The Marais Poitevin, meaning Poitevin marshland, is a huge swatch of freshwater land inter-connected with canals and forming islands in all direction. Situated not far from La Rochelle and Niort on the Atlantic Coast of France, this marshland is a popular holiday destination for the Poitevins (French of Poitou-Charente origin) for outings. I visited the area a few times over a few years as Jean-Paul lives in Niort but one very bright and sunny spring in 2004, we had an incredible balade on the canals on boat as well as a nature walk on its banks. Here's a pictorial of the balade...
A pretty house on the canal, a popular picture-taking spot for tourists.
A moored canoe on the banks of the canal...
A flood-gate
Canal-houses like this one has a harmonized blue/green painted doors and windows, just like those in the popular island of Ile de Re, off La Rochelle
A quaint road-side/canal residence...
Drooping leaves of a beautiful weeping willow
Moored canoes on a canal choked with duck-weed
Recreational boat rented out to tourists to explore the canals
Back-yard of a canal-house, with what seems like a dugout canoe
A row of crack willows on the banks of a canal
A view of a larger canal
Abstract art from nature...
Soothing colours of the painted doors and windows in harmony with the esprit du lieu...
Waterlilies, or nenuphars, on a canal
Denizens of the canal, resting
A bridge to an island which is cultivated with vegetables 'specialized' for the area
Willows and boats/canoes
A village at the edge of the marshland
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