When it's hot, very hot… we dream of water and freshness! To help you choose your swimming spot, we offer a selection of places accessible for the day.
In Aunis Marais Poitevin, on the coast of Charente-Maritime or Vendée, or in natural swimming spots. So, shall we dive?
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
Leisure area with fine sand beach, games for children… (pets not allowed)
11:30 a.m. – 19:30 p.m. daily from July 1 to September 3, 2023 (supervised swimming until 19 p.m.)
Paying from 6 years old
Near Surgeres: 53 km
Near Marans: 37 km
Activities nearby: on site: water slides, play areas, bouncy castle, paddling pool, pedalo hire, picnic area.
The Cherveux lake
Bathing area supervised during the summer. Free admission.
Near Surgeres: 56 km
Near Marans: 60 km
Activities nearby: On site: water ski lift, tree climbing, water slide, minigolf, tennis, petanque, paddle, playground.
The beaches
In La Rochelle, the island of Ré or Oléron, the Côte Sauvage royannaise… find all the most beautiful beaches of 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.
The Overseas Fault: The Great Beach, the Barrel.
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer: Aiguillon lake, the Oasis.
The opinion of the local counter
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 town's beaches (Minimes and Chef de Baie). Only dogs accompanying people with reduced mobility are allowed on the Concurrence beach.
The same goes for Platère beach in Angoulins, accessible from October 1 to May 31.
In Yves, dogs are allowed all year round on Marouillet beach provided they are kept on a leash. At Chatelaillon-Plage, they are only admitted between November 1 and April 30.
On the island of Ré, the presence of dogs is accepted at Les Gouillauds beach (beach between Les Grenettes and Gros Jonc in the municipality of Bois-Plage-en-Ré) on a leash under the responsibility of their owner. They are accepted on a leash from October to June on the beaches of the municipalities of La Couarde, Rivedoux-Plage and Ste Marie. The beaches of Les Conches, Côte Sauvage and St Clément des Baleines allow dogs on a leash from June 15 to September 30 outside the hours of the lifeguard stations.
Heading towards the island of Oléron, we will find the beach of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus which welcomes dogs kept on a leash throughout the year. The majority of the other beaches allow dogs on a leash between June 15 and September 15 outside the opening hours of the lifeguard stations, with the exception of the beaches of Vertbois and Marennes which are prohibited all year round.
Vendée side
In La Tranche-sur-Mer, dogs are allowed on a leash on Belle Henriette beach, and also on the rest of the beaches outside the supervised bathing areas (Corps de Garde, St Anne, Phare, Terrières and Grière beaches).
In La Faute-sur-Mer, dogs are allowed on a leash all year round on Grande Casse beach, Naturists beach and Amourettes beach. They are accepted on a leash all year round outside the bathing area at Grand'Plage, Belugas beach, Chardons beach and Barrique beach.
For holidaymakers in the Marais Poitevin near Deux-Sèvres, you can also go to the Cherveux lake with your four-legged friend! They are allowed to swim outside supervised bathing hours (before 13 p.m. and after 19 p.m.). They must be kept on a leash on the site.
