Ciré-D'aunis: Cycling Route, Nature and Heritage

In Ciré-D'aunis, the Vélo Ciré cycling route, fishing ponds, natural areas and historic buildings come together. If you are looking for a hotel, you can choose the focus of your stay according to whether you are mainly interested in cycling, nature, fishing, horse riding or local history.

Cycling through Ciré-d'Aunis

The Vélo Ciré route starts and ends at Place de la Croix Jaune in Ciré-d'Aunis. The Aunis Sud cycling network includes the Vélo Ciré route, which passes through Ciré-d'Aunis, Ardillières and Landrais. For mountain bikes/hybrid bikes, there is a short route of 11.7 kilometres with a stated duration of 1 hour 30 minutes, and a long route of 23 kilometres with a duration of 3 hours.

The Château de Ciré is also listed as a point of interest on the Circuit Vélo Ciré: it is located on Rue du Champ de Foire. Route information may be revised in later editions; check the current route version before setting out.

Fishing in the Rochefort marshes

Etang des Colverts consists of two private fishing ponds in the Rochefort marshes, within the municipality of Ciré-d'Aunis. Together, they cover an area of more than five hectares. One 0.5-hectare pond is designated for fishing for trout, sturgeon and white fish.

Fishing is permitted from the bank only. A state-issued fishing association permit is not required; day or half-day permits are available. If fishing is a priority for you, these conditions and the different permit durations are the key points to consider when planning.

Wet woodlands and birdlife in Bois des Mornards

The ZNIEFF Bois des Mornards is located in Ciré-d'Aunis and covers 88.88 hectares. Its habitats include wet woodlands that are flooded in winter and crossed by old ditches. Meso-hygrophilous hay meadows lie at the edge.

Bois des Mornards is also home to a significant breeding colony of grey herons and purple herons. This offers two distinct ways to shape a themed stay: the seasonally influenced wetland habitats and the breeding birds.

Architectural history and culture in Ciré-d'Aunis

The history of the Château de Ciré dates back to its reconstruction in 1549. It was rebuilt by Olivier de Culant, Baron of Ciré and Seneschal of Aunis and Saintonge. The Eglise de la Nativité de la Sainte Vierge also has an early history: Guillaume de Ciré first built it around 1152 as a small Romanesque church. The present-day church was rebuilt in 1549 by Olivier de Culant, Baron of Ciré.

The church can be viewed from the outside year-round; check current visitor information before your visit. Inside, the altar tabernacle with exposition is protected as an individual movable cultural heritage item: this status has been in force since 21 September 1984, and the object was restored in 2009 by Bénédicte Le Blanc. The municipal library is housed in the former girls' school building, dating from 1882.

Horse-riding activities

Poney Club de Marcou in Ciré-d'Aunis offers riding lessons for all ages and skill levels. It also offers riding courses or camps, pony games and pony activities for young children and adults. If horse riding is important to your trip, you can consider these activities as a focus in their own right, alongside the cycling route, nature and heritage.

Discover more destinations: Breuil-La-Réorte, Pont-L'abbé-D'arnoult, Ile-D'aix, Courpignac, Mortiers, Saint-Jean-D'angély, Saint-Vivien, Saint-Georges-du-Bois.

For the broader travel overview: Charente-Maritime.