The website ignrando.fr to prepare your bike rides in the Marais poitevin

26 March 2019

Do you want to hike or ride a bike with your family? The Marais poitevin offers numerous opportunities for outings and activities for everyone. Work your way through these proposals with the website ignrando.fr, a true reference for your future bike rides.

A free website for a bike ride in the Marais poitevin

Extrait d’une carte sur ignrando.fr

The Marais poitevin is full of opportunities for outings during the summer period, but also full of exceptional and varied landscapes year-round. From the doors of Niort to the shores of Vendée, from the channels to the fine sandy beaches, there is always a way to be surprised and go for adventure.

 If it is possible to ride your bike and let the kilometres of marked trails and other bike circuits guide you, the most far-sighted can also refer to the website ignrando.fr to identify the tracks. On this free website implemented by the National Geographic Institute, the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park integrated all the marked cycling maps to facilitate the route searches. Thanks to this new-generation tool, implemented in 2017 across France, you can also export the chosen route on your smartphone, which is very convenient when you are on an intersection with a missing sign. You can take a ride whenever you want, there is no need now to wait for the opening of the local tourist office to buy the map since you can have the route on hand. The Park regularly updates the routes, which is great to avoid marking mistakes.

Discover the Marais poitevin by bike

In addition to orientation information, the routes suggested by the Marais poitevin Park have the advantage of including the different structures labelled “Accueil Vélo” that you can find along the routes, such as tourist offices, accommodations, visitation sites, bike rentals, etc. They offer quality welcome for cyclists, which can be convenient if you have a mechanical problem, a flat tyre, or if you want to recharge your batteries and take a few moments to let your les rest.

Cyclists in the Marais poitevin

You enjoy the relaxing environment of the different cycling routes, surrounded by greenery and at your own pace, and appreciate the trip. The very low gradient makes the routes available to the majority. No big hill to climb, no dangerous descent, the gradient is for any occasional cyclist, families, and even beginners. There are more than 40 marked routes that are listed, for a total of 850 kilometres of bike paths designed for strolls.

Landscapes of the Marais Poitevin crossed by bike loops

The cycling routes are complementary to a boat trip to discover the Marais poitevin on the water and allow you to discover the landscapes and follow the marking. With the help of ignrando.fr, the routes can be downloaded on your smartphone. On your mobile phone or with a paper map, there are numerous routes to do with your family through the Marais poitevin. For those who prefer a paper map, don’t worry. The Regional Natural Park reissues them every year: there are 4 maps each representing a part of the Marsh for 1.50€ or the complete map for 4€.

For those who wish combine hiking and discovery of heritage, Original Vélo Tour offers guided bike rides: another way to discover this area! Original Velo Tour is marked Valeurs Parc naturel régional.