5 natural sites to visit in Charente Maritime in autumn and winter

As the dead leaves are being raked up by the shovelful, the Charente-Maritime region takes on a new color. As if we were discovering these flamboyantly colored landscapes for the first time, autumn renews the image of nature. Many natural sites thus become unusual, surprising and unmissable places for walking, a pleasure for the eyes!

To enjoy the landscapes of Charente-Maritime off-season, there's nothing like a little trip into the great outdoors for two, with family or friends. Between land, sea and marshes, Charente-Maritime offers a mosaic of landscapes shaped by nature, but also by man for millennia. For an immersion in typical Charente scenery, here is a selection of 5 natural sites to discover in autumn and winter, like invitations to stroll, relax and contemplate.

The Lilleau des Niges Nature Reserve - Île de Ré

The Lilleau des Niges nature reserve, located to the north of the Île de Ré, is located inside a large, almost enclosed bay, the Fier d'Ars. Made up of former salt marshes and mudflats, this major French ornithological site covers 220 hectares and reveals astonishing multi-coloured landscapes as well as exceptional wildlife at this time of year.

A true migratory crossroads, thousands of migratory birds from northern Europe (shore waders, ducks, spoonbills) take possession of the area and coexist in harmony with the local colonies of avocets, stilts, terns and gulls. As winter approaches, around 10,000 brant geese (geese from Siberia) arrive on the island and provide a strange sound spectacle. In autumn and winter, the best times of day are still dawn and rising (or high) tide for birdwatching.

Access to the reserve is free, the circuit stretches over more than 3 km for the greatest pleasure of nature lovers, cyclists and walkers. Access to the reserve is prohibited to all motorized vehicles. Discovery outings are organized throughout the year by the League for the Protection of Birds / Maison du Fier.

The Seudre estuary and its small oyster ports

At 67 kilometers long, the Seudre is the smallest river in France. Before flowing into the ocean in the Maumusson strait, in the heart of the Bay of Marennes-Oléron, it finds its ease in an estuary with an unusual appearance. On both sides of the river stretch 8,600 hectares of salt marshes, basins, dikes, channels and oyster-farming villages with charming little huts. The mere mention of these small, multi-colored wooden huts characteristic of the Charente coast takes our imagination on a journey and draws us to these bucolic places: strips of land surrounded by an immensity of water, oyster beds and marshes bordered by sea lavender, obione or samphire.

On foot or by bike, a one-day itinerary allows you to get a first impression of the estuary and to identify some good places where you will be happy to return. Along the 20 kilometers of the route which leads from the Éguille to the mouth of the river at La Tremblade and Marennes, oyster farming is widely present. Here, tasting fresh Marennes-Oléron oysters (the emblem of this territory) in the oyster farmer's hut is an integral part of the simple and authentic art of living.

In Mornac-sur-Seudre, La Tremblade, Éguille-sur-Seudre, Nieulle-sur-Seudre, Chatressac or Chaillevette, strolling along the channels to admire the comings and goings of the flat-bottomed boats and observing the work of the oyster farmers is a favorite pastime of locals and visitors!

The Poitevin Marsh

The Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park, the second largest wetland in France after the Camargue, is nicknamed the land of waterways or "Green Venice". It extends north of La Rochelle between the Bay of Aiguillon and Niort over more than 11,200 hectares of lush greenery.

Originating from the former Golf des Pictons, the Marais Poitevin was developed by man from the Middle Ages onwards, who crisscrossed it with canals. The Marais Poitevin is divided into two distinct parts:

• The dried-up marsh stretches from the bay of Aiguillon to Marans;
• The wet, floodable marsh from Marans to Niort.

On foot, there are numerous hiking trail options from Coulon and Arçais, the two main gateways to the wet marsh. A hike around Arçais or the 13 km Coulon-Magné-Coulon loop allows you to find yourself in the heart of this exceptional environment by following the Sèvre Niortaise. Cycle paths cross the Marais Poitevin, including the Vélodyssée or La Vélo Francette, offering a great opportunity to discover by bike this veritable labyrinth of canals, once the only means of communication between villages... Along the trails, be prepared to encounter cows, otters, coypu, dragonflies, and a good number of birds that have taken up residence in this green haven.

The Gironde estuary and its fishing huts

With the Gironde as your guiding thread, discover an estuary more than 70 km long that lives to the rhythm of the tides. Dotted with wild coves, small beaches, forests, marshes, small ports and fishing huts perched above the waves, this arm of the sea, which stretches up to 12 km wide, is the largest estuary in Western Europe. From Mortagne-sur-Gironde to Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, the Charente coastline offers superb maritime panoramas and beautiful cultural stops to soak up the unusual history of the river! This is the kingdom of the huts, these huts on pontoons, perched on long piles, hold a special place in the hearts of the Charentais.

The banks of the Gironde continue this spirit of conviviality today. These fishing huts dot the superb coastal paths of Talmont-sur-Gironde, Royan, Vaux sur Mer, Saint Palais, etc., and are a great delight for the curious and photographers!

The Marais d'Yves Nature Reserve

Fishing nets, thousands of birds, a panoramic view of the bay of Yves and the islands (Ré, Madame and Oléron) are the main assets of this timeless place to explore during a walk. Located between Rochefort and Châtelaillon, this nature reserve is made up of a mosaic of remarkable ecosystems : dunes, marshes, a lagoon sculpted by the sea swells. A perfect place to venture into the heart of exceptional biological diversity! Keep your eyes open to access this place, because the exits from the national road that runs alongside it are discreet:

• Coming from Rochefort, take the Les Boucholeurs exit and return to Rochefort via the D 137 (parking at the end of the Oasis road).
• Arriving from the south, park your vehicle in the Aire de la baie d'Yves car park.

This beautiful, sensitive natural area welcomes myriads of birds that come to rest on its shores: geese, ducks, herons, storks, and wading birds. At low tide, in the mudflats or on the nearby foreshore, they feast on worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. At dusk, their flights and aerial ballets create a magical spectacle that could inspire the greatest choreographers. Good to know: the birds are closest to the beach 2 hours before and after high tide. If you would like to be accompanied by an expert, the LPO offers an annual program of visits to the nature reserve.

We wish you pleasant walks in autumn and winter in Charente-Maritime, it is a region that can be enjoyed all year round.

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Article and photos prepared by Lesley Williamson for the Charente-Maritime Guide.