How do I get there?

Here, the heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
By train, by bus, by bike, by camper van, by car or even by air, the Vendée Marais Poitevin is easily reached from the major cities of Western and Central France.

Coming by car

A car is still the easiest way to explore the entire destination, with easy access to villages, natural sites and activities.

Approximate journey times

As the destination is vast, journey times may vary from north to south. The reference point for the time indicated is the town of Fontenay-le-Comte.

Nantes: around 1h15
La Rochelle: approx. 45 min
Niort: approx. 35 min
Poitiers: approx. 1h15
Bordeaux: approx. 2hrs 15mins
Paris: approx. 4 hours

Main routes

A83 motorway (Nantes ↔ Niort)

Recommended exits :

Fontenay-le-Comte: exits 7.1 or 8
Oulmes, Marais Poitevin: exit 9

Once there, the roads lead through marshland, hedged farmland, forest and picturesque villages. Here, even the journey is part of the experience.

Calculate my route

Coming by train

Prefer to travel light and leave the car in the garage? There are several stations within easy reach of your destination.

Nearby stations

Niort
La Rochelle
Luçon
La Roche-sur-Yon

From Paris, allow around 2 hours by TGV to Niort station.

From there, you can easily reach the Vendée Marais Poitevin by hire car, bus or car pool.

Coming by bus

From Niort, La Rochelle, Luçon and La Roche-sur-Yon stations, there are regional services to Fontenay-le-Comte and several other towns in the area. A practical solution for car-free travel and a more responsible holiday.

Route 15 Aléop: Fontenay-le-Comte ↔ Luçon ↔ La Roche-sur-Yon
Route 16 Aléop: Fontenay-le-Comte ↔ Niort
17 Aléop Line: Fontenay-le-Comte ↔ La Rochelle
520 Aléop Line: Fontenay-le-Comte ↔ Sainte-Hermine ↔ La Roche-sur-Yon

See bus timetables

Getting here by bike

Two-wheeled adventurers are right at home here.

The destination is criss-crossed by several major cycle routes:

the Vélo Francette
the Vendée Vélo

You’ll cycle between canals, villages, abbeys, forests and hedged farmland, with a host of accommodation and services bearing the Accueil Vélo label.

Coming by motorhome

The region is very proud to welcome our motorhome friends all year round, with several service areas and specially adapted parking facilities.

Between the Marais Poitevin, the riverbanks, the Mervent-Vouvant forest and the picturesque villages, there’s no shortage of places to stop and travel at your own pace… and awaken your nomadic spirit.

You’ll find motorhome parks in many of the destination’s communes.