Saint-georges-de-rex, Deux-Sèvres, Poitou-Charentes

This walk allows you to discover the heart of the Marais de Saint-Georges de Rex. You will stroll through the numerous conches, cross beautiful bridges and discover the fauna and flora of the Marais Poitevin during this 6 km loop. Have a good walk and remember that you are not alone on the paths you will take. We invite you to respect nature: avoid picking flowers and plants, do not leave any rubbish behind, respect inhabited areas, stay on the paths, keep dogs on a lead.

This course is part of the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station. This course will allow you to reach the authentic villages of Saint-Georges-de-Rex with its church and its fairground as well as the village of Vanneau-Irleau, a characteristic village of the Marais Poitevin. A route that will give you wings! -> The route is currently unmarked (but can be done using the On Piste mobile application)

The village, located in the limestone plain, overlooks a small preserved marsh. It is certainly one of the oldest market gardening settlements. Thanks to the sale by candlelight of part of the communal marsh and with the stones of the old sanctuary, a new building was constructed by the Niort architect Bergeron from 1881 to 1882. Partly acquired by the Conservatoire Régional des Espaces Naturels de Poitou-Charentes, the marshes of Saint-Georges-de-Rex and Amuré present two major ecosystems: 40 ha of wooded islands of ash trees to the west and 125 ha of wet meadows to the east. The flagship species of this confetti are the marsh euphorbia, the ophioglossus buttercup, the marsh fern, the marsh copper (butterfly), the Alpine rosalia (insect), the genet and the European otter.

All the cycle routes in the Deux-Sèvres Marais Poitevin have the same markings. On these markers (wooden beams with a turquoise plate), are indicated the numbers of the circuits in black. Here, follow the Number 3. The circuits are marked out in both directions, there is no specific starting point, you can start your walk wherever you like. Be careful, the small paths can be used by motorized vehicles. Safety instructions - Wearing a helmet is highly recommended. I ride on the right. I respect the rules of the road. I check the condition of my bike (brakes and lighting). I stay on the marked paths. I respect the marsh, a sensitive and classified site.

From the martin pêcheur pier on the road from Damvix to Arçais, in Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud, cover around 15 km of the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park and get to know the wild marshlands. You can also discover the landscape by boat (a flat boat), in the biefs, gullies and conches. The route takes in parts of PR loops. Please note that some sections are liable to flooding in wet weather. This route is proposed by the Comité Régional de Randonnée Pédestre. Departing from a station or TER bus stop, it allows you to join a walking or hiking itinerary, and to take an ecomobility trip!

Departure: the church square. Distance: 23 km. Duration: 2h. Safety instructions - Wearing the helmet is strongly recommended. I roll on the right. I respect the rules of the road. I check the condition of my bike (brakes and lighting). I stay on marked trails. I respect the marsh, sensitive and classified site.

Discover the Marais sauvage by bike, an exceptional place rich in fauna and flora!

This short stroll will take you to the heart of the village of Arçais. Typical of the Marais Poitevin, it has many treasures. Enjoy this walk at your own pace, guided by the audio commentary or simply strolling through the narrow streets. Nice discovery and don't forget that you are not alone on the paths you are going to take. We invite you to respect the environment and the inhabitants and not to leave any trace of your passage. This route was created by the Tourist Office in partnership with the elected representatives of the commune of Arçais and in collaboration with the mediation service of the Regional Natural Park of the Marais Poitevin. Photo credits: PNR Marais Poitevin Scripting and texts : Lauriane Angibaud and Amandine Louveau, Niort Marais Poitevin Tourism Voice : Mathilde Cornuau, Niort Marais Poitevin Tourisme -> Unmarked itinerary

This course is part of the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station. This course will lead you in a corner of the marsh where the frequentation is less strong than on other places. You have the possibility of discovering two villages with a natural zone arranged: the Ornithological Park. Do not hesitate to stop and refuel in the village of Saint-Hilaire-La-Palud which represents well the preserved and quiet rural France. Beware of the endurance course where the mind will have to be pumped up to avoid the changes in the terrain! -> Course currently unmarked (but achievable with the mobile application On Piste)

The route I propose is relatively simple to follow. It's a 6 km loop, starting and finishing at the same place: the port of Vanneau. If you have a river map of the Marais Poitevin, you'll find it even easier to follow the signs, thanks to the square wooden posts (with location numbers) at many intersections. It's possible to follow the route in any direction, but my detailed directions below are in the "Bief du Vanneau" direction first. This canoe/kayak itinerary will take you along the main conches of this part of the marsh and allow you to discover the area?s major points of interest: the Vanneau harbour, its footbridge and communal gardens, the large La Garette channel, the Belette rope and its market garden houses?

I'll be waiting for you at Nathalie's to take you on a traditional boat tour of the Venise Verte (Green Venice), despite the fact that we're on a jetty, I'm the one taking you on a boat tour! Are you ready to discover the Marais Sauvage? Lunch will be a local picnic. Get your taste buds ready! Then it's time to get on the bike and head for the land of donkeys. After a few kilometers, we'll stop off at Quentin's Parc Du Coq à l'âne. This place helps to preserve the Baudet du Poitou. With an exceptional and unique show, we enter the donkey enclosure. Ready for a cuddle? Not even Park visitors are this lucky! After the presentation of this great animal, we walk towards the soap factory to join Christelle. Can you smell it? That's the smell of soap. Those fumes, Madame, but also Monsieur.

Original Vélo Tour has been offering guided gourmet bike rides throughout the Marais Poitevin and Vendée since 2017. Off the beaten track or on cycle paths, our 1h30 Bike Escapades or Discovery Days offer discoveries of fauna, flora, local producers and little-known heritage. Find out more about our experiences at www.originalvelotour.fr Original Vélo Tour has been awarded the Qualité Tourisme and Valeurs Parc Naturel Régional du Marais Poitevin labels since 2019.

In the classified site of the Marais poitevin, welcome to the "Green Venice", eco-labelled campsite with heated outdoor pool. Tent, caravan and motorhome pitches; rental of eco-lodges, mobile homes and chalets (120 pitches including 27 rentals). Direct access to the canals of the marsh (rental of canoes and paddles): nature reveals its riches! Entertainment in high season. Grocery store.

An address in Coulon, the emblematic village of Green Venice where hospitality, friendliness and comfort have been recognized for 25 years! 3 single-storey rooms with direct views of the marsh, located on circuit 19 of the Vélo Francette. Approval "Accueil Vélo" (garage available). Heated swimming pool from May 15 to September 30. Mini-fridge in every room. Welcome to the Reeds!

Embark on a nature holiday! Come and enjoy a unique experience at Le Marais Sauvage*** campsite in Le Mazeau, where nature and a change of scenery meet in the magnificent setting of the Marais Poitevin. Soak up the essence of this exceptional natural site and discover a new way to spend your holidays, in harmony with the environment and enriched by human contact. Ideally located, designed for lovers of nature and outdoor activities, and ecologically committed, we offer you a campsite on a human scale, simple and friendly. Our campsite has 54 spacious, grassy bare pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, a vintage caravan for stopover travellers and two "Tiny Houses" where you can try out "Glamping". And because 'nature' doesn't mean no comfort, you'll find all the services you need in our family-run establishment: - A bar, grocery shop and restaurant serving home-made galettes and crêpes in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere; - Free, unlimited wifi throughout the campsite; - A laundry / nursery; - Play area; - A service area; - Bread and pastries available every morning; - Fridge hire... With the "Qualidog" label, your pet's stay is free of charge. Just a short walk from the campsite, the Venise Verte pier and Original Vélo Tour offer guided and unguided tours of our wonderful Marais Poitevin. Partner of the Fédération Française des Associations et Clubs de camping-cars (FFACCC): 10% discount on all pitches except July and August.

You can discover this area through the work of the artists exhibiting at the old dairy (2.5 km), the cycle paths of the Vélo Francette (3.2 km) and Maillezais Abbey (9.4 km). You can also enjoy a nature excursion around the Mervent forest (35 km), as well as visiting the beaches and town of La Rochelle (53 km). The house comprises a kitchen, a living room with open fireplace, three bedrooms (each with 2 single beds, 2 twin beds and 1 double bed), a shower room, a separate toilet and a laundry area. The accommodation is on one level, but has internal steps. Outside, you will enjoy an unenclosed wooded plot with garden furniture, barbecue and deckchairs, and a parking space shared with the owners where you can park 2 cars (plug available for recharging electric vehicles). You will also have access to the owners' meadow, where you can watch hens roaming freely. The land is surrounded by canals, so you can enjoy a fishing spot and sail in the marsh using a boat, canoe and kayak. This gîte is next to the owners' accommodation and adjoins a house. Heating, beds made on arrival and towels included. Optional: End-of-stay cleaning: €60/stay. Additional charge: Tourist tax.

Côté Ouest is semi-detached accommodation located in the heart of the Marais Poitevin in a beautiful residence, with a living room/kitchen, bathroom and toilet on the ground floor. Upstairs, two bedrooms, shower room and wc. There is a large garden with a lounge and barbecue, so you can make the most of the pleasant outdoors. Bikes and canoes are available for unforgettable walks in the Marais Poitevin. 1h15 from Puy du Fou 1h15 from the beaches 45 minutes from La Rochelle

Motorhome service area, with 16 pitches, located 400m from the village centre with all amenities. You're in the heart of the Marais Poitevin, facing the Sèvre Niortaise. You can take advantage of the Grenouille Bleue jetty for a stroll through the Venise Verte. Many restaurants offer quality cuisine.

A trendy boutique hotel with a minimalist design. Bedrooms with small terrace. Buffet breakfast available with homemade jams and cakes.

Gîte in former stables, adjoining the owner's accommodation and another gîte (L'Oiseleur), on an enclosed 1,200 m² property, located in the market town of Damvix, in the heart of the Marais Poitevin, directly overlooking the Conche des Oisilliers (small private waterway), close to the Sèvre Niortaise and the Damvix Embarcadère. Ground floor: living room/kitchen (wood-burning stove), shower room/WC, 2 bedrooms (1 x 160cm bed) (2 x 90cm beds). Baby facilities. Wifi internet access. Connected television. Terrace overlooking the Conche des Oisiliers and adjoining shaded green area with deckchairs. Petanque court shared by the 2 gîtes. Car parking. Boats, canoes and pedal boats available free of charge at all times (2 boats, 2 canoes, 1 pedal boat), with life jackets and maps. Garden furniture, deckchairs, barbecue. Fishing on site. Local shops (bakery, mini-market, butcher, chemist, doctor). Public swimming pool open on summer afternoons at Benet (13km). Lake Xanton Chassenon 19 km away. Festival des épouvantails (scarecrow festival) in Damvix all summer (3km walking trail with scarecrows). Options: End-of-stay cleaning: €60/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 people: €12/stay; Towel hire: €8/pers/stay. In addition: 2023 geothermal heating package (radiator in bedrooms and bathroom and underfloor heating in living room): €10 per day to be paid directly to the owner. Geothermal heating included in 2024 rates. Tourist tax. Wood for the stove (for amenity purposes): €70/stove.

Cited in 989, St-Georges-de-Rex is one of the oldest vegetable villages. Settled in the plain, it dominates a small swamp and develops between a priory and a castle. Its restored harbour and wash-houses provide a continuous link with the nearby marsh. Far from tourist flows, the marsh of St-Georges-de-Rex is one of the most authentic, between islets of ash trees and wet meadows and remains one of the great sanctuaries of flora and faunistics of the Green Venice. To be seen: port of St-Georges-de-Rex, circuit of discovery of wash houses, St-Georges church and its 17th century tabernacle, vestiges of the seigneurial residence and the Renaissance house of Lombardy (private), remains of the Prioral mill (private), tower-pigeon house, communal heritage site (small rural heritage and orchard to the old pedagogical), vineyard huts, Pond of Pounivelle and Asinerie-savonnerie "From Coq to Ane".

The Saint-Georges-de-rex Laundromat is a journey through time reminiscent of the convivial places where the village’s women met exclusively to rinse their clothes and chat. The wash house of the Grande Fontaine, located in the village on the street of the same name, is fed by a spring with a fountain and located along the road. Its open pit basin is quadrangular and a cut section to fit the plot and road.

The Saint-Georges-de-rex Laundromat is a journey through time reminiscent of the convivial places where the village’s women met exclusively to rinse their clothes and chat. Behind the church, in the street of the same name, the wash house of the Panification, restored in 1993 as part of the Great Works of the Marais Poitevin, is powered by a source and consists of a polygonal open pit to adapt to the site configuration, a washroom sidewalk sheltered by a shed roof. Its name is due to a former dairy cooperative located nearby (use of milk in bread making instead of water, thus bringing more richness to the products, colours the crust while making it melting, participates in the mellow of the crumb and activates the fermentation thanks to the sugars it contains).

The Saint-Georges-de-rex Laundromat is a journey through time reminiscent of the convivial places where the village’s women met exclusively to rinse their clothes and chat. In the village and in the footpath of the same name, the Reverend Wash House is a polygonal open air pool fed by a spring and located in a property.

Professional beekeeper, I am installed since 2017 in the heart of the Marais poitevin, on the small town of St-Georges-de-Rex. My bees here enjoy a wide variety of flowers in the spring, allowing me to produce honey, fresh pollen, as well as royal jelly on a small portion of them. The months of May and June are punctuated by the transhumances of the hives to other flowering areas, such as acacias and chestnuts. Early July saw the return of the colonies that would slowly produce summer flower honey, allowing them to begin a well-deserved rest. While enjoying the honeys, we will then enjoy this beautiful journey that offers us our wandering foragers.

The Saint-Georges-de-rex Laundromat is a journey through time reminiscent of the convivial places where the village’s women met exclusively to rinse their clothes and chat. In the village, Richebert’s wash-house, whose water ennobled the castle’s moat, is a rectangular open-air pool fed by the stream of the same name through a reservoir. The nearby small hold served as a watering hole for the cattle.

The port of Saint-Georges-de-Rex is not the only one to have been built on the edge of a hillside. The harbour and its canal (the rigole de Rimonboeuf) which were dug out in the limestone between 1850 and 1870 in order to bring the mooring stage closer to the village and the little market town closer to the 150 hectares of marshes, are linked to the canal of Chail and the Grande Rigole of La Garette, towards Coulon, Marans or Niort. It is composed of a paved mooring stage with a gentle slope, quays in cut stone with two access points and a high stone spillway which helps to keep water in the harbour. The natural harbour has been restored as part of the Great Works of the Marais Poitevin.

Come and relax and eat at the picnic area of the commune of Saint-Georges-de-Rex, located at the Marais de St-Georges (on the Marais circuit).

It is a "pocket" of wet marshland on the edge of a limestone plain and hemmed by a border of bocage. It is located in the eastern part of the Marais Poitevin, on its southern edge. Its main axis is made up of the large gully of Port Goron and the Amuré gully. It is made up of two groups: 125 hectares of bocage marshland to the east and 40 hectares of wooded islets to the west. Its ecosystem is varied: wet meadows, megaphorbia (tall grasses on wet peat) with meadows, sedge meadows (rugged grass) and ash woodland. It is inhabited by marsh spurge, ophioglossus buttercup, marsh fern; marsh copper, alpine rosalie; genet and European otter. [More information on the PDF file]

Come and relax and eat at the picnic area of the commune of Amuré in Port Goron.

Let yourself succumb to the pleasure of the table at MaraiSnack, the restaurant at "Du Coq à l'Âne". Enjoy a shady terrace with a cozy atmosphere, reflecting the human warmth of Chef Olivier’s dishes! Our restaurant is 100% accessible to both visitors and non-visitors of the Park. A heart kitchen that Olivier the Chef offers you with pleasure under his shaded terrace of 100 m2. Let yourself be tempted by the ice cream with donkey’s milk or by the eel-fries house, um a treat! Local, fresh and seasonal products, our restaurant team offers you quality dishes and desserts to discover during your stay!

With 10 years' experience in the restaurant business, our chef has drawn inspiration from all over the world, harmoniously synthesizing the familiar and the unknown to create bold, refined flavors. When we arrived in Saint-Georges-de-Rex, we decided to name the restaurant Le Rexois after the inhabitants of this beautiful village, because we were welcomed with open arms and felt immediately at home. The restaurant is 100% home-made with local produce. From appetizer boards to salads, from local dishes to burgers accompanied by homemade cocktails!

A traditional restaurant where it's good to stop for a break in the company of owners Angie and David GRASLIN! In addition to eating, the restaurant also serves as a bar, tobacconist's, newsagent's, fishing card seller and bread seller.

Associative and cultural bar with various activities scheduled every weekend

Opening a new restaurant in a maraîchine house recently ranked "Small City of Character". Located in the center of Arçais, there is a warm atmosphere with a patio, a dining room. The port is 2 minutes and 20 meters free parking. The traditional cuisine combines fish and meat and maraîchine kitchen. Our dishes are available à la carte, prepared with fresh, seasonal produce. Open all year, 7/7, from Easter to the end of December. Thursday to Sunday in the off-season.

Located in the heart of Arçais, the Ptit Creux offers a wide choice of pizzas, panini, sandwiches, salads, fries ... on the spot (shaded terrace) or take away. Open all year. In the off-season, from 18h to 21h (from 18h to 21h30, the weekend). In season, from 11h to 14h30 and from 18h to 21h30.

In the heart of the small village of Arçais, in a hamlet bathed in calm and greenery, with its authentic houses, our establishment welcomes you in a cosy setting where hospitality and know-how go hand in hand. Just 100 metres from the boat departures to discover the Venise Verte, near the footpaths and cycle routes, you will enjoy traditional market garden cuisine, based on local produce; refined, original cuisine and a menu that changes with the seasons. A daily menu is offered every day of the week. Our chef's homemade cuisine is a delight to share! Our restaurant is open on weekends in low season (February, March, October and November) and the following days are closed: from April to September (Sunday evening, Monday and Thursday evening).

We offer a varied menu: "homemade" pizzas, patties made with flour entirely imported from Brittany and from an organic farming, salads, stuffed vegetables (local speciality). For your gourmet break, in the afternoon, we offer you a whole selection of homemade ice creams, as well as sweet pancakes. We are open all day to serve you at your convenience and offer you a snack outside of hours of service. Very good tasting to all and good stay! Dishes (pizzas and pancakes) and take-out drinks from May 15, depending on the deconfinement measures.

Gastronomic restaurant in the heart of the Marais Poitevin on the commune of Coulon, opposite the lock of the Sotterie. Regional cuisine and not only, based on regional and local products.

Welcome to the Parc Du Coq à l'Âne! On a wooded estate close to the animals of our themed animal park, our family property will seduce you with its tranquillity, its green setting, its spacious family lodges with a 180° view of the animals of the animal park, its copious and friendly breakfasts served in room service. Choose from our lodges for your getaway: the Toile Trappeur "Le Petit Caribou" and the Dôme étoilé "La Grande Ours", they will seduce you with their colour, originality and comfort. A stopover in the heart of the Marais Poitevin to recharge your batteries and breathe in the fresh air, in the immediate vicinity of the market gardening villages of Coulon, Arçais, Damvix and Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud. Take advantage of our "nature activities", our leisure activities, our restaurant, the visit of the animal park and its animations. Remaining at your disposal.

Private enclosed garden (200m²-walls and hedge, no view to the neighbour), garage, garden furniture, 1 sunbathing area, barbecue. Ground floor: kitchen-living room (28m²). First floor: bedroom 1 (11m²-1 bed 140), bedroom 2 (12m²-1 bed 120), bathroom, wc. Baby equipment: cot, high chair. Boat and bike hire 5km from Arçais, signposted footpaths on site, grocery shop on site. La Rochelle 50km, Ile de Ré 60km, Vendée beaches from 70km, Puy du Fou 1h20, Futuroscope 1h, Niort 18km (train station, 18 hole golf course, market, museums).

Camping in the countryside in the heart of the Venise verte, on the route of the vélo Francette. Traditional camping or unusual night in hammock under the trees. You will be able to explore the Marais Poitevin directly from my home on foot, by bike or with my canoes. I can guide you on all the activities to do around my home according to your your desires. 2 plots of land 3500m² sunny and 3000m² shady 11mx6m swimming pool, outdoor kitchen area with sink, gas hob, dishes, barbecue and fridge and refrigerator, Tables and chairs under 10m tents. Gantry and turnstile for children. Hot outdoor shower and dry toilets. Bicycle self-repair workshop. No camping car services. Open 3 months in summer. Please contact me at meal time for any information. See you soon, looking forward to sharing and receiving you.

At the heart of the Marais Poitevin, guest cottage for 1-4 persons: 1 bed 160, 2 beds 90. Grand fenced park, swimming pool, picnic area. Many bike rides or walk from home (maps circuits Marais available). Pier for canoe / kayak nearby. Conveniently located near major highways A10 / A83 / N11, La Rochelle, Le Puy du Fou, Futuroscope.

Fully renovated market garden house for rent at "Le Vanneau" near the port. It is composed of : - equipped kitchen (oven, washing machine, dishwasher...) - living-dining room (TV -Wifi) - 5 bedrooms (4 double beds in 140 and 2 beds in 90) - 2 bathrooms (bath/shower) - 2 TOILETS - pool table, darts game... - enclosed garden on the south side, shaded courtyard on the south side - barbecue, garden furniture, storage room (3 bikes...) In the village : parking at 50m, grocery store, bakery, pizzeria, bar-tabac, restaurants, tennis courts, hiking, cycling... Nearby : the towns of Coulon, La Garette, Arçais (boat trips) Atlantic coast : La Rochelle, Oleron, Ré, Aix islands, Aiguillon bay, La Tranche sur mer, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, Loire castles

Come and enjoy a 3-star gîte with jacuzzi, in the heart of the Marais Poitevin, ideally located overlooking the port of Vanneau and its gardens on the edge of the conch. On the first floor, the gîte comprises a vast cathedral-roofed room with a relaxation area, a fully-equipped kitchen opening onto a large private terrace with garden furniture and jacuzzi, overlooking the marsh. There's also a bedroom with a double bed and a shower room. Then, on the first floor, you'll discover a play area with a BZ (2-seater sofa bed), ideal for a stay with friends or family.

Our "la libellule" gîte is spacious and comfortable, perfect for vacations with family or friends, offering an idyllic setting on the edge of the conche. The first floor opens onto a large, bright living room, combining a lounge and open-plan kitchen with a large family table. There's also a shower room with double sinks and washing machine, and a toilet with separate washbasin. Upstairs are three large bedrooms: the first has a double bed and a bunk bed, the second a double bed, and the third a bunk bed. Each bedroom has its own dressing room. A toilet with washbasin is located on the landing. The garden offers direct access to the conche, with a rowing boat and canoe at your disposal for relaxing moments on the water. A terrace with garden furniture and dining table is accessible at the end of the garden.