Exploring the Marais poitevin with children

20 July 2021

There are countless fun activities available for families in the Marais poitevin. Here, children will be delighted to be able to observe the animals, take part in a treasure hunt through the great outdoors or visit a cultural venue, all in the name of fun. Go, explore and encounter the wildlife of the marshland!

Get up close to the animals of the marshland

Visiting an educational farm is a great activity for some quality time as a family. The younger family members will be thrilled to see the friendly Baudet du Poitou donkeys and the adorable farm-reared lambs. You are guaranteed to make some joyful encounters at these small animal parks.

Meet the farm animals

Marans chickens.

Come and meet the animals at the Ferme du Marais Poitevin in Benet, near Coulon, in a village between the plain and wet marshland. The purpose of the captive breeding programmes at the educational farm is to safeguard ancient breeds.

There are several iconic animal species of the Marais Poitevin here such as the Baudet du Poitou donkey, the Poitevin goat, the grey goose of the marshland, pigs and the famous Marans chicken.

In the summer, don’t miss the “little farmer’s workshop” where children can feed the animals. Come on the “mysterious marshland” nature walk with sensory and fun activities along the way, every Wednesday and Sunday.

Visit a donkey farm

At the heart of the Marais Poitevin, Olivier and Christelle will welcome you to “Du Coq à l’Ane”, their donkey farm and soap factory.  On the tour, you’ll be able to meet different breeds of donkeys such as the Baudet du Poitou and see some adorable foals, born the same year.

Feeding the Baudet du Poitou donkeys at the Donkey farm.

They have recently created a mini farm with “Valais Blacknose” sheep and alpacas. Children will be provided with an “adventurer’s booklet” and along with their parents, can explore this peaceful farm where respecting the well-being of the animals is the main priority.

On-site, you can also get a guided tour of the soap factory! Christelle will unveil the secrets of her homemade soap made with donkey milk. Would you prefer to explore the surrounding area? Opt for the “budding tribe” option and accompanied by a donkey, you can follow a 4-km marked trail for 2 hours through the marshland in Saint-Georges-de-Rex.

Admire the birds of the marshland

Follow Momo on a tour of the Park.

At the heart of the Green Venice, there is also an ornithological park with more than 75 different species of birds who have chosen to take up residence in the Marais poitevin. You can easily approach the birds along the shaded footpath that winds around this 8-hectare park.

The Marais poitevin ornithological park is home to all sorts of ducks, swans and geese, as well as herons, peacocks, common cranes, etc. Every Thursday morning, you can come and feed the birds and learn more about them with one of the park’s staff members.

At the small harbour inside the ornithological park, you can rent a rowing boat and access the wilder areas of the Green Venice, with or without a guide. The opportunity to get up close and personal with the flora and fauna of the marshland!

Take part in a connected treasure hunt

If your children are aged between 8 and 12, they will be delighted at the idea of going on a connected treasure hunt, using a smartphone. There are several digital explorations in the Marais Poitevin, that are sure to get them interested in history and heritage sites, while having fun at the same time.

Go on a connected walking tour with Baludik

If you like solving riddles and exploring surprising places, Baludik has some great explorations for you in the Marais Poitevin. These walking tours are designed as trails with an audio guide and a treasure hunt on a particular theme, to explore the Marais Poitevin in a fun and original way.

Baludik tour in Vix: “OZART from vine to marshland”.

With Baludik, there are a dozen of these trails throughout the Marais Poitevin, in Coulon, La Faute-sur-Mer, Triaize, Fontenay-le-Comte, Nieul-sur-l’Autise, Vix and Maillezais…

Go on a treasure hunt with Tèrra Aventura

Set off on a quest to find the Poi’Z!

Tèrra Aventura is a geocaching game across the whole of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, to explore treasures of local heritage, on a quest for the famous little “Poi’Z” characters. But to collect them, you’ll have to solve the riddles that lead you to the treasure!

There are several Tèrra Aventura routes in the Marais Poitevin, and also in Niort and the surrounding area. Here are some easy, family-friendly trails to follow:

• Who stole an egg in Marans (3 km),

• The guardians of the marshland in Saint-Georges-de-Rex (6 km),

• A local of the marshland versus the Bras Rouge ogre in Magné (2.5 km),

How does Tèrra Aventura work?

Visit a cultural venue with children

Is it raining and you’re looking for something to do indoors that the children will enjoy too? Take some time out for a spot of culture and learn about the professions and expertise of bygone days in the Marais poitevin.

The Maison de la Meunerie and the water mill

Follow Pompon, the miller’s cat!

Come and discover the water mill in Nieul-sur-l’Autise, an authentic site that has been in operation since 1728! There is a themed, family-friendly tour of the Maison de la Meunerie called “In the footsteps of the miller”. This tour with sound effects is guided by Suzanne, the miller’s daughter, and her little cat Pompon.

Don’t miss the special demonstration days when you can see the mill in operation, producing traditional flour. Budding little explorers can take part in a special activity for children, “An explanation of the mill for children”, accompanied by their parents. They will be wearing a miller’s blouse and they’ll have the chance to make their very own flour and put it into bags.

The Marais poitevin Briqueterie

In the little town of Grève-sur-Mignon, you can’t miss the brick factory with its tall red brick chimney. The ancient brick factory is characterised by the huge Hoffman kiln, 33 m long and 8 m wide: an invention that revolutionised the terracotta industry in the 19th century.

A scale-model of the kiln allows visitors to take a closer look and learn how the bricks were fired there. The clay used to make the bricks was extracted from the Marais Poitevin. There is also a museum space devoted to eco-responsible housing (tours possible on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons).

Would you like to find out more about the activities organised here throughout the year? Check out our webpage on the events in the Marais poitevin.