100% nature experience: Day 1

DAY 1: A bucolic escapade in the heart of Green Venice.

For this first 100 % nature getaway from our little 4-star campsite in the Vendée, we're taking you to the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park. This is one of the largest listed sites in France. It's an invitation to romance. There's something timeless about observing this world shaped for centuries by man. Many painters draw their inspiration from this living tableau where man and nature are one.

Here are a few tips to help you organise your day...

• Plan to wake up at the crack of dawn (or at least not too late to make the most of the day we've planned for you).
• A picnic (there are plenty of bucolic spots in the Marais to enjoy this moment).
• Water and sun cream (especially if you plan to go boating or cycling).

Direction Maillezais.

It's an hour's drive away, but you won't regret it.
It's the gateway to the Marais Poitevin.
And above all, you'll discover the abbey of Maillezais, an architectural gem that's sure to dazzle you. You'll also be able to enjoy a spectacular twenty-minute projection on the walls of the abbey, recounting the tormented history of the building.

Coulon, the capital of the Marais Poitevin...

We invite you to continue your visit to Coulon, the nerve centre of the Marais. It's a nice stop to make. This flower-filled village is built around the Sèvre Niortaise, which flows peacefully through its centre. You'll find several embarcadères to hire a boat and explore the Marais. There are plenty of stalls where you can take home souvenirs and sample local specialities (eels, frog legs, pate de ragondin, farci poitevin...).

The right address: For a spot of shopping, head to Saveurs Régionales. Mr Godard's bonhomie and love of the Marais will introduce you to his local products.

The unmissable boat trip to "La Garette":

Whether you're on your own or taking a guided tour, you can choose the type of trip that suits you best.
You won't have any trouble finding a landing stage and hiring a boat, although, admittedly, not all of them are equally interesting.

We've tested a whole host of them for you... And one "spot" clearly stands out from the rest.
These are Les Frênes pier in Sansais. The promenade is sublime. It has everything that makes the Marais so charming. As soon as you row along the flower-bedecked houses that line the Conche des cabanes de SansaisYou'll be overwhelmed by the beauty of this little corner of paradise.

NB : To get there from Coulon, take the Route de la Garette and park just after the bridge on the Place du Port. Walk up Rue des Gravées on your right.

At the end of this journey and if you still have a little energy left, don't hesitate to take the secondary roads. <The villages of Arçais, classified as a small town of character, and Damvix have plenty to offer. Finally, it will be time to think about the return journey and indulge in a well-deserved rest in your mobil-home rental in Vendée.