La Venis Verte
The second largest wetland area in France after the Camargue is Maria Poitevin which is an area roughly between La Rochelle and Niort.
Part of the area is criss crossed with rivers and canals and so known as La Venise Verte . As we have recently discoverd the pleasures of kayaking we were determined to call in on our journey south in the autumn of 2011. As the weather had been so marvellous we had not hurried south and so that by the time we arrived in the area the campsite we had proposed staying at was closed for the winter. So we stayed at Camping Venise Verte which is a great choice as a place to stay. It is just outside the pretty little village of Coulon and beside the river. The campsite is to be found in the ACSI book but there is also a large aire in the village.
We hired a couple of canoes for the day from the campsite ( we really should have brought our own) and spent a lazy few hours paddling around the canals; we were almost alone as we canoed our way through the dapple lit waterways. We had a map of the canals but still managed to get lost a few times but eventually found the tiny village of La Garette where we pulled the canoe onto the slipway and then found a restaurant for lunch. It was a really wonderful way to spend a beautiful warm sunny day.
Part of the area is criss crossed with rivers and canals and so known as La Venise Verte . As we have recently discoverd the pleasures of kayaking we were determined to call in on our journey south in the autumn of 2011. As the weather had been so marvellous we had not hurried south and so that by the time we arrived in the area the campsite we had proposed staying at was closed for the winter. So we stayed at Camping Venise Verte which is a great choice as a place to stay. It is just outside the pretty little village of Coulon and beside the river. The campsite is to be found in the ACSI book but there is also a large aire in the village.
We hired a couple of canoes for the day from the campsite ( we really should have brought our own) and spent a lazy few hours paddling around the canals; we were almost alone as we canoed our way through the dapple lit waterways. We had a map of the canals but still managed to get lost a few times but eventually found the tiny village of La Garette where we pulled the canoe onto the slipway and then found a restaurant for lunch. It was a really wonderful way to spend a beautiful warm sunny day.
A not so skilled canoeist.
|
Coulon
|
Niort
The castle at Niort
While at Coulon we took the scooter out to Niort. There is a nice old castle built by Henry II (husband of Eleanor of Acquitaine and father of Richard the Lionheart). There is a pleasant if unspectacular cathedral with some excellent stained glass windows and the odd nice old building.It was a place well worth a short visit.
A tour of Eleanor of Acquitaine's keep is well worth it, it is a museum and there is a small charge, the view from the top is excellent.
We had the scooter to get to Niort but there is a good aire in the centre of Niort
A tour of Eleanor of Acquitaine's keep is well worth it, it is a museum and there is a small charge, the view from the top is excellent.
We had the scooter to get to Niort but there is a good aire in the centre of Niort
