Au fil de l'eau : 4 days cycling between the ocean and the Marais Breton Vendéen
Where birds dance with the wind and canals draw a silver labyrinth, the Marais Breton Vendéen awaits you. A 123-kilometer cycling loop takes you from roaring ocean to whispering marsh, shady forest to artisan villages. Four days to lose yourself in this tangle of landscapes where water and land play hide-and-seek.
You'll love
Pedal with your nose to the wind between endless beaches and peaceful canals
Observe the ballet of herons and egrets along the étiers.
Watch the ballet of oyster farmers as the tides change
Venture onto the mythical Passage du Gois when the sea recedes
Day 1 : Saint-Jean-de-Monts/Sallertaine, from blue horizon to green labyrinth
The adventure begins facing the ocean, under the benevolent gaze of the Saint-Jean-de-Monts pier. This 400-meter jetty juts out like a balcony suspended above the waves, offering a unique view of the Atlantic. With the wind in your hair and the spray on your lips, your first turns of the wheel are made to the rhythm of the waves. The beach stretches out before you, infinite, like a carpet of golden sand rolled out to the horizon. At the bend in the road, you leave the seafront and slip into the cool shade of the pine trees. The aptly named "Coquillages et Pommes de pins" loop welcomes you into its fragrant setting of resin and salty air.
The ocean recedes behind you as you plunge into another world, populated by canals and quivering reeds. Welcome to the Marais Breton Vendéen. Here, time stretches like reflections in the water. Birds accompany you. Here, a patient heron watches for its prey. There, a little egret spreads its immaculate white wings.
In the distance, the wings of the Moulin de Rairé turn gently, seeming to beckon you to approach. Tonight, you'll spend the night in Sallertaine, a former islet in the heart of the marshes, now an arts and crafts village. All along your route, Accueil Vélo-labeled accommodations await you: campsites nestled under pine trees, characterful bed & breakfasts and charming hotels, all equipped to pamper cyclists and their mounts.
Day 2 : Sallertaine/Bouin, in the footsteps of craftsmen and travelling birds
Before getting on your bike, take a stroll through the narrow streets of Sallertaine. Behind the white facades are hidden treasures of imagination: some forty artisans have made their home in this village, which has been awarded the "Ville et Métiers d'Art" label. Push open the door of a workshop and let yourself be surprised by a ceramist or a metal enameller inspired by the marsh landscapes.
As you get back on the road, your legs will find the pleasure of pedaling between wet meadows. Don't forget your binoculars: between Châteauneuf and Bois de Céné, the white stork, majestic on its long legs, has found a haven of peace here. There's an observatory where you can watch these great migratory birds without disturbing them.
The road then takes you to Bouin, where you'll set up camp for the night. This authentic village, once an island surrounded by the sea, retains something of the island feel in its architecture and atmosphere.
Accommodation ideas
Day 3 : Bouin/Fromentine, between land of salt and maritime kingdom
In the morning, as you set off again, you may find yourself gliding over sheets of mist clinging to the banks of the canals. From Bouin, you join La Vélodyssée to follow the Vendée coastline. From port to port, your route is dotted with oyster-farmers' huts. At the Pointe du Bec, nicknamed the "little Chinese port", the landing stages rise up on their wooden posts, creating a picture reminiscent of Asian prints. If the tide is high, watch the ballet of boats returning loaded with oysters.
Push a little further out to sea and, at Beauvoir-sur-Mer, you'll discover one of the most fascinating phenomena on the Atlantic coast: the Passage du Gois, a 4 km submersible road linking the mainland to the island of Noirmoutier, only passable at low tide. To ride close to the waves, check the tide times...
The route takes you back into the marsh. To deepen your understanding of this unique ecosystem, a stop at Le Daviaud is a must. This open-air eco-museum immerses you in the history of the marsh, with its traditional thatched-roof barns, salt storehouses and ancient animal breeds. A few pedal strokes take you to the fisheries of Le Porteau, before stopping off in Fromentine for an oyster tasting in an oyster hut.
Visit ideas
Day 4 : Fromentine/Saint-Jean-de-Monts, between golden dunes and mysterious forest
For this final leg, La Vélodyssée takes you back along the coast. But before heading out to sea, climb the steps to the Pey de la Blet lookout, "the stairway to the sky". From the top of this platform, the view is dominated by the Pays de Monts forest, with the ocean on the horizon.
Back on your horse, you ride through this long state forest, a veritable plant bulwark planted in the 19th century to protect farmland from the advancing sands. On the bike path, dunes, pines and oaks play hide-and-seek with the Atlantic. Undulating stretches add their own special touch.
The sand sometimes slips onto the track, reminding us that the beach is never far away: an invitation to take a dip in the ocean. After the seaside resort of Notre-Dame de Monts, the pine forest invites you to enjoy its tranquillity once again, before docking at Saint-Jean-de-Monts for a last iodized dinner overlooking the ocean.
Want to extend your trip to Vendée?
- At Le Perrier, explore the "étiers" with Déambul on a yawl trip.
- In Sallertaine, take a canoe trip along the étiers with a Route du Sel guide for a total immersion in the art of living in the Maraîchin region.
- At the edge of the Notre-Dame-de-Monts pine forest, explore the biodiversity of the coast and forest in a different way at the Biotopia museum, through sensory experiences.
