The Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park Inspirations Across the River
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Le Parc naturel régional du Marais poitevin The Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park Inspirations across the river... My roadbook A new life starts right here mook-PNR-2020_GB_v2.indd 1 26/11/2020 11:29 16 Tables of contents Inspirations across the river 4 Editorial 7 Three landscapes for one unique Marais poitevin The coastline 8 Between ocean and fresh water… 10 On the beaches, shellfish and crustaceans 11 Between land and sea, the tidal marsh 12 The Aiguillon Bay, France’s largest mussel growing area 13 Naturally wild The dry marshes and the valley of the Lay 14 Discovering infinite spaces 16 Mosaic of crops and meadows 17 Following in the footsteps of the monk builders 18 Here, cities are surprising you… 19 The villages of the Valley of the Lay: Between legends and history 20 Tales of water 21 The commons, sources of unimaginable resources The Green Venice 22 The Green Venice, a delicate combination of water and plants 24 The Green Venice, a cathedral of greenery 26 Warning: generous nature! 28 The charm of the marshland villages 30 Three harbours, three cities with a rich heritage. P. 3 mook-PNR-2020_GB_v2.indd 2-3 26/11/2020 11:29 Valeurs Parc naturel régional Editorial LOOK OUT FOR THE As a natural space where nature meets mankind, the Marais RIGHT PLACES! poitevin is home of many secrets. Who can guess the multiplicity of its landscapes, besides the Green Venice? The size of the Regional The “Valeurs Parc naturel régional” locates Natural Park? Who knows that its environment and heritage are the hosts, visitation sites, boatmen, guides for bicycle rides, producers and artisans thus preserved? that are committed to respect the values of the Natural Park. They all work for Visiting this territory becomes a unique experience. Whether you sustainable development and welcome start an adventure on the roads and pathways of the coastline, you at any time… cross the dry marshes, walking down the towpaths or the alleys of the villages, or even canoe on a small canal, you will discover Looking for many different environments and unique landscapes with their activities, artisans, own fauna and flora. sites or hosts with the label “Valeurs When you travel to the marsh, you also meet the authenticity of Parc naturel régional”? Then, a territory, its inhabitants, and most importantly those who are flash this code with committing to welcome all onlookers in this extravagant nature. your smartphone. Enjoy the mysteries of a journey to an unforgettable experience. FOR MORE INFORMATION… About our actions pnr.parc-marais-poitevin.fr Pierre-Guy Perrier, President of the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park About our trips Vice-President of the Pays de la Loire Regional Council www.parc-marais-poitevin.fr/en Discovering a Regional Natural Park… In France, the Regional Natural Parks are the symbols of noteworthy, emblematic, populated and fragile spaces. They are places where villages and cities team-up for a project to preserve and enhance nature and, thus, allow a good quality of life. It is the very heart of the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park’s mission. P. 4 P. 5 mook-PNR-2020_GB_v2.indd 4-5 26/11/2020 11:30 Three landscapes for one unique Marais poitevin I was recently intrigued by a friend of mine who asserted that the Aiguillon Bay was part of the Marais poitevin. As a lover of nature and Atlantic coastlines, I wanted to learn more about it… So, I decided to go to that ideal natural place. But where to start this adventure? Should I choose the beaches, the Green Venice, or even the cities? I opted for an initiatory journey that would allow me to Luçon stroll along the water and learn how this unique territory has been designed over the centuries… y a L e Fontenay- h T le-Comte Largest wet area on the Atlantic coast The dry 8,200 kilometres of waterways La Tranche- marshes and sur-Mer the valley 330 bird species of the Lay 750 plant species 22 common marshes for a total area of 2.100 ha ise Niort a 1,000 kilometres of dams vre The coastline e Sè Niort Th 594 hydraulic structures Baie de Marans The Green l’Aiguillon Venice 3 LABELS : Marais poitevin regional natural park, “Grand Site de France”, European Destination of Excellence. T h e Mauzé-sur- C u le-Mignon ré Smooth great escapes Île La Rochelle Wanderings by bike to reach the coast de Ré and its numerous aspects. Walks in the typical alleys or on the towpaths. Boat rides by punt, canoe or even paddle to explore the mysteries of the Green Venice. Baudet du Poitou donkey rides to discover at your pace the Limits of the Regional Natural Park riches of this territory, as fragile as it is unique… Everything pushes the traveller The coastline (P.9 to 13) Find all the new trips recommended Here, some treasure hunts… to let the turmoil behind him and get The dry marshes and the valley of the Lay (P.15 to 21) by the Marais poitevin Regional Register on into calm activities that respect The Green Venice (P.23 to 30) Natural Park on baludik.fr www.terra-aventura.fr the environment. P. 6 P. 7 mook-PNR-2020_GB_v2.indd 6-7 26/11/2020 11:31 The coastline Between ocean and fresh water… The Aiguillon bay is a magic place, rocked by the seasons, that already offers me different sights depending on the hours of the day. The atmospheres and the lights change with the tides. At high tide, the waves lick the seafront dam that protects the inhabitants. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? At low tide, you can discover vast extents. That is when birds come to get food. Let’s cycle… A wonderful time to observe them easily, even the rarest… La Vélo Francette®, a long-distance cycling route stretching from Normandy to the Atlantic coast, through the Marais poitevin, from Niort to La Rochelle. La Vélodyssée, a long-distance cycling route stretching from Norway to Portugal, offers you another perspective on 85 kilometres of trails from Longeville-sur-Mer to La Rochelle. OUR FAV URITE! Cycling with your family, in the heart of the marshes, in an environment between land and sea. P. 8 P. 9 mook-PNR-2020_GB_v2.indd 8-9 26/11/2020 11:32 — The coastline — LET’S TASTE… WHERE SHOULD WE GO? Shellfish and crustaceans! Strolling at the Aiguillon-sur-Mer harbour. On the beaches, A small, picturesque harbour with its wooden Between the sky and the sea, at low tide, discover the beach fishery… while respecting the rules. stilts. At low tide, a walk along the dam at the shellfish and A naturalist guide, who is also a fishing instructor, cape offers you a beautiful vantage point on will show you how to fish on the best spots. the mudflats and the birds. Cap Pêche et nature + 33 (0)6 75 85 56 43 crustaceans Taking your time at the Arçay Cape… www.cap-peche-et-nature.fr This 6-kilometre-long peninsula is building up in rhythm with the tides, bringing each WHAT SHOULD WE DO? time new sediments. This place is shared with Enjoy the waves and the wind. mudflats, salty meadows, dunes and forests. From La Tranche-sur-Mer to L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, It is a true open-sky paradise where through La Faute or Longeville-sur-Mer, biodiversity reigns supreme. a beautiful place for activities like surfing, Free guided tours in July and August. Sud Vendée kite surfing, wake boarding, knee boarding and Littoral Tourist Office +33 (0)2 51 56 37 37 sailing is waiting for you… Between land Having a breath of fresh air Kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle… and sea, at the Saint-Clément Cape! Travel along the coastlines in complete peace. On this place, a magnificent panorama of And on the long sandy beaches, more fun the Aiguillon Bay is waiting for you. activities are waiting for you. the tidal marsh A promontory with an orientation table shows you the places surrounding you: the Ré Island, Fish in a plaice in Esnandes! Aiguillon-sur-Mer, Saint-Michel-en-l’Herm… When you arrive, the water seems so far. GPS coordinates: 46°18’15.70’’N / 1°12’24.48’’O Just a moment to settle down – and have a picnic – and here comes the ocean. On the menu tonight: small soles, mullets, Let’s leave the beaches to reach the Aiguillon Bay, basses and shrimps… that grow in the mudflats. one of the most prestigious ecological units in France. Reserve with the association Esnandis – “Maison de At low tide, you can discover the mudflats, rich in la baie du Marais Poitevin” + 33 (0)5 46 01 34 64 maison-baiemaraispoitevin.fr phytoplankton, which is the food base of shellfish and crustaceans, the latter being the food base of bords Wooded dunes, kilometres of white sand… the and fish. coastline of the Vendée and Charente-Maritime The highest tides cover its salty meadows – or departments is one of the most well-known and “mizottes” as we call them here – colonised by an busiest, with its largest beaches and its sunshine. exceptional flora. Dams separate them from the A coastline that impresses, a place to relax and WHAT SHOULD WE DO? agricultural polders. Visit the Saint-Martin Church in Esnandes. contemplate this exceptional nature, or to get Fortified between the 12th and the 14th century, active! it reveals a breath-taking view on the Aiguillon OUR FAV URITE! Bay. Take this opportunity to visit the “Maison de la Baie” or House of the Bay (see p.