Nature adventures and relaxation at Holi Keys in Saint-michel-en-l'herm

Departure: Place de la Mairie. Distance: 30 km. Duration: 2:45. Safety instructions - The helmet is strongly advised. I drive to right. I respect the highway code. I check the status of my bike (brakes and lighting). I stay on the marked trails. I respect the marsh, sensitive and classified site.

Cross 3 departments on this pilgrimage: the Vendée, the Deux-Sèvres and the Charente-Maritime. You will be able to discover the Marais Poitevin which extends over these 3 territories. Landscapes, monuments, fauna and flora will be there in all their diversity.

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 2. 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.

This course is part of the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station. A course which will make you visit by running the network of the port with its channels, rivers, conches, ditches. These installations allow to welcome and preserve a rich flora and fauna in connection with the life of the Marais. Open your eyes when you run and let yourself be surprised by the natural encounters along the way. Work on your mind, concentrate on your feeling while running in this soothing environment. -> Handisport course -> Course currently not marked (but can be done with the mobile application On Piste)

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)

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

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

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.

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!

Campsite set in 3 hectares of grounds with 2 swimming pools, one of which is indoor and heated. Bike hire, games room, television, children's play areas, entertainment, wifi. Washing machine and tumble dryer. Outdoor fitness, boules pitch, multi-sports pitch, kids' club. Traditional homemade and fast food (snacks, pizzas), ice cream, licensed bar. Mobile homes for rent (2 to 4 bedrooms, including 2 accessible to people with reduced mobility), bungalows, lodges, pitches available all year round, mobile homes for sale. Motorhome reception Groups welcome Room hire

The Moulin Musseau gîte is located 10 minutes from the beach by car and 30 minutes by bike (cycle path from the village). This 100 m² single-storey gîte was completely renovated in 2023 and sleeps 6 people. In July and August, arrivals and departures are on Saturdays only. Sheets and towels are not provided. Cleaning is not included, we ask that the accommodation is left clean and tidy.

Gîte in outbuildings, adjoining the owner's ceramics workshop, located in the village. Ground floor: living room/kitchen (pellet stove, hi-fi system), shower room/wc. First floor: 2 attic bedrooms (2 twin 80cm beds) (2 90cm beds). Linen provided. Wifi (PLC internet access). 500 m² enclosed landscaped garden shared with the owner, private terrace with garden furniture and barbecue, children's swing. Parking on the property. 2 bicycles on request (deposit required). Options: End-of-stay cleaning: €45/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 pers. 10€/stay; Bathroom linen hire: 8€/pers/stay. Additional charges: Tourist tax and heating package (electric + pellets): €20/day (payable on site).

These locks constitute a remarkable hydraulic junction. It is the point of convergence of the main rivers of the Marais Poitevin where Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime and Vendée meet. Several locks form this exceptional and ingenious hydraulic junction allowing the management of water in the Marais. You will find in Bazoin the only pier allowing to make the junction between the Charente-Maritime and the wet marsh (Venise Verte).

This small town with its many footbridges crossing the narrow conches of the Marais Poitevin, is a former fishing village, now a charming town, alive all year round. It is the ideal place for nature activities, and is the starting point for many hiking trails and boat trips. It is also possible to go for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage or on horseback. The flat terrain is ideal for bike rides and you will enjoy riding along the typical houses of the Marais Poitevin along the Sèvre river. It is also the only place in the Marais that offers cruises on a restaurant boat. While passing through Damvix, don't forget to stroll on its port and to make a detour by its church Saint-Guy.

We are a family farm in the heart of the Marais Poitevin. We have various activities: Livestock 350 goats, cheese, cereal crops and rearing suckler cows limousines bio. We invite you every Tuesday and Friday from 17h to 19h, to visit the farm and see the cheese. We will offer you to taste cheese and watch the milking takes place at 18pm. We are also present on the markets of Niort (Saturday), from Saint-Hilaire-la-Palud (Sunday) of Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan (Tuesday) and Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon (1 and 3rd Wednesday of the month).

Situated between Arçais and Damvix on the navigable network of the Sèvre Niortaise river, the Bourdettes includes a lock (1862-1872) and a drawbridge with cables (rebuilt in 2003) to allow for road traffic by joining the D 102 to the D 104, and river traffic for the passage of maintenance barges to Marans or to Niort.

Character honeys collected locally by our bees on the flowers of the Poitevin marsh. Glass hive and exhibition at the farm, come and discover the life of these bees in the lock house of Bourdettes. Tasting at the farm.

It is a natural space of 8 ha, in the heart of the wild marsh, in which are presented more than 70 species of birds of the Marais Poitevin and the domestic animals created in the Poitou. In order to recognize them, information panels and initiation modules to ornithology are at your disposal along the discovery path. You can also learn to recognize the trees and wild plants of the wet marsh. At the end of the visit, a film will make you fly over the landscapes of the Marais Poitevin and you will discover in their intimacy the birds of this region. A labyrinth awaits you, punctuated with educational panels on migration.

The pollard ash has been present en masse in the Marais Poitevin since the 19th century. At that time, great works of draining the wet marsh were undertaken. The ash tree was preferred to many other tree species because it has the advantage of being very tolerant to water, it allows to consolidate the banks, to heat the habitats, and to serve as a refuge for many animal species. Keep your eyes open during your walks, you will find them lined up along the conches, offering magnificent photographic shots.

Stretching forward from the Broue d'Arçais, the two village-streets are at the beginning of the eighteenth century qualified as considerable by Claude Masse, ordinary engineer and geographer of the king, thus signalling an important river trade. Their houses have a double exposure: on the river leading to the marsh and to the cultivated fields. The name of the River, an amphibious district, is linked to its membership in the world of water. As for Monfaucon, an islet inhabited since the Celtic era (the discovery of bronze axes), is in the Middle Ages the seat of the seigneurry of the canons of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand de Poitiers. Its main artery is the Rue de la Venise Verte and the pier of Montfaucon corresponds to the former communal port partially built during the Grand Travaux du Marais poitevin. The village still retains a small rural heritage (bread oven, ponne, ferry tail...).

Monfaucon, an island inhabited since Celtic times (bronze axes have been found), was in the Middle Ages the seat of the lordship of the canons of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand de Poitiers. Its main street is the rue de la Venise Verte and the pier of Montfaucon corresponds to the old communal harbor partly developed during the Great Works of the Marais Poitevin. The village still has a small rural heritage (bread oven, ponne, boulite, ferry tail...).

Located in the heart of the Marais sauvage, emblematic landscape of the Venise Verte, St-Hilaire-La-Palud gives you access to more than 100 km of waterways and white paths. From the Latin palus meaning marsh, the Paludens maintain the know-how and traditions through the numerous summer animations provided by volunteers. The villages of La Rivière and Montfaucon bear witness to the flourishing river trade of the early 18th century. The hamlets of Névoire keep the memory of the brick and tile making activity, once very present. The bird park of the Marais Poitevin is now the spearhead of a tourism respectful of nature and men.

Take a break for a pizza or pasta in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Tomato or cream base, traditional or more original recipe Here we play the local card with flour and pasta from "Grain d'épi", farmers in the Bay of Aiguillon. Also on the menu, a plate of oysters from "Chez Greg" in L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer. Aperitif board.

We work with French meats and local produce. Our fish is bought in La Faute. In addition to the à la carte menu, we offer a dish of the day.

In a natural and authentic setting overlooking the oyster beds and the Lay, Greg offers tastings and sales of oysters, prawns, langoustines... freshly caught and served with bread and butter.

Julie's signature dishes include "Smoked salmon", "Seafood sauerkraut", "Homemade burger" and "Homemade profiteroles". Enjoy the inventive cuisine of Julie and her team in a variety of settings or on the terrace overlooking the Lay and its oyster beds. Mussels and oysters available in season. On site, a traditional canning factory offers home-made products, the fruit of meticulous work and a commitment to quality. Original jams, melting caramels, homemade ketchup, tasty country terrine and delicious fish soup will delight your taste buds. Home-smoked salmon: We've also introduced our own smoked salmon, carefully prepared according to a traditional recipe. The freshness and quality of our salmon make it a must for seafood lovers. Semi-cooked foie gras : Our semi-cooked foie gras, a refined speciality, completes our gastronomic offer. Prepared with particular attention to detail, it will win over connoisseurs with its delicate texture and exquisite taste. Gift cards available.

On the spot, takeaway or delivery, a variety of gourmet pizzas.

Brigitte and Alain offer a bistro atmosphere, cooking and welcoming guests in a pleasant atmosphere. A menu to suit all tastes: galettes, crêpes, meat, fish, pasta and burgers. Traditional dishes on the daily menu. Oysters and mussels marinière. Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes are the perfect day to go to the fish market in L'Aiguillon.

A family-run restaurant serving traditional dishes based on meat, fish or mussels and chips "just like in the North". Oyster platter.

Come and chill out by the lake, watch the riders and discover the 100% home-made burgers, aperitifs, salads, paninis and daily specials. Local wine. There's also a selection of sweet treats for your snack break.

Pizzas, bruschettas, calzones and pastas to celebrate Italian gastronomy, as well as burgers and mussels (in season).

Pizzeria, pasta to take away, fast food

Campsite set in 3 hectares of grounds with 2 swimming pools, one of which is indoor and heated. Bike hire, games room, television, children's play areas, entertainment, wifi. Washing machine and tumble dryer. Outdoor fitness, boules pitch, multi-sports pitch, kids' club. Traditional homemade and fast food (snacks, pizzas), ice cream, licensed bar. Mobile homes for rent (2 to 4 bedrooms, including 2 accessible to people with reduced mobility), bungalows, lodges, pitches available all year round, mobile homes for sale. Motorhome reception Groups welcome Room hire

4-star campsite with 153 pitches, 2 swimming pools (1 indoor heated), restaurant, grocery shop. The bare pitches, ranging in size from 80 to 150 m², are marked out, on grassy or stabilised ground, semi-shaded to shaded and equipped with a 6-amp electric hook-up. The platform pitches for motorhomes are on stabilised ground.

This 30 m² furnished apartment sleeps 4 and comprises a bedroom with a double bed and a sofa bed in the main room, a shower room, a fitted kitchen, a dining room with a dining area, television, terrace with garden furniture and BBC, and a small shady garden area. Enclosed garden. 10 minutes from the beaches of La Faute sur Mer 45 minutes from the centre of La Rochelle and Les Sables d'Olonne 1 hour from La Venise verte 1h15 from Puy du Fou

The Moulin Musseau gîte is located 10 minutes from the beach by car and 30 minutes by bike (cycle path from the village). This 100 m² single-storey gîte was completely renovated in 2023 and sleeps 6 people. In July and August, arrivals and departures are on Saturdays only. Sheets and towels are not provided. Cleaning is not included, we ask that the accommodation is left clean and tidy.

La Vie Douce is located at the end of a lane, away from the road, yet in the heart of the village, 50m from the shops (pedestrian access). The living area includes a fully-equipped kitchen with table and chairs, a sofa bed, a television and internet access. The bathroom has a large shower tray, washbasin and WC. The separate bedroom is ideal for relaxing in peace and quiet. There is a private terrace with table, chairs, deckchairs, coffee table and parasol, as well as access to the entire grounds of the property (2000 m²). There is private parking on the property, 10 m from the property. You will also have access to a secure bicycle storage area. Pauline and Simon are passionate about their corner of paradise, and will be delighted to advise you on points of interest, visits, activities and good addresses! The property is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each time a new tenant moves in.

Gîte in outbuildings, adjoining the owner's ceramics workshop, located in the village. Ground floor: living room/kitchen (pellet stove, hi-fi system), shower room/wc. First floor: 2 attic bedrooms (2 twin 80cm beds) (2 90cm beds). Linen provided. Wifi (PLC internet access). 500 m² enclosed landscaped garden shared with the owner, private terrace with garden furniture and barbecue, children's swing. Parking on the property. 2 bicycles on request (deposit required). Options: End-of-stay cleaning: €45/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 pers. 10€/stay; Bathroom linen hire: 8€/pers/stay. Additional charges: Tourist tax and heating package (electric + pellets): €20/day (payable on site).