Discover the charms of Soubise, Charente-Maritime

From Camping La Brande to Chateau d' Oleron, you can walk along the coast to the east and reach the ramparts of Chateau d' Oleron up to La Citadelle and return to the campsite via the moats, walking around the town fortified by Vauban and the beach.

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 8. 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.

2 PR connected by a linear of 1.7 km along the canal of Mignon.

The Vélodyssée®, the Eurovéloroute n°1 crosses France, from Roscoff to Hendaye and is one of the longest European routes, essentially on its own. Your journey in Gironde will take you along the tracks of the Medoc coastline and the Bassin d'Arcachon of Arcachon. You will discover the charm of Soulac-sur-Mer, the scents of the pine forests, the lakes of the Medoc and the Bay of Arcachon, a lagoon opening onto the ocean. You are here in the kingdom of bicycle paths! Your journey in Gironde ends in apotheosis and in all beauty on the Dune du Pilat!

From the Pointe de Grave in Le Verdon-sur-Mer, gateway to the largest estuary in Europe, the Saint Jacques de Compostelle Coastal Way in Gironde starts here. Walk along this forest path to reach Soulac-sur-Mer with your family, on a tour or with friends. View of the Cordouan lighthouse, passage near the remains of the Atlantic Wall bunkers and finally the old village of Soulac-sur-Mer are on the agenda!

Come and discover the incredible heritage of Usseau, Antigny and Olbreuse !

From Soulac to Lacanau, follow the superb shaded cycle paths of the Aquitaine coastline to the Arcachon basin. Ride along the Pointe Médoc, a multi-faceted territory, depending on whether you are riding along the west coast or along the estuary and vineyards. This section of the itinerary invites you to discover, among other things, the charm of the old villas of Soulac-sur-Mer, the smells of the pine forests, the freshwater lakes of the Médoc, the pond of Cousseau, Lacanau-Océan? Wide open spaces of natural reserves and ocean beaches...

From the Gironde estuary to the Atlantic Ocean, this itinerary is an ideal nature walk for the whole family in Le Verdon sur Mer. Located a few kilometres from Soulac-sur-Mer, this route offers a diversity of landscapes: maritime pine forests, marshes.. The itinerary that we propose to you borrows several types of ways: streets in the city center, a cycle track, a forest road and a forest road in limestone. There is no continuous signposting throughout the walk, but the paths are logical and the description of the itinerary will be enough to guide you.

In 2019, Usseau joins with Priaires and Thorigny-sur-le-Mignon to form the new commune of Val-du-Mignon and becomes its chief town.

This course is part of the Niort - Marais Poitevin Trail Station. Without doubt a royal course for beginners and those who are looking for a place to recover actively This trail originates from a variety of strawberry that bears fruit for 40 days. These atypical strawberries were known at the court of the kings of France! Enjoy this trail in the peaceful territory of the Niort Marais Poitevin trail station! -> Trail Station marked out course

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.

Detached old house on the banks of the canal. Ground floor: living room/kitchen area (fireplace), WC, bedroom with shower room (1 x 140cm bed). 1st floor: 3 bedrooms (2 x 901cm beds) (1 x 140cm bed) (1 x 140cm bed and 1 x 90cm bed), shower room, WC. Wifi internet access. Enclosed landscaped grounds of 500 m² with terrace (garden furniture, barbecue), bowling green. Fishing area. Options : End-of-stay cleaning: €80/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 people: €10/stay; Towel hire: €8/stay. Extra: Electric heating on individual meter reading on heating (to be paid to the owner); Wood: 1st flambé free, additional basket: €7.

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.

Gîte in a former lock keeper's house, adjoining another gîte, situated on the banks of the Canal des 5 Abbés. Ground floor: living room/kitchen area (fireplace, freezer), shower room and WC accessible to disabled persons, 2 bedrooms (1 double bed) (2 single beds). No Wifi. Shared tumble dryer in outside room. Communal landscaped grounds with private area of 240 m², private enclosed terrace of 8 m² (garden furniture, barbecue, 1 deckchair), carport. Fishing on site (equipped technical room), pontoon available for disabled access. Options: End-of-stay cleaning: €80/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 people: €10/stay; Sheet hire for 1 or 2 people: €10/stay. 10€/stay; Bathroom linen hire: 8€/pers/stay. Additional charges: Electric heating: 8€/day (payable to the owner).

Gîte in a former lock keeper's house, adjoining another gîte, situated on the banks of the Canal des 5 Abbés. Ground floor: living room/kitchen area (fireplace, freezer), 1/2 step to shower room, wc, 1 bedroom (1 double bed). No Wifi. Shared tumble dryer in outside room. Shared landscaped grounds with private area of 225m², private enclosed terrace of 8 m² (garden furniture, barbecue, deckchair). Carport. Options: End-of-stay cleaning: €50/stay; Sheet hire for 2 pers. 10€/stay; Bathroom linen hire: 8€/pers/stay. Extra charge: Electric heating: 8€/day (payable to the owner).

Superb sea view apartment with terrace, garden, parking, private garage, two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and living room. Washing machine, telephone, TV. Comfort. In front of sea and to 20 m of the town center.

Soulac-sur-Mer, 2 person apartment located 150 meters from the main beach, 150 meters from the covered market, close to all shops. Quiet and pleasant. On the ground floor. Located around a common courtyard.

Beautiful soulacaise villa in city center and 300 meters from the beach, wifi access.

Priaire(s), which is written with or without the final "s", is quoted for the first time in 1044 in the cartular of the abbey of St-Jean-d'Angély and belonged to the Aunis under the generality and election of La Rochelle, then Deux-Sèvres in 1790. Its terroir was once in one of the Cognac appellation areas. The vines, cultivated over a large area, produced excellent spirits until the phylloxera crisis of 1873, gradually giving way to cooperative dairies and cereal crops. In 2019, the village merges with Usseau and Thorigny-s.-le-Mignon to form the new commune of Val-du-Mignon. It is by taking the time to stroll that we discover the richness of the rural built heritage strongly inspired by the architecture of the nearby Charente department. To see: Notre-Dame church (baptismal font of 1629).

In a charter of July 1039, William I, Lord of Parthenay (990-1054), invited by Pope John XIX to take under his protection the abbey of Saint-Jean-d'Angély, grants it the court (curtis) of Priaire(s). This donation is the origin of the foundation of the priory (now disappeared). Formerly part of the diocese of Saintes and the archpriesthood of Surgères, the church was united with the parish of Usseau in 1813. It replaced the old sanctuary, whose poverty was highlighted by the 1688 and 1718 visits. To be seen: baptismal font from 1629 and a curious bell tower-wall with a bracketed arch and a cross.

Come and relax and eat at the picnic area (4 tables) in the commune of Priaires.

In 2019, the village will merge with Usseau and Thorigny-sur-le-Mignon to form the new commune of Val-du-Mignon and become a delegated commune with Usseau as its chief town. It is a rural village, and today it is home to the only certified sustainable agriculture farm in the department and a tobacco producer. It is by taking the time to stroll along the Subite and the Coudre that one discovers the richness of the built heritage strongly inspired by the architecture of the neighbouring Charente department. Its warm limestone hillock is also favourable to the blossoming of some thirty varieties of orchids growing in the woods and along the berms (narrow paths between a canal and an earthen embankment): Goat orchid, Spider orchid, Woodcock orchid, Hanging man orchid, Bird's nest orchid...

Near downtown, huge park, toilets

One of the southernmost communes of the Communauté d'Agglomération de Niort, on the border of the Deux-Sèvres and the Charente-Maritime, the smallest and least populated of the canton of Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon, Priaire(s), which is written with or without a final s, is mentioned for the first time in 1044 in the cartulary of the abbey of Saint-Jean-d'Angély and belonged to the Aunis region, under the jurisdiction of the generality and election of La Rochelle, then of the Deux-Sèvres in 1790. Its terroir was once in one of the Cognac appellation areas. The vineyards, cultivated over a large area, produced an excellent eau-de-vie until the phylloxera crisis of 1873, which gradually gave way to cooperative dairies and cereal crops.

In 1315, the Lord of Mauzé “had land cut off” to create a port. In 1714, King Claude Masse’s engineer visited the port of Chaban and Mauzé, which was threatened with ruin. A canal project was examined in 1808 by Napoleon I. From 1843 to 45, the Mignon canal was built from the Bazoin lock to the port of Gueux (near Sazay), then extended from 1880 to 83 to Mauzé to connect the municipality to the sea by the Sèvre Niortaise and allow the transport by gauge of goods. Quickly competed by rail, then the road, the largest port of Green Venice is soon abandoned. In 1996, it was rehabilitated as part of the Grand Travaux du Marais poitevin, but remained inaccessible to boats since the canal is currently navigable from Bazoin to a little upstream of La Grève-s.-le-Mignon.

At the crossing of Poitou and Aunis, Mauzé takes its name from "Mauseacum" meaning placed in the middle of the waters. Built on the banks of the Mignon, the city develops around the seigneurial castle and close to a toll. In the 17th century, she was subjected to the Dragonnades in the image of Protestant Jean Migault, a refugee in Breuil-Barrabin, the city’s district. The wine and brandies trade ensured the municipality a major economic boom in the 18th century. After the phylloxera crisis, minotiers and dairy replaced little to little coopers and carts. Mauzé is also the birthplace of the adventurer René Caillié whom she honours every year. What to see: the port of Mignon, the two towers of the castle of XIIIè s. (private), the church of St-Pierre (tabernacle of the XVIIè s. classified), the park of the former Moulin à Drap (private), the Old Mill, the fairground and its bandstand...

The Pointe de Grave is the extreme north of the Médoc, between Bordeaux and the Atlantic Ocean. It is located at the mouth of the Gironde Estuary, opposite the town of Royan. This geographical configuration, unique in France, makes it of great ornithological interest during pre-marital migration: the "funnel" effect concentrates the birds that migrate along the coast and those that, further inland, are reluctant to cross the estuary and follow the bank to its end. These two flows then converge above the Pointe de Grave before crossing the estuary in the direction of the Charente-Maritime and, beyond, towards Northern Europe and Siberia LPO Aquitaine coordinates the scientific monitoring of the migration, carried out every year from March to May. More than a hundred species are observed during the three months of monitoring.

Bicycle service area with picnic area at Pointe de Grave, on the edge of the estuary, an exceptional break with a view of the Gironde estuary

Street Food

Located in the Marais Poitevin, in the heart of the village, the restaurant offers its specialties maraîchines (Stuffed poitevin, eels and frogs persillade, pike perch with white butter ...), but also its traditional specialties (duck breast, steak Bearnaise , gambas flambées ...). You will enjoy home-made cooking using fresh, seasonal produce. We also welcome you for your family and professional receptions. 3 rooms and 2 terraces are at your disposal. Open all year, 7/7 days, except Monday in low season.

Restaurant-bar serving pizza, burgers and traditional home-cooked food. Takeaway or on-site buffet service (starters, desserts) and dish of the day. Themed cuisine for "weekend specials": frogs' legs, eels, mussels and chips, couscous, etc.

A visit in the "Marais"? A break is needed! The restaurant "Le Lidon" welcomes you with its new team and its new menu in a warm atmosphere, from breakfast to dinner, to propose a traditional and friendly cuisine in order to delight the taste buds of the most gourmets. As well as numerous activities to accompany your beautiful days and summer evenings.

Open to all, the restô offers grilled meats all summer long, as well as platters of cold meats and cheeses... Chips, mogettes and ratatouille accompany grilled andouillettes, beef steaks or chicken supremes. Open for lunch in July and August. Guinguette atmosphere on Friday and Sunday evenings!

A beachside brasserie where you can eat with your feet in the water!

Opening 15/05/2020 > 30/09/2020 In the heart of a majestic pine forest in Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, enjoy the beautiful heated swimming pool and bike rides on Oléron island as far as Gatseau beach!

Opening 15/05/2020 > 20/09/2020 Tranquil and authentic beach holidays 50 m from the water’s edge! Camp by the ocean at Huttopia Oléron Les Chênes Verts amid sand dunes and holm oak forests.

Opening 24/04/2020 > 20/09/2020 Just 20 metres from the beach, if you love tranquillity and unspoilt nature, you will be seduced by Huttopia Côte Sauvage – Ile de Ré campsite. Peaceful holidays guaranteed on the Ile-de-Ré!

Opening 03/04/2020 > 01/11/2020 Nestled between Sainte-Marie-de-Ré and Flotte-en-Ré, the Huttopia Chardons Bleus – Ile de Ré campsite is located in the heart of a magnificent pine forest, 10 minutes by bike from the ocean.

La Minoterie

Located on the banks of the River Le Mignon, the Gué municipal campsite invites you to relax. Its shady and spacious pitches ensure you tranquility and comfort. Fishing and health trip on site. Less than one kilometer: swimming pool, skate park and tennis courts, horse riding (2 km). Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, many shops and restaurants (fast and traditional) open all year round. Mauzé, rich in its history and its natural environment, to discover by taking the hiking trails that will lead you to the Marais Poitevin. Mauzé is located between Niort (25 km), Rochefort (40 km) and La Rochelle (40 km).

WC / rubbish bins available Emptying facilities, water, electricity