Discover Bouin: Oysters, harbour and routes

Bouin offers several ways to plan a trip: architectural history, oyster farming, harbour scenery, and routes through marshland and along the coast. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bouin, you can decide whether you’re mainly interested in historic buildings, maritime production, cycling, or nature watching.

Church, lanes and Port du Bec

The foundations of the Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption date back to the 12th century. Visitors can also discover historic houses and picturesque lanes. If you’re interested in individual buildings and streetscapes, this offers a different focus from the harbours and oyster production.

Port du Bec lies at the mouth of the Étier du Dain and extends across Bouin and Beauvoir-sur-Mer. It is the largest of Bouin’s four oyster harbours. Its nickname, “Port chinois” (“Chinese harbour”), refers to the jetties supported by wooden piles: their interwoven pattern is reminiscent of the harbours of the China Sea.

Oysters and marine farming

The oysters of Bouin Island officially belong to the “Sites Remarquables du Goût” group. The production facilities also offer an insight into local oyster farming: there are now about 180 facilities on a new 200-hectare area of reclaimed land in Bouin. They are used mainly for oyster farming, as well as for other forms of marine farming or aquaculture. This approximate figure describes the current situation and may change.

Routes and landscapes

The “Du Port du Collet au Port des Champs” cycle route starts and ends in Bouin. It is marked as a green-and-white “Vendée Vélo” route, rated easy, and is 11 km long; the stated duration is one hour. Check current route conditions before setting off.

The “Boucle des marais et des digues de Bouin” offers a different perspective. It passes through the Marais Breton Vendéen, a protected Natura 2000 area, and across wide-open landscapes where visitors can observe numerous bird species. In contrast, along the “Du Port du Collet au Port des Champs” route, the landscape is shaped by expanses formed by sea spray, oyster farms, and wild nature. It reveals an unusual coastal landscape where people and the sea coexist. The marsh route offers opportunities for birdwatching; the coastal route showcases wide expanses shaped by sea spray, oyster farms, and wild nature.

Travelling by coach

SNCF coach route 13 runs through Bouin between Nantes and Noirmoutier. The coach has six spaces for bicycles, which cyclists can take into account when planning their journey. As transport services and bicycle capacity may change, check the latest service information before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Brem-Sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-De-Monts, La Jonchère, Chaillé-Les-Marais, Saint-Vincent-Sur-Jard, La Chapelle-Thémer, Saint-Sigismond, La Tardiere.

Go to the overview of destinations: Vendée.