The gateway to the Marais Poitevin, nestled between land and sea, between the Vendée and Charente-Maritime regions, the town of Marans is full of surprises. Its marina, the striking bell tower of its church, its 19th- century market , its flower-filled gardens, and even its red hen and her eggs are just some of the curiosities to discover…
Here, we take our time. Far from the crowds, we get closer to what matters most. Strolling down an alleyway, we notice an architectural detail, we relive the scenes of history, and we imagine ourselves a modern-day adventurer. A close-up of Comptoir Local on one of our country towns, attached to its river: the Sèvre Niortaise.
The opinion of Comptoir Local ®
At Comptoir Local®, we love heading out on the water on paddleboards or kayaks from Marans! You discover an incredible view of the town, quite different from the one you see while wandering its narrow streets. And it's usually a chance for lots of laughs and wonderful memories…
A city connected by a canal to the sea
Marans comes from “mar'an” which means “sea place”. Located between Aiguillon Bay and the wet marsh, it offers the prospect of beautiful river and sea walks. Piers allow you to navigate the Sèvre Niortaise, and discover the city from the water!
Marans is connected to La Rochelle by a 24 km long canal, along which you can stroll on foot or on a bike to discover the many hydraulic structures, notably the locks of Marans, Andilly or Rompsay.
Marans piers
Between Marans and its river, it's a great love story...
The Sèvre Niortaise River rises in the Deux-Sèvres department and flows through the town of Marans from east to west. The backbone of the Marais Poitevin, it has shaped Marans's destiny as a river and sea port. Numerous canals have been dug; the two main ones are the Marans to the Sea Canal and the Marans to La Rochelle Canal.
From Marans, two piers allow you to navigate the Sèvre Niortaise. Here the navigation channels are wide and it is the boats without a license which are the most used. You can also rent canoes, pedal boats, kayaks and even stand-up paddles…
It is also possible to discover the Sèvre Niortaise aboard a habitable electric canal boat with Au Bout du Marais!
Zoom: can you go on a traditional boat in Marans?
In Marans, even though water is omnipresent, you're in the so-called "drained marshland" of the Marais Poitevin. Here, you can navigate the Sèvre Niortaise river and its wide canals; but the water is too deep for the "pigouille," the famous pole used to propel the boats. In Marans, small boats, canoes, and paddleboards are therefore preferred for exploring the open landscapes of this lesser-known part of the Marais Poitevin. For those who wish to try traditional boating, we recommend leaving Marans and heading east into the wet marshland, more often called the Green Venice. It's in this area that you'll find small canals lined with trees and numerous landing stages offering trips in traditional boats. From Marans, the first landing stage is at the Bazoin locks , at La Ronde.
Walk in Marans
The centre, the quays and its marina
A stroll along the quays is a must for anyone who wants to feel the soul of the city. Don't miss the picturesque passage under the old stone bridge before following the canal towards the marina.
Get away from the water, just long enough to admire the market and the fish market by taking the rue des halles on your left. Some small streets of Marans will surprise you with their character and their timeless atmosphere.
Take the course of the water, to the port which was once very important for the traffic of cereals, fruits and vegetables but also for trade with foreign countries for the transport of spices, coal or wood. It is now a pleasant marina, which can accommodate up to 180 yachtsmen. Located in the city center, it provides Marans with a place of tranquility appreciated by visitors and Marandais themselves.
City and Flowered Village "3 flowers" and Healthy Earth "3 butterflies" due to the absence of pesticides, Marans is also a green and colorful city!
Among the green spaces of the city, the gardens of the town hall are particularly remarkable. They concentrate more than 300 unusual species for harmony over the 4 seasons.
Further on, at the exit of the city, the Bois Dinot is a wooded setting in the city. It now houses the municipal campsite, but remains accessible to all from 9 a.m. to 18 p.m. A botanical route signposted over 1,5 ha will allow you a pleasant walk on the theme of “the senses and the essences”. This 1h30 course will allow you to discover many varieties of trees and plants of the marsh.
Zoom
Two discovery trails offer walking routes through Marans! A free booklet can be collected from one of our local shops.
Terra Aventura
For a fun visit, explore the alleys and every nook and cranny of the Marans town with “Tèrra Aventura”. You will then pass by buildings that have made the history of Marans: Notre-Dame church which overlooks the city with its unusual bell tower, the covered market, the town hall and its flower gardens... and you will know everything about the famous Marans hen !
All you have to do is download the free “tèrra aventura” application on your smartphone, and let yourself be guided.
Marans, the Vélo Francette and the Vélodyssée
Due to its geographical location at the intersection of two national cycle routes, Marans is a prime stopping point for cyclists looking for a little rest. It's also an ideal holiday destination for exploring the various cycle routes in the Marais Poitevin.
La Velodyssey will allow you to reach La Rochelle to the south along the canal and to the north to discover the Vendée coast after reaching the Brault locks.
La Francette bike will offer you a stroll along the water, a link between the landscapes of the dried-up marsh and those of the wet marsh. To get a taste of this route, leave from Quai Maréchal Joffre in the direction of Taugon.
Once upon a time Marans…
Originally the sea
Around 200 BC, the sea covered a large part of the current Poitevin Marsh, which is called the Gulf of Pictons, this marshy delta of the Sèvre Niortaise.
Over time, the Gulf of Pictons fills up and many islets appear at low tide. Marans was born on one of these limestone islets, a land of refuge within an immense swamp. From the first centuries, men took advantage of the site to defend the Sèvre estuary.
From wet marsh to dry marsh
Long before the year 1, canals were created to drain the territory and prevent flooding. These works are directed by the monks present in the gulf from the 000th century.
The marsh transformed to create the open landscapes known today as the parched marsh. Culture becomes a considerable source of income for the country.
Marans is one of the last towns located on the Sèvre Niortaise, before the mouth of the river on the Aiguillon BayThis situation gives it a strategic role both commercially and defensively.
A defensive and strategic role
In the 10th century, the town of Marans was organized around its castle and the Saint Etienne church.
Both a fortress serving to protect its inhabitants and a place of observation of the mouth of the Sèvre Niortaise, the Château de Marans fully assumes its defensive role.
La Rochelle, Protestant, needs Marans and its vast grain warehouses. But soon, the conflict between King Louis XIII and Marans ended in the surrender of the city, which then became an outpost of the royal guard during the siege of La Rochelle. Richelieu will have the castle razed in 1638 to prevent reformed troops from settling there after the departure of the royal troops.
A commercial city
Due to its still very strategic position, Marans rose quickly enough to become, little by little in the 17th century, the granary of Aunis and Bas-Poitou. All the productions of the surrounding fields dedicated to trade now transit through its port .
In the 18th century, Marans was the subject of all the attention and it was soon planned to link Marans and La Rochelle by a canal which would promote trade. Unfortunately this work takes so long that when this canal is finished, river navigation is on the decline, competed by the railway.
Throughout the 19th century and until the beginning of the 20th century, Marans will keep an important place within the port network of the Atlantic coast.
In addition to its port, the city has been embellished over time, and has modernized its public spaces.
After the Second World War, the commercial port of Marans declined. On the one hand, it suffered from competition from the port of La Pallice located at La Rochelle, but on the other hand, it struggles to accommodate increasingly larger ships in its port. It then becomes a port reserved for pleasure craft, a stone's throw from the ocean.
