Marais de la Seudre

Descriptif

Covering over 10,000 hectares around Marennes, Saint-Just-Luzac, Nieulle-sur-Seudre and Le Gua, the Seudre marsh is one of France's most important wetlands.

In Roman times, this vast area was converted into saltworks, which were the source of the Saintonge region's wealth until very recently. From the 17th century onwards, part of the marshes were transformed into oyster ponds, an activity that took precedence over all others from the 19th century onwards.

The salines became "claires" or maturing basins, where Marennes-Oléron oysters acquire their typical flavor.



Shaped over the centuries by man, the marsh today boasts a wealth of flora and fauna. Among the habitats best represented are Mediterranean-type wet meadows, Atlantic salt meadows, alluvial forests and coastal lagoons.

Frequented by numerous bird species, the Seudre marsh is a prime breeding area for local and migratory avifauna (great egret, stork, grey harrier, peregrine falcon, etc.). The flora is diverse, with some plants, such as glasswort, thriving in brackish environments, while others, such as fennel and mustard, prefer mild environments, bringing color to the salt marshes in fine weather.

Numerous footpaths allow you to discover these unique natural spaces.