Would you like to visit the Marais Poitevin in one day and make the most of the Venise Verte (Green Venice)? Good news: a well-planned day lets you combine a boat trip, a visit to the villages and a bike ride along the canals.
To get the most out of your visit to one of France’s largest wetlands, our campsite between marshes and ocean suggests starting the morning on the water, then having lunch in one of the marsh villages, and spending the afternoon cycling along the cycle paths or exploring the banks of the conches (the marsh’s small canals).
To help you plan your day of discovery, here is a simple itinerary and a few practical tips to make the most of your day.
The Marais Poitevin at a glance
| Criteria | Details |
| Location | Southern Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime |
| Area | Around 100,000 hectares, France’s 2nd largest wetland |
| Labels | Regional Nature Park and Grand Site de France |
| Heart of the visit | The Venise Verte and its canals around Coulon |
| Not to be missed | A trip in a flat-bottomed boat |
| By bike | A network of cycle paths runs alongside the conches |
Discover the Venise Verte, in the heart of the Marais Poitevin
The Venise Verte is the part of the Marais Poitevin crossed by a dense network of canals lined with pollarded ash trees. This web of waterways shapes the landscape and is the best setting for discovering the wet marsh.
Across France, the Marais Poitevin covers nearly 100,000 hectares, making it the second-largest wetland in France after the Camargue. It is also a Regional Nature Park and holds the Grand Site de France label.
Within this area, the wet marsh accounts for around 29,000 hectares. It is home to a network of conches and waterways, best explored by boat or by bike.
What is the best route for visiting the Marais Poitevin in 1 day?
To make the most of the Marais Poitevin in a day, it’s best to plan your visit around three complementary parts: discovering the waterways by boat, a stop in a village, then a bike ride.
From our campsite Au Bois des Biches in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, the Marais Poitevin is less than an hour’s drive south of the Vendée department. Remember to allow for the journey time when planning your day.
Once you’re there, here is a simple itinerary to follow:
- Morning: set off on a boat trip from Coulon or Arçais.
- Lunchtime: take a break in a village by the water, such as Coulon or Arçais, where mogettes (local white beans) and eel are on the menu.
- Afternoon: hop on your bike to follow the conches and keep exploring at your own pace.
Alternating between boating, a tasty lunch break and exploring by bike adds variety to your day while keeping a pleasant, relaxed pace throughout.
Take a boat trip in the Marais Poitevin
A flat-bottomed boat trip is one of the highlights of any visit to the Marais Poitevin.
To get started, there are several landing stages where you can set off along the canals, including Coulon, Arçais, La Garette, Le Vanneau and Maillezais. Two options are generally available: a guided trip with a boatman, or a boat to hire and punt yourself with a pigouille (the traditional pole).
Once on the water, you glide beneath the ash trees and spot the wildlife of the marshes, including herons, coypu and dragonflies. If it’s your first visit, the guided option also helps you understand the history and the layout of this landscape shaped by people.
When it comes to planning, remember to bring water, a hat and, depending on your plans, something for a picnic. In summer, booking your boat in advance also makes it easier to plan your day, especially if you’re going out with a boatman.
Finally, if your route takes you through the north of the marshes, allow time to discover Maillezais and its abbey. It’s an easy stop to add to a day that combines boating, villages and cycle paths.
Our tip
Try to go out in a boat in the morning. The water is generally calmer, the light is lovelier and the canals are quieter than in the middle of the afternoon.
A day in the Marais Poitevin is a chance to change scenery and discover a landscape shaped by water and greenery. From Au Bois des Biches campsite in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, this day out is a natural addition to a holiday on the Vendée coast. Would you like to visit the Marais Poitevin in 1 day? Book your accommodation in Vendée and choose your favourite landing stage to set off and explore the Marais Poitevin.
FAQ – Visiting the Marais Poitevin in 1 day
How long does it take to visit the Marais Poitevin?
One day is enough to see the best of the Green Venice by combining a boat trip, a visit to a village and a bike ride. If you would also like to explore the drained marshes, the Aiguillon Bay and the abbeys, it is better to allow 2 to 3 days.
Where can I take a boat trip in the Marais Poitevin?
Several landing stages offer boat trips, including Coulon, Arçais, La Garette, Le Vanneau and Maillezais. Depending on where you go, you can choose a guided trip with a boatman or hire a boat to steer yourself.
Do I need to book a boat in the Marais Poitevin?
Booking is especially recommended in summer, particularly for guided trips. If you choose a morning departure, you will also usually find the canals quieter. Remember to check the opening times of your chosen landing stage before you go.
Can you visit the Marais Poitevin by bike?
Yes. The Marais Poitevin has a network of tracks and paths that run alongside the conches (the narrow waterways) and link several villages. That makes it easy to combine a bike ride with a boat trip on the same day.
Which village should you visit in the Marais Poitevin in one day?
Coulon is the best starting point for discovering the Venise Verte, or Green Venice. Arçais is also a pleasant spot, with its little harbour, while Maillezais lets you add a visit to its abbey to your itinerary.
