Marais Poitevin tourism and travel guide

Niort Hotels & holiday rentals

Places to visit nearby

Excursions & Activities

Car hire in France

Niort Hotels & holiday rentals

Excursions & Activities

Visit Marais Poitevin: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The Marais-Poitevin is a region of canals and marshes, an unusual environment best explored by boat

Marais Poitevin is situated in the Charente-Maritime department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Marais Poitevin in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include Niort at 11 km and Maillezais abbey at 13 km.

Marais Poitevin, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Coulon

Most Beautiful Village at 3 km (direction north-north-east), in the Deux-Sevres department

Established since 2000 years agio, Coulon is now a centre for exploring the Marais-Poitevin...

See Coulon guide

Niort

at 11 km (direction east), in the Deux-Sevres department

Niort is a picturesque large town with a donjon, a market hall and a...

See Niort guide

Maillezais abbey

Abbey at 13 km (direction west-north-west), in the Vendee department

The ruins of the Maillezais abbey are on the edge of the marshes of...

See Maillezais abbey guide

Nieul-sur-l'Autise

at 15 km (direction north-north-west), in the Vendee department

Highlights in Nieul-sur-l'Autise include the Abbey of Saint-Vincent and a traditional watermill...

See Nieul-sur-l'Autise guide

Chateau de Cherveux

Castle at 23 km (direction east-north-east), in the Deux-Sevres department

The Chateau de Cherveux, one of the best preserved 15th century castles in the...

See Chateau de Cherveux guide

Fontenay-le-Comte

at 24 km (direction north-west), in the Vendee department

With some interesting 18th century townhouses to see, Fontenay-le-Comte is also home to the...

See Fontenay-le-Comte guide

Surgeres

at 25 km (direction south-west)

It is the cluster of monuments in the park in the centre of Surgeres...

See Surgeres guide

Marans

at 30 km (direction west)

Marans is a small town with a pretty section along the river in the...

See Marans guide

Vouvant

Most Beautiful Village at 33 km (direction north-north-west), in the Vendee department

The pleasant village of Vouvant still retains part of a medieval castle and an...

See Vouvant guide

Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire

Church at 36 km (direction east), in the Deux-Sevres department

The church of Saint-Hilare in Melle is a very impressive example of 12th century...

See Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire guide

Melle

at 36 km (direction east), in the Deux-Sevres department

The town of Melle is best known for its three roman style churches, built...

See Melle guide

Saint-Jean d'Angely

at 40 km (direction south-south-east)

The historic centre of Saint-Jean d'Angely has several notable monuments including the abbey church...

See Saint-Jean d'Angely guide

Chatelaillon-Plage

Seaside resort at 45 km (direction west-south-west)

The seaside resort of Chatelaillon-Plage has a long sandy beach and a friendly atmosphere...

See Chatelaillon-Plage guide

La Rochelle aquarium

at 45 km (direction west-south-west)

The aquarium in La Rochelle features various parts, including a shark tank and many...

See La Rochelle aquarium guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Charente-Maritime

Find Niort hotels & holiday rentals

Reserve excursions near Marais Poitevin

Map of places to visit near Marais Poitevin

Markets in and near Marais Poitevin

• Benet: market Monday (7km)
• Niort: market Thursday all day & Saturday all day (11km)
• Courcon: market Wednesday (17km)
• Coulonges-sur-l'Autize: market Tuesday (20km)
• Fontenay-le-Comte: market Saturday all day (24km)
• La Creche: market Sunday (24km)
• Surgeres: market Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (24km)
• Marans: market Tuesday (30km)
• Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole: market Saturday (32km)
• Brioux-sur-Boutonne: market Thursday (34km)

More information about Marais Poitevin, Poitou-Charentes

Tourist attractions near Marais Poitevin, France

What to do at Marais Poitevin? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Marais Poitevin.

Aquarium

• Aquarium de La Rochelle (45km)

Grand sites of France

• Marais Poitevin (6km)

Heritage sites

• Melle église St Hilaire (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (36km)
• Aulnay église St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (36km)
• Saint-Jean-d'Angély, abbaye royale (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (40km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Coulon (3km)
• Vouvant (33km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Fontenay-le-Comte (24km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Eglise de Saint-Eulalie (Benet) (7km)
• Abbaye Saint Pierre et Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Maillezais) (13km)
• Abbaye Royale (Nieul-sur-l'Autise) (15km)
• Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Maille) (15km)
• Eglise de Saint-Pierre (Dampierre-sur-Boutonne) (30km)
• Eglise de Notre-Dame (Vouvant) (33km)
• Eglise de Saint-Brice (Saint-Mande-sur-Bredoire) (38km)
• Eglise de Saint Germain (Varaize) (44km)

Remarkable gardens

• Arboretum du chemin de la découverte (36km)
• La Guyonnière (42km)
• Jardins du Bâtiment (42km)
• Jardins de Chaligny (50km)

Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé)

(see also historical French towns)

• La Rochelle (45km)
• Chatillon-sur-Thouet (48km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Forêt de Benon (17km)
• Baie de l'Aiguillon (18km)

Towns of Art and history

• Parthenay (47km)
• Rochefort (49km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Marans (30km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Zoodyssée (24km)
• Natur'Zoo de Mervent (26km)

Geography and distances

Marais Poitevin is in the west of France at 45 kilometres from La Rochelle, the department capital (general information: Marais Poitevin is 360 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors will arrive by car typically from a channel ferry ports such as Saint Malo, Caen or Cherbourg, a drive af about 4-5 hours. For driving distances to Marais Poitevin from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 7 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Amure, Coulon, Frontenay-Rohan-Rohan, Le Mazeau, Magne, Saint-Georges-de-Rex and Sansais.

This page in French: Visiter Marais Poitevin