10 March 2024
In the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park, there is so much to do in summer to enjoy nature and unwind. Bike ride, boat ride, walk… The list is long and here is below the top 12 of the things to do this summer in the Marais poitevin!
Boat trip in the Marais Poitevin
In summer, the stream of canals guide you in the marshes… In the shadows of the ash trees, you will certainly catch a kingfisher on a branch, stalking its next prey… And if you are really quiet, maybe an otter will show up…
To take a break, get out of the boat and go visit the small villages. For those who don’t want to stay on the boat, go meet the merchants at floating markets…
→ GO SPEND A DAY IN A BOAT TRIP!
Car-free nature getaway in the Marais Poitevin
To discover the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park this summer, there’s nothing better than leave your car to explore the lands of the Poitou region by boat, by bike or by foot.
By bike, go on the paths of the Marais poitevin to discover beautiful cities like Coulon or Arçais and ride the marshes! During your rides, the small treasures of the Marais poitevin will come to you: gardens, small harbours, towpaths…
Give yourself some time to discover the wet marsh by boat. Close your eyes and listen to the sound of birds, for a moment of tranquillity. In the Marais poitevin, we leave the car to reconnect with nature!
→ DISCOVER OUR CAR-FREE NATURE ESCAPADE!
Family fishing trip
In summer in the Marais poitevin, try fishing during a sunny day! Here, fishing is sustainable and has a resource-based approach: once they have been captured, fishes are put back in the water.
There are different fishing techniques in the region: square net fishing, fishing with lures, cray-fishing, shell hunting… And to spend some great time with your family or your friends, test the float tube in the wet marshes!
→ DISCOVER OUR ARTICLE AND GO FISHING!
Hiking on the paths of the Marais
Hit the trails of the Marais poitevin by foot or by bike!
Cross the bridges and gateways for a quiet trip along the waterways, in the heart of the forests, or even towards the ocean! Prepare your picnic for a lunch beneath the shade of ash trees, along the waterways: a great day ahead!
→ DISCOVER THE TRAILS OF THE MARAIS POITEVIN!
Electric houseboat in the Marais Poitevin.
Embark on a houseboat for a unique experience in nature, spending the night on the water during a river expedition in the Marais Poitevin. Discover about a hundred kilometers of navigable waterways between the ports of Niort and Marans, along the Sèvre Niortaise and its tributaries, the Canal du Mignon and the Canal de la Vieille-Autise. You will travel on a preserved river, at the heart of a Grand Site of France, within the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park.
Don’t forget your camera to capture the beauty of the landscapes, whether under the bright sun or during sunset.
→ RIVER EXCURSION IN THE MARAIS POITEVIN.
Visiting the typical villages of the Marais poitevin is a must do in summer. With your camera and your hat, lose yourself in those small treasures of the Poitou…
In a boat or by foot, the villages encourage you to stroll in the alleys flourished with hollyhocks. And as background music: bird and hoopoe songs… Have fun with the name of streets, all unusual, then complete your trip with a stop in a café and enjoy your holidays.
→ ENJOY THE INTIMACY OF THE VILLAGES OF THE MARAIS POITEVIN
Surfing on the waves of the Marais Poitevin beaches
The Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park spreads to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing better than enjoying the sea air and trying the different water activities: surfing, stand up paddle boarding, kitesurfing, sailing… You have the choice in the Marais poitevin!
With those activities, you can also enjoy yourselves on the beach or go shell hunting for souvenirs!
→ GO SURFING IN THE MARAIS POITEVIN!
Go discover the cities of the Marais poitevin during a calm summer evening. Whether for a romantic dinner, a drink with friends or just for a quiet stroll to admire the evening lights, the cities of the Marais poitevin are perfect to unwind.
Don’t miss the concerts and exhibitions that can take place in Niort, Fontenay-le-Comte, Luçon or even La Rochelle.
→ DISCOVER THE VILLAGES OF THE MARAIS POITEVIN BY NIGHT!
Summer is also an opportunity to take the paddles and navigate by canoe on the 320 kilometres of marked paths in the Marais poitevin. Be like an explorer for a day with your family or your friends: sensations and laughter guaranteed!
Some of the paths will lead you to the ocean, where you will see cows grazing on the meadows along the waterways: a true nature escapade!
Come and admire the fauna and flora of the Marais poitevin in summer. For animals or nature lovers, during a trip, you will maybe see an otter or a heron on the wild lands of the Marais poitevin… To observe birds, go to the numerous bird sanctuaries of the region.
And if the Rosalia longicorn is heavily present, it’s because the flora of the Marais poitevin attracts insects…
→ GO FIND OTHER NATURE’S TREASURES!
During hot summer days, enjoy a balloon flight to admire the Marais poitevin from above!
Abbey remains, dry and wet marshes, meadows, beaches, forests… So many magnificent landscapes to see for an unforgettable memory!
→ ENJOY THE MARAIS POITEVIN FROM THE SKY!
Family cycling in the Marais Poitevin
In summer, the weather gives you the opportunity to use your bikes in the Marais poitevin! Go with your family or your friends for a bike trip along the marshes or the coastline!
Small village will invite you to lose yourself in the small alleys and stop to drink in a café.
Prepare your picnic and let’s go for a great sunny day!
→ EXPLORE THE MARAIS POITEVIN BY BIKE!
28 April 2021
The Marais poitevin, a highly appreciated tourist destination The Marais poitevin Regional Nature Park is a tourist destination in its own right. Every year, 1,400,000 visitors come to explore this region that’s one of a kind: largest wetland on the Atlantic coast, 8,200km of waterways, 1,000km of dykes, 594 hydraulic structures, 330 bird species, 750 […]
03 May 2024
Coulon in the Marais poitevin The Green Venice is a must see for a successful trip in the Marais poitevin: It’s between its thousands of canals bordered with trees and meadows that you can observe a fauna and a flora in their natural state. This “green cathedral » can be quietly discovered during a boat […]
15 September 2023
Staying on a houseboat in the Marais Poitevin – why not? Indeed, spending the night on the water aboard a boat during a river expedition is an activity you can enjoy in the Marais. Become the captain and explore the Marais Poitevin in a whole new way! It’s easy to do – the agency Au […]
10 April 2023
Located in the heart of the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park, the Green Venice is a must see in your trip in the Marais poitevin. This part of the Marsh is certainly the most attractive part for vacationers coming in Vendée, Charente-Maritime or the Deux-Sèvres. With its canals, its vegetation and its unique atmosphere, it’s […]
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