Roundtrip from Lusseray through the Poitevin Marsh
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Last edit: 30-04-2021
Route Summary
Marais Poitevin, on the border of Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime and Vendée, is a wetland area. The landscape mosaic of the Marais Poitevin is unique, and consists of a coastal area where sandy beaches, dunes and forests alternate; a flooded swamp, with the famous green Venice, with its innumerable basin and moats surrounded by trees; the dried-up swamp, with its vast fields and grasslands; the swamp banks, with plains full of arable farming.
To discover the charms of the flooded swamp, nothing beats a boat trip through the mysterious Green Venice. But also with a motorcycle it is wonderful to drive in the beautiful unspoiled nature.
The Park Marais Poitevin also has a rich water heritage with locks, water works, bridges, fountains and washing places. To discover the more urban side, you can choose from charming places with character. The highlight of this ride is the Abbey of Maillezais and its remarkable remains, listed as a Historic Monument.
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Verdict
Duration
7h 1m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
190.95 km
Countries
Abbey Maillezais
RouteXpert Review
You leave in Lusseray at the holiday home 'O'Limousin' (Airbnb). The house has been completely renovated. There is a large parking and garden. The motor can possibly be on the terrace under the shelter. There is a fully fitted kitchen and lounge. There are 2 bedrooms and a bathroom with shower.You drive towards Niort. Just outside Arçais, the Guinguette welcomes you every day for a drink by the water. It is a pleasant stop. You follow the Sèvre Niortais for a while, which you leave in Damvix.
The Saint-Pierre de Maillezais cathedral is a former abbey church, converted into a cathedral in 1317. It remained the seat of the diocese of Maillezais until 1648, when the episcopal see was transferred to the cathedral of Saint-Barthélémy-du-Grand-Temple, in La Rochelle.
The first constructions date from the tenth century, after which the cathedral, completed around the fifteenth century, was abandoned. Subsequently, during the Revolution, the old cathedral is sold as a national property to serve as a quarry. The ruins that are still visible are the refectory, the dormitory, the kitchen, the salt cellar, the turreted ramparts and the north side of the cathedral (bell tower, nave and transept). A house built towards the end of the 19th century can be seen on the site of the old Bishop's Palace.
The old abbey of Saint-Pierre (remains of the abbey) has been listed as a historic monument since January 30, 1924.
Open every day from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM.
Entrance: 6 euros / person.
There is a spacious parking lot at the entrance of the abbey.
Close to the abbey is a landing stage, the starting point for peaceful boat trips on the locks of the Green Venice. There is also a restaurant 'Auberge de l'Abbaye'. You can eat very tasty regional dishes in a unique setting.
Just outside the small village of Maillé, where the Jeune Autise canal crosses the Vix canal, lies one of the treasures of the marshes, the Aqueduc de Maillé.
Building an aqueduct bridge (also known as a canal bridge) is a testament to great engineering skills as it is possible for two watercourses to intersect, isolated by a submerged tunnel. The works were carried out between 1654 and 1662 after the completion of the drainage works in the marshes of Vix. The aqueduct is part of a high-speed hydraulic network consisting of the Vix canal, the canalized river Jeune Autise and the Contrebot at Vix. It is here at this confluence that the Jeune Autise releases the swamp water as it traverses the heart of the aqueduct. The channel de Vix receives the water from the reclaimed swamps as it passes through the submerged tunnel, and in this way the hydraulic energy and large water volume are expertly controlled.
A major reconstruction of the walls of the aqueduct was carried out in 2009/10. Now fully restored, it is worth a look to marvel at this ingenious piece of engineering.
The bell tower of the Notre-Dame des Marais church in Marans is an atypical monument not to be missed. It dates back to 1988 and is modern by mixing materials such as stone, glass and metal.
The church has a special history that dates back to the mid-19th century.
Built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century by monks from Maillezais Abbey, weakened by the Franco-English conflicts, the church was in danger of collapse from the mid-19th century.
The architect opted for a neo-Gothic style with a single nave of three bays, extended with a tilted apse. The vaults are made of cross ribs with eight ribs. But money was scarce, and Notre-Dame des Marais Church was consecrated and inaugurated in 1902 without the bell tower being built. After all, it was a citizen of Marseilles, who, thanks to a donation in 1988, allowed the construction of a bell tower. He regretted that the church remained without a tower. A municipality company specializing in the construction of masts built the new clock tower, paying tribute to the country's expertise.
The interior of the church is open to the public during the day. Visit of the bell tower on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings (except 14/07 and 15/08) in July and August through the parish of Notre Dame des Marais (free).
In Saint-Sauveur d'Aunis you pass 'La Poche de La Rochelle'. It is a memorial erected along the La Rochelle-Niort road. Like Royan, the region of La Rochelle was a retreat area for the Germans after the landings in June 1944. In this very strategic location on the Atlantic coast, the Germans had built a powerful submarine base in the port of La Pallice. This monument reminds us that the Aunis was the scene of clashes during the liberation of the pocket of La Rochelle, the last liberated city in France. Every year, civilians and military attend the ceremony to honor veterans.
You return to the holiday home via the Forêt domaniale de Chizé.
Not much of the swamp itself can be seen on the bike. If you really want to explore this, you have to take a boat trip on the canals. But the landscape is certainly worth a drive due to its open character. There are a number of attractions that are well worth a stop. Unfortunately, the road surface is not too good. However, this is offset by the very quiet winding roads. It is probably a bit busier here in July and August because the Marais Poitevin attracts a lot of tourists and you are also not that far away from the coast. This route receives 4 stars.
Maillé aqueduct
Pocket Memorial La Rochelle
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A great new event will be announced soon, where all of these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as they will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your email.
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