Niort and the Marais Poitevin

Built around an astonishing 11th-century church, Coulon is nestled in the meanders of the Sèvre Niortaise in the heart of one of Europe's largest marshes, just a few kilometers from Niort...

A former marine gulf, the Marais Poitevin stretches over 112,000 hectares of canals through a magnificently preserved natural environment of meadows lined with poplars and willows, romantic landscapes and picturesque villages: Coulon and the alleyways of its old town, the Maison du Marais Poitevin and its Sotterie dam; La Garette and Usseau with its Romanesque church, wash house and beautiful renovated farmhouses.

In perfect harmony with this exceptional environment, you can take a seat aboard a “plate”, a traditional boat, and let yourself glide through this cathedral of greenery.

Sports enthusiasts can rent a canoe and navigate the 320 km of marked waterways, or take a bike ride along the many hiking trails.

Just 15 minutes away, the town of Niort, “Ville Fleurie” and “Ville et Métiers d'Art”, boasts beautiful old facades, exceptional craftsmanship and a superb panorama over its rooftops from the terrace of its donjon, the city's flagship monument, a vestige of the ancient 12th-century fortress. Further afield, La Rochelle and Poitiers are waiting to be discovered...