Marans
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Visit Marans, Poitou-Charentes
Marans is a town to the north-east of La Rochelle, in the Poitou-Charentes region of western France.
The town of Marans has quite a busy road passing through it, and the temptation is to continue on your way. But I suggest you stop a while, because there are a couple of interesting attractions to explore slightly away from the main road.
Explore Marans
We stopped just by chance, attracted by the sign saying they had been awarded 'Four Flowers' by the national Village Fleuri' association (not many towns have achieved this), and because we saw a sign mentioning a 'Jardin des Plantes'.
I am a keen garden enthusiast and was not disappointed - the garden in front of the Mairie is superb, and free!
Apparently the original church was considered to be too far from the town centre so the replacement (the church of Notre Dame) was constructed in 1900. Funds ran out before the steeple was built, but a local lad who had seen the original church built, then later made his fortune in Paris, gave the funds (when he was 93 years old) to build the modern steeple.
There is also a 'panoramic hall' in the steeple with great views across the town and the Marais Poitevin that lies to the east of Marans.
Another monument worth seeing in Marans is the covered market, built in 1882, an impressive glass and ironwork structure.
Marans also has a pleasant river port containing small river craft and yachts, where you can also stroll along the river bank, or hire a boat to explore the canals and waterways of the Marais Poitevin.
Note: I am not an angler but understand Marans is a very popular place with fishermen.
Photos of Marans (click any picture to start the gallery)
Tourist classifications for Marans: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*;
Suggested places to visit near Marans, France
Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.
Maillezais abbey 21km
La Rochelle 21km
Fontenay-le-Comte 22km
Nieul-sur-l'Autise 27km
More suggestions: La Flotte-en-Re 29km; Surgeres 30km; Marais Poitevin 30km; Saint-Martin-de-Re 31km; Coulon 31km; Vouvant 34km; Ile de Re 34km; Ile-d'Aix 36km; Rochefort 41km; Ars-en-Re 42km; Georges Clemenceau house 44km; Ile d'Oleron 51km; Brouage 51km; Ronce-les-Bains 58km;
See these places and more on a map at places near Marans
Marans tourism: sights and attractions nearby
Baie de l'Aiguillon - site of natural beauty (13km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Maille) - religious monument (16km) : Abbaye Saint Pierre et Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Maillezais) - religious monument (21km) : Jardins du Bâtiment - remarkable garden (27km) : Abbaye Royale (Nieul-sur-l'Autise) - religious monument (27km) : Jardins de Chaligny - remarkable garden (30km) : Eglise de Saint-Eulalie (Benet) - religious monument (30km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame (Vouvant) - religious monument (34km) :
French version: see Marans (Francais)
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