Le Bourdet in the heart of the Marais Poitevin

Le Bourdet lies in the heart of the Marais Poitevin. This gives you several specific starting points for planning your trip. You can consider whether the natural landscape, a route on foot or by bicycle, or the local history is especially important to your choice.

Paths through wet meadows and longer routes

The Sentier de la Maraîchine is a 1.8-kilometre discovery trail through 18 hectares of natural wet meadows. It can be explored on foot or by bicycle and offers insight into the history and natural richness of the Marais Poitevin. The route “Le Bourdet: sur les traces de la Maraîchine” is 5.8 kilometres long and rated easy. The 1.8- and 5.8-kilometre distances provide a concrete comparison of the routes; the “easy” rating applies to the longer route. This lets you assess the shorter discovery trail and the longer route based on their respective distances and the information provided for each.

Alkaline marsh: landscape and conditions

Le Bourdet’s alkaline peatland can be visited only under special conditions and with a guide. Take the required guidance and special conditions into account when planning your visit. The Tourbière du Bourdet-Amuré is a former alkaline marsh with wooded areas, reed-lined clearings and alkaline fens of high heritage value. Compared with the Sentier’s natural wet meadows, different landscape features stand out here: woodland, reed clearings and fens. This offers a more detailed picture of the natural landscape, from a discovery trail through wet meadows to a former marshland with a variety of habitats.

Water management and church

The Bief du Bourdet was built in the 18th century to divert the waters of the Courance and carry them up to the village. There, they powered the wheels of several mills. The canal thus connects water management with a specific local purpose: operating mills. The Priory Church of Saint-Jacques du Bourdet offers a different historical perspective. It was rebuilt in 1778 and has a single-arched bell-cote, a lead baptismal font, a Neo-Romanesque altar and a historicised stained-glass window. The tower, font, altar and window draw attention to different aspects of the church: its architecture, furnishings and design. The Bief highlights the function of water; at the church, the rebuilding and architectural features shape the historical perspective.

Biodiversity atlas for 2024–2026

From 2024 to 2026, Le Bourdet took part in the Marais Poitevin municipal biodiversity atlas. The programme included surveys open to the public, workshops, exhibitions, performances and walks. In this way, it combined nature topics with a variety of public events. The period is important for planning your trip: if you are looking for specific dates after this programme cycle, check the latest information.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes, Granzay-Gript, Saint-Pardoux, Le Beugnon, Fontenille-Saint-Martin-d'Entraigues, Vasles, Pressigny, Brion-Près-Thouet

For the broader travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.