The Marais Poitevin by bike, around Coulon

Coulon, the Vélo Francette and the Marais Poitevin by bike

Discover the Marais Poitevin by bike, an exceptional environment. Cycling is the best way to discover this magical place with its many cycle paths that line the canals and the Sèvre Niortaise. This green kingdom has an atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else and its peacefulness offers revitalizing walks to its visitors.

Highlights of the stay:

• The wet, wild and unique marsh
• The Maillezais Abbey
• The guided boat trip with breakfast at dawn
• The picturesque villages of Arçais, Saint Georges de Rex or Le Vanneau

Day 1: Coulon
Check into your hotel located in the heart of the village. If you have time, stroll along the banks of the Sèvre or visit the Marais Poitevin Museum. There, you'll learn the history of the Marais Poitevin, the difference between wet and drained marshes, and lots of other information.

Day 2: Niort Loop (34 km)
Hop on your bike and head to Niort. You'll cycle mainly along the Sèvre River to the capital of the Green Venice. With its keep, its covered market dating from 1871 (which hosts the "most beautiful market in France 2024"), its dragons, and its pretty alleyways, its town center will never cease to amaze you! Return to Coulon via the Vélo Francette cycle path. Enjoy your free time in the evening to stroll through the village or along the quays.

Overnight in Coulon.

Day 3: Excursion to Maillezais (41 km)
Today, head to Maillezais and its 11th-century Abbey (entrance included). Visit the ruins of this thousand-year-old abbey and discover its fascinating history. As you approach Maillezais, you leave the wet, green, and dense marshland to enter the drained marsh, whose canals are mainly used to irrigate fields and crops. The contrast is striking and reminds us that the Marais Poitevin was shaped by human hands to reclaim land from what was once the Gulf of Pictons.

Overnight in Coulon.

Day 4: Arçais Loop (38 km)
Get up early to start this day with a guided boat trip and enjoy the peace and quiet of the marsh for a unique experience of two hours. Breakfast is served on board (included). Back on land, hop on your bike for a ride through the picturesque villages of Arçais, Sainte Sabine, Le Vanneau, and Saint Georges de Rex. The "wild marsh" will hold no secrets for you!

End of the tour after the loop.

Day 5: Coulon
End of the tour after breakfast. Additional night(s) in Coulon are available.

General Information:

• 5 days and 4 nights
• Accommodation level: 3-star hotel
• Child rates: contact us
• Dates 2026:
• Departures every day from March to October
• High season: July and August

Included:

• 4 nights with breakfast
• Tourist taxes
• 2-hour guided boat ride at dawn with breakfast on day 3
• Visit to Maillezais Abbey
• Breakdown assistance (for rented bikes - except for punctures)

Not included:

• Transportation to the departure point
• Personal expenses
• Visits other than those included in the program
• Anything not included in "included"

Options:

• Electric Bike or Mountain Bike Rental
• Children's equipment rental (on request)
• Half-board (4 dinners)
• Additional night(s) at the beginning or end of the Tour to Coulon (on request)
• Transfers from Niort to Coulon and from Coulon to Niort (on request)
• Theft insurance for the rental bike
• Cancellation insurance

Level:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:
80% cycle paths and very smooth paths. The circuits pass away from cars, in the heart of the marsh.

Climate:
Very shaded, mild sun, a little wind, pleasant temperatures.

Technicality:

• from 25 to 39 km per day, or 2 to 4 hours of cycling.
• Partially marked route

Bibliography:

Map of cycle paths in the Marais Poitevin

Meals:

• Breakfasts: copious (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jams, orange juice) or buffet
• Lunches : not included
• Dinners : optionnal. In a restaurant near the accommodation.

The bike:

• Rental bike: Standard bike or ebike. Rental bikes are equipped (lock, repair kit, front and rear bag), delivered and collected directly from the accommodation.
• Personal bike: we do not recommend bikes with small tires. VTC and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to service your bike before leaving. At the end of the tour, you will have to take care of your bike.

Transport:

• By train: Niort train station (about 2.5 hours from Paris).
• By road: Coulon is located about 415 km from Paris
• By plane: La Rochelle airport

Cancellation insurance :
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.