Surgères walks

A pleasant walk to discover Surgères and its historical heritage, between the Aunis plains and wooded areas, passing through Saint-Germain-de-Marencennes (in the commune of Saint-Pierre-la-Noue) and following the Val de Gères with its remarkable wildlife.

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.

This is a hike to do in autumn, for the colours, or in hot weather, in the shade under the oak trees. Moderator's addition 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.

Short route in the Aunis plain between woods and farmland.

This is an easy walk between the Canal du Mignon and the marshes. Wear good walking or hiking shoes as, depending on the season and how well the banks are maintained, you may encounter tall grass in places or muddy paths.

As you follow this route through the wet marsh, you will discover its unique features, such as the trous de bris (former clay extraction sites used for tile manufacturing until the 1980s), poplar groves and a wide variety of plants and animals.

Located in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-La-Pallud, the start is at a place called Monfaucon in the small car park near the pier. The route begins with a small paved road to the place called La Roche. This start is not the most interesting, but you will quickly forget it as you discover the wild marshland, first along the Vieux Mignon and then the canals, which you follow on a small white gravel path.

The Charras Canal, the Marais du Roy, the Cabane de Moins, walks with little elevation gain (average altitude = 3 m). Between Châtelaillon and Rochefort, a large marsh area provides an opportunity to observe numerous seabirds and migratory birds. A few hills dot the horizon, former islands from Roman times: Voutron, Liron, Flay, Île d'Albe...

During this route, you will discover the village of Vallans and its 11th- and 19th-century Notre-Dame church, the hamlet of Le Petit Village with its fountains, the Château d’Allerit (private) and its dovecote, the hamlet of Fougerit, the Bois des Touches, watered by the Courance, leats, streams, wash houses and fountains.

This route will allow you to discover the rich flora and fauna of the marshes along the white paths, as well as the small protected and restored rural heritage in the heart of the village of Saint-Georges-de-Rex.

Motorhome owners, from the Arcais area, discover the village centre, its port and its famous chain boat for crossing the Sèvre Niortaise.

This loop, starting from Tonnay-Charente, will take you across the Charente river twice via two bridges that are completely closed to motor traffic. You can admire the view from the top of the Tonnay-Charente suspension bridge and explore the quays of its sleepy port.

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

The villages of Vanneau and Irleau are situated in the heart of the Marais Poitevin Interregional Park, within a site designated a “Grand Site de France”. The Marais Poitevin, developed by humans since the 12th century, is one of the richest wetlands on the Atlantic coast.

A short walk along dirt tracks through the marshes and their nutria.

An easy, safe and peaceful round trip walk through the marshes and along the banks of the Sèvre. Whatever the season, you will enjoy the peace and quiet, the flora and fauna, and discover the market gardens and the beautiful local cows. Along the banks of the Sèvre, you can admire the traditional "maraîchines" farmhouses.

Starting from the Garette Leisure Park, you will walk through the heart of the Marais Poitevin, mostly on dirt tracks, to Le Vanneau. After the port of this village, you will cross magnificent vegetable gardens and return to your starting point along creeks, canals and ditches crossed by beautiful, sturdy footbridges. There's no reason why you can't do this route by bike.

In the heart of the Green Venice, you will reach its capital, Coulon, after leaving the village of La Garette. La Garette is one of the most typical villages in the Green Venice. Its 800-metre-long pedestrian street is lined with old fishermen's and farmers' houses. Coulon is a major tourist attraction in the Marais Poitevin, the capital of the "Venise Verte", i.e. its eastern part also known as the "wet marsh", as opposed to the "dry marsh".

Do you enjoy nature and history? You'll love this walk!

From the transporter bridge to the port of Rochefort, a journey back in time. Rochefort was chosen by Louis XIV to re-establish his maritime power. On this route, which runs close to the water in its first section, there is no shortage of reminders of this era: dry docks, the Corderie Royale rope factory, the arsenal and, with a bit of luck, the Hermione...