“As a child, I remember crossing Marans when we went to spend our holidays on the Vendée coast with my parents. This city has always intrigued me, challenged me, and I told myself that one day I would take the time to stop there, so that we could get to know each other.”
It's decided, it's April and I'm taking my man for a romantic weekend in Marand. We booked one night in a very cozy guest room, there is no shortage of choice on Marans and its surroundings. It is 9 o'clock when we arrive. We are immediately seduced by this very special atmosphere. The rigging of the sailboats rattles on the steel masts while two seagulls fight over a piece of bread. The ocean is not far away and you can feel it.
We decide to discover the city thanks to a geocaching application Tèrra Aventura. We pass in front of buildings that have made the history of Marans: Notre Dame church which overlooks the city with its atypical bell tower; the covered market and the fish market which remind us that the city was an important ancient trading port a few centuries ago; the stone bridge that connects the two banks; the marina and its construction sites which replaced the commercial activity then the Town Hall and its gardens which earned Marans a 3* Ville Fleurie status.
After a morning full of history, hunger sets in. We choose to stop at one of the restaurants overlooking the quays: seafood, fresh fish and daily specials make our mouths water. Here we are, refreshed for the afternoon! We booked two hours of paddle time to explore the meanders of the Sèvre Niortaise, an activity on the water which turns out to be a real pleasure. Lots of laughter and memories for this original discovery of the outskirts of the city. We end the day by strolling around the port and enjoying the end of the day lights on the river and the boats, a moment that we will not soon forget.
We spend a peaceful night with our host and stock up on energy for our second day which will be sporty, with 50 kilometers covered in perspective! After a hearty breakfast, we go through the market to fill our backpacks for the picnic and get on our bicycles. We take the Velodyssey, a cycle route which runs along the Atlantic coast from Brittany to the Basque Country, it crosses Marans and allows us to easily reach La Rochelle via the Marans – La Rochelle Canal. We take advantage of a lunch break with a view of the Old Port of La Rochelle and spend two hours discovering the port city, before returning at the end of the afternoon.
This weekend in Marans enchanted us, the town offers many possibilities for activities on site and its proximity to the coast allows you to enjoy the surroundings without taking the car. The appointment is made for future escapades, Marans we fell under your charm.

Marans comes from Mar'an which means place of sea.


