in SOULLANS

Sentier du grand marais

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SOULLANS

Jaune (n°17)

Description

Just a few kilometres from the seaside resorts, Soullans offers a radically different landscape.

While the “étiers” (streams) are a reminder of the proximity of the ocean, the water is much less present. The result is a walk with a more rural feel. The Grand Marais trail takes you from a cosy little market town to wet meadows where flora and fauna dominate the landscape.

Following paths or small roads, bordered by fields as far as the eye can see, this route guarantees peace and tranquillity.

Walking

Duration02h15Distance9.5 km

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Sentier du grand marais

Distance :9.5 km

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Step 1: La Place Jean Yole et son église

At the heart of the town centre, the square pays tribute to a man who left his mark on the history of Soullans: the writer Jean Yole (1878 – 1956). Opposite this lively square stands the church of Saint Hilaire, built in the neo-Gothic style with three naves between 1898 and 1900. Replacing an earlier church on the Place Jean Yole, it retains the latter's three bells. The church contains a treasure trove of statues of Saint Hilaire de Poitiers and Saint Louis, both of which are listed historic monuments.

Step 2: Le marais doux

This is the oldest land reclaimed from the sea. This part of the marsh is no longer irrigated by salt water. Between the rectilinear meadows meander ditches where only fresh water sleeps, bordered by reeds… These reeds were once used to roof traditional houses: the bourrines. The walls, meanwhile, were made from a mixture of mud, sand and dried grasses. The family would gather in the only room around the fireplace, where dried dung was burnt in place of wood.

Step 3: Faune et flore

The reed is undoubtedly the plant that gives the marsh its identity. Phragmites, massette and rouche are all reeds that line the marsh ditches. Cattail can be recognised by its black, cigar-shaped inflorescence. Phragmites, on the other hand, has a sort of feather duster.
On the animal side, green frogs are very common in the marsh. The different species of this batrachian reproduce with each other, which is a real headache for naturalists!

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