Visit of the Marais Salant de la Vie + Bourrine du bois Juquaud

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Visit of the Marais Salant de la Vie + Bourrine du bois Juquaud

For this 100% nature day, let's join a remarkable natural site.
We offer you a real trip back in time.
After this day, the white gold will no longer hold any secrets for you.
You will never taste it in the same way again.
From ancestral techniques to the way salt is cultivated today, during this walk you will learn more about the profession of salt worker.

But before you go, make sure you are equipped:

A good pair of shoes
Sunscreen
A hat
A picnic with local products that you will have found at the market

The Marais Salant de la Vie (salt marshes) are only 7 km from the Sol à Gogo campsite. In the heart of these marshes, there is a long canal, a mudflat, a saltworks, ponds...
But if you want to know more, you might as well go there and visit the marshes in the company of a salt worker.

The most courageous can get there by bike. It takes about 26 minutes to get there as opposed to about ten minutes by car.

The Marais Salant de la Vie attracts many visitors each year. This coastal wetland covers about 4,500 hectares.
Some professions have only existed for a few years, but the salt marshes have existed for centuries. They know their trade better than anyone else. And above all, they are happy to share with you their working techniques for extracting salt.

Practical information :

Opening hours:

In July/August: Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 12 pm and from 2.30 pm to 6 pm;
Sunday, from 2.30 pm to 6 pm;
closed on Saturday

Prices:

Individual adults: €6
Individual children and young people aged 6-18: €4
Accompanied children under 6: free
Family pass: 18€ (for children under 6 years old)

An omnipresent flora and fauna

In addition to showing you the ancestral techniques for cultivating this flavour enhancer, during the visit the guide will also introduce you to the fauna and flora present. The Marais Salants de la Vie are known for their exceptional biodiversity, home to many rare and protected animal and plant species. This ecosystem is maintained thanks to the activity of the salt workers.

Cardere, sea lavender, glasswort, obione, are the different types of vegetation that you can see.
Mallard, black-headed gull, heron, egret, kingfisher, here is a non-exhaustive list of the fauna that occupy the marshes.

And to finish the visit, you can taste the salt of Life.

You can also buy salt directly from the producers, so you can sprinkle it on your lunchtime picnic.

At the end of your walking tour of the Marais Salants de la Vie, take a break.

Unfold a napkin and use it as a table for your picnic in such a quiet and bucolic place, with only the company of birds, isn't this the setting we dream of all year round to enjoy this moment with our family?

At the end of your meal, remember to keep your waste so that this place continues to be preserved for future generations.

Let's continue on the road of the past by taking the direction of the Bourrine du Bois Juquaud

After a 9 minute drive, you will arrive at the Bourrine du Bois Juquaud museum.
This exceptional site has become a must-see in Saint Hilaire de Riez.

This place rich in history will allow you to discover the daily life of the Maraîchins in the 20th century.
This museum aims to promote the cultural heritage of the region.
"Telling stories so as not to forget is an adage that has never ceased to be true.
Thanks to the traditional houses that have remained intact, you will discover how the Maraîchins lived.
On site, activities are organised to help you discover the skills of yesteryear.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday in July and August.