and the Vendée coast, separated by the Pertuis Breton.
From the Ile de Ré bridge to Nieul-sur-Mer
10.20 mi
+135 ft
-105 ft
4h 50
Moderate
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
The first part of the route takes you along the coastal trail with a section around the outskirts of the small ports of Lauzières and Plomb.
Small viewing points are scattered along the route giving you the chance to observe the Pertuis Breton and the Ile de Ré and its bridge.
The return leg takes you around the outskirts of the Nieul-Sur-Mer communes and then L'Houmeau.
La Rochelle - Esnandes circular loop
33.96 mi
+174 ft
-171 ft
4 hrs
Moderate
Departure from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime)
La Rochelle, Esnandes, La Rochelle circular tour along the Aiguillon bay, then return via the Canal de Marans.
Aytré Beach - Les Minimes
6.64 mi
+23 ft
-23 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from Aytré (Charente-Maritime)
A seaside walk to discover Port des Minimes: the Atlantic's leading marina.
Please note that it is forbidden to approach the edge of the cliffs.
Urban circular in Fontenay le Comte
6.93 mi
+112 ft
-131 ft
3h 15
Moderate
Departure from Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée)
A superb hike that allows you to discover some of the town centre's attractions and trails, mostly along the Vendée, before returning along a small stream and then an old railway line. There is little elevation gain, making it a very easy route.
From Orbrie along the Vendée
6.96 mi
+577 ft
-597 ft
3h 40
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
A lovely circular walk along the River Vendée and through the Mervent Forest. This circular walk will take you to the Mervent Dam, following part of the Mélusine GRP®.
Around Pissotte
6.83 mi
+413 ft
-410 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Pissotte (Vendée)
A relatively easy hike with an initial open section along the Vendée towards Fontenay-le-Comte, then back along an old disused railway line. The second section begins with a crossing of vineyards, then immediately enters the forest with paths and trails.
The Mervent Dam
6.78 mi
+486 ft
-476 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
Circular route through the forest, passing through rolling meadows, then along the Vendée to the dam and the lake shore, on paths and trails that are sometimes a little steep but pleasant in all seasons.
The Hermit's Fountain Trail
3.67 mi
+184 ft
-180 ft
1h 50
Difficult
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
Starting from the Fontaine-à-l'Ermite roundabout, the trail joins the lake shore and then follows the left bank of the Vendée river up to the Perrure bridge, before climbing up to the Allée de la Fontaine à l'Ermite, which will take you back to the starting point.
Please note that the trail is uneven and involves climbing over rocks along the Vendée.
Le Jaulard and La Fontaine à l'Ermite in the Mervent Forest
5.89 mi
+459 ft
-453 ft
3h 05
Moderate
Departure from L'Orbrie (Vendée)
A circular route that takes you off the beaten track in the heart of the Mervent State Forest, suitable for all seasons. Shortcuts are possible. The GPX track can be very useful.
More walks in Marans
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