Port de la Haye-Fouassière

The Haie-Fouassière harbour on the banks of the Sèvre Nantaise is an emblematic feature of the local landscape, both a natural area and a place to take a stroll, close to the gardens of los Corrales.

Since the Middle Ages, the Sèvre Nantaise has been a major route for traffic and trade between the Haut-Poitou region, the Nantes vineyards and the city of Nantes. The port of La Haie-Fouassière is part of this network of small river ports used to transport goods and people. The river was used to transport local products such as wine (in particular Muscadet), cereals, wood, stone and various materials used in construction and trade in Nantes.
The boats used, often gabares or flat-bottomed barges, were adapted to variations in water level and the meandering nature of the Sèvre.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the port was very busy. It played an essential role in the local economy, facilitating the export of the region's agricultural and wine production. The port was also closely linked to the numerous mills on the Sèvre, which used water power to grind grain or drive industrial machinery.The presence of the port encouraged the development of the town, which grew up around river trade and craft activities.
From the end of the XIXᵉ century, the rise of the railways and then road transport led to a gradual decline in commercial shipping on the Sèvre Nantaise. The port of La Haie-Fouassière then lost its main economic function and river activity gradually disappeared.
During the 20th century, the site was redirected towards more recreational and heritage uses. The quays and surrounding areas were preserved and developed as witnesses to the river's past.

The Los Corrales gardens are a tribute to our Spanish twin town of Los Corrales de Buelna. Located near the port, they open onto the Sèvre valley.
Divided into sections, you will first find the entrance with an exotic look to recall the introduction of plants in the 18th century, notably at La Galissonnière (Le Pallet), then at the far end where a picnic area is hidden away with a few fruit trees adding a friendly atmosphere to the whole, as well as three small themed gardens:|
- the white and blue perennial garden
- the 'simple' garden, with aromatic and medicinal plants, and
- and the English rose and perennial garden.