When it's hot, really hot... we dream of water and freshness! To help you choose your swimming spot, Le Comptoir Local® offers a selection of places accessible for the day.
The swimming pools of the Aunis Marais Poitevin offer a refreshing break just a stone's throw from home, while the beaches of Charente-Maritime or Vendée will delight saltwater lovers! Natural swimming spots, meanwhile, offer a natural setting just a few kilometers from Surgères or Marans. So, shall we dive in?
Pools
Nature bathing places and water reservoirs
Developed site of Port d'Envaux
Beach equipped and supervised in summer (animals prohibited):
July: Tuesday – Thursday – Saturday: 13 p.m. to 00 p.m.
August: Wednesday – Friday – Sunday from 13:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m.
Near Surgeres: 37km
Near Marans: 82 km
Activities nearby: Boat rental (motor, electric), kayaks, canoes, paddle, at the nautical base.
Lake Chassenon
Developed leisure area, with fine sand beach, games for children, etc. (pets prohibited)
11:30 a.m. – 19:30 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday from June 27 to August 30, 2026 (supervised swimming until 18:30 p.m.)
Paying from 6 years old
Near Surgeres: 53 km
Near Marans: 37 km
Activities nearby: on site: water slides, playgrounds, bouncy castle, paddling pool, pedal boat rental, picnic area.
The Cherveux lake
Swimming area authorized and supervised from July 4 to August 30, 2026 only, from Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. (Animals accepted except on the beach, kept on a leash).
Tuesday to Saturday: 13 p.m. to 19 p.m.
Sunday: 13:30pm-18:30pm. Free admission.
Open on public holidays.
Near Surgeres: 56 km
Near Marans: 60 km
Nearby activities: On site: water ski lift, treetop adventure course, water slide, mini golf, paddle boarding, playground, immersion mushing, orienteering.
Beaches
In La Rochelle, on the Île de Ré or Île d'Oléron, the Royan wild coast… Discover all the most beautiful beaches in Charente-Maritime and the quality of their bathing waters:
And on the Vendée side?
You will find many beaches near the Aunis Marais Poitevin including:
La Tranche Sur Mer: Terrière Beach, Corps de Garde, the Lighthouse, the Grenelles, the Grande Plage, the Grière, Sainte Anne, the Porte des Iles.
La Faute Sur Mer: The main beach, the Barrel.
L'Aiguillon Sur Mer: Aiguillon lake, the Oasis.
The opinion of Comptoir Local ®
As a family, we appreciate the long, gently sloping beach of Châtelaillon when the tide is high! For more unspoiled corners, head to the beach at Trousse-Chemise on the Ile de Ré or further afield, at Pointe Espagnole at La Tremblade. As for the Vendée beaches, they offer space and beautiful stretches of sand so that everyone can find what they are looking for!
For our friends the dogs…
Charente-Maritime side
In La Rochelle, dogs are not allowed on any of the city's beaches, with the exception of dogs intended to assist people with reduced mobility.
La Platère beach in Angoulins accepts dogs from October 1st to May 31st.
In Yves, dogs are allowed year-round on Marouillet beach provided they are kept on a leash. In Chatelaillon-Plage, dogs are allowed to be walked along the seafront year-round and on the beach from November 1st to April 30th.
On the Île de Ré, dogs are allowed on leashes at Les Gouillauds beach (between Les Grenettes and Gros Jonc in the commune of Bois-Plage-en-Ré) under the responsibility of their owner. They are allowed from June 15 to September 15 in Saint Clément from 19 p.m. to 9 a.m. on the beaches of La Conche des Baleines and La Côte Sauvage, and allowed on leashes on all beaches in Rivedoux (except Plage Sud) from 20 p.m. to 10 a.m. At Les Portes en Ré, from 20 p.m. to 10 a.m. from June 1 to September 30 and without restriction the rest of the year.
In low season, they are allowed from October to April in Sainte Marie de Ré and from October to May in La Couarde.
Heading towards Oléron Island, you'll find Bourcefranc-le-Chapus beach, which welcomes dogs on leashes year-round. Most other beaches allow dogs on leashes between June 15th and September 15th, outside of lifeguard opening hours.
Vendée side
In La Tranche-sur-Mer, dogs are allowed on a leash all year round outside of supervised swimming areas.
In La Faute-sur-Mer, dogs are allowed on a leash outside of the bathing areas all year round on the beach.
