Marsh tour
A journey through time in the heart of the Barrot Sud marsh
In the village of Les Portes-en-Ré, I welcome you for a walk through a working salt marsh that has been active since 1686.
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For about an hour, we will walk through the marsh, and I will explain how a salt marsh works, how coarse salt and fleur de sel are harvested, the traditional gestures of the salt workers, and how this living landscape changes with the seasons.
Pile of salt 1948
Enjoy an immersive guided tour to explore the artisanal know-how, the fauna and flora of the marsh and feel the unique rhythm of this protected environment.
Removing silt from the salt pans 1998
Harvest 1981
Harvest 1950
Visit the marsh during the silt removal and maintenance period.
From 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, you can observe the restoration of the salt pans and marsh pathways.
April to June :
Visit the marsh during the salt harvesting season.
From 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, I invite you to experience summer at the marsh. From 5:00 PM, weather permitting, I offer a demonstration of fleur de sel and coarse salt harvesting. You can watch the salt worker’s techniques and even try the tools yourself!
June to September :
The visit ends near the marsh cabin, with photos, tools, and the opportunity to explore and purchase the products harvested on site.