Maison de la Baie du Marais Poitevin

Maison de la baie du Marais poitevin

A gateway between the ocean and the marshes

Here we are at the meeting point of the ocean and the Marais poitevin. The Baie de l’Aiguillon forms an open landscape, where the light shifts with the tides and the seasons.

In Esnandes, the view stretches far into the distance. Over the mudflats, the salt meadows, the horizon. Yet this unassuming area is exceptionally rich: a major wetland, it welcomes thousands of migratory birds every year.

It is against this backdrop, both fragile and fascinating, that the Maison de la Baie comes into its own.

A place to learn and explore

Before setting off to explore, we like to stop off here. La Maison de la Baie brings together in one place everything you need to better understand the area and plan your visit.

Here you will find:

• a tourist information office, to help you find your way and organise your visit
• a site certified by the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park, committed to an environmentally friendly approach
• the mussel farming museum, which tells the story of the bouchots and mussel farming, emblematic of the bay
• guided tours of Saint-Martin d’Esnandes Church, a remarkable fortified church that bears witness to the history of the coastline

Here, everything invites you to understand before seeing things in a new light.

Observe, feel, slow down

Aiguillon Bay

Just a few minutes’ walk away, Pointe Saint-Clément extends the experience. We go there to take our time, observe and listen.

It is a prime spot for birdwatching. Depending on the season, you can spot avocets, stilts, herons or bitterns, in an almost suspended calm.

Activities are regularly organised by the League for the Protection of Birds. They allow you to explore further, interpret the landscapes and gain a better understanding of the balance of this living environment.

Here, there’s no need to overdo it. Just sit back and watch.

The Marais Poitevin

Straddling the Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime departments, the Marais Poitevin, sometimes known as the ‘Green Venice’, is a nature destination par excellence. Once covered by the sea, this area has been transformed over the centuries by human activity to become France’s second-largest wetland, now designated a Regional Nature Park. Baie de l’Aiguillon is home to exceptional biodiversity and serves as a refuge for numerous species of migratory birds.