LES ÉCLUSES DU PORT LA ROCHE ET DU FRESNE

Water management is essential to life in the marsh, it is managed by the SAH. (Syndicate of Hydraulic Development of the South Loire). 51 municipalities are conserned by the regulation of these waters through the Marais Breton Vendée, or Marô. At Port la Roche, there are still 3 main locks, and 2 at Fresne.

The name of these places is linked to history; the "Port la Roche" and the "Port du Fresne", are old ports where navigation was possible to connect the Port du Collet inland (up to Machecoul) and supply the villages of the marsh with food ( food, salt ...).

As the bay becomes silted up, the "Port la Roche" loses its importance, in favor of that of Fresne, then that of Collet. In 1876, the municipal council of Bourgneuf declared the port of Fresne impracticable, that of Collet definitively took over.