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The SEvre Niortaise Estuary |
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| 155km long, the Sèvre Niortaise passes right across the Poitevin Marsh. In order to transform this waterway into a trade route, a great many changes and developments were made over the centuries. |
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 A multitude of canals
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| Thus, between Niort and Marans, in the middle of the Poitevin Marsh, the Sèvre Niortaise was very widely canalised. Here, seven reaches (small channels) were dug. With very little slope, never more than 3m, the water level is maintained through an ingenious system of weirs and locks. This gigantic task combined with permanent surveillance made it possible for barges to circulate between the lands and the Atlantic Ocean. This came to an end, however, at the beginning of the 20th century with the rapid development of rail transport. |
Green in every way |
Today, a few small crafts, mainly rowing boats, float peacefully down the Sèvre Niortaise. They are the perfect means to explore deep into this water labyrinth, a green-coloured paradise. Also ideal for fishing, the Sèvre Niortaise estuary represents a real and unique haven of tranquillity, peopled only by the local wildlife.
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