Discover Saint-Sigismond by its waterways, a circular hike and various types of boat trips. For planning, the time required is particularly useful: the easy circular hike is listed as taking two hours and 15 minutes, while the signposted, unguided boat trips last between one and two hours. A canoe route is planned for three hours. There is also a Neoclassical church as a cultural and historical highlight in its own right.
Canal de Reth and the Landscape
The Canal de Reth is more than four kilometres long, runs through the Coudreau marshes and flows into the Canal de la Vieille Autise. A towpath runs along its right bank. Several bridges cross the Canal de Reth, in addition to the Pont de Reth. The waterway, towpath and bridges are among the canal’s distinctive features.
The “Entre Plaine et Marais” Circular Hike
The “Entre Plaine et Marais” hiking trail is an easy, nine-kilometre circular route starting in Saint-Sigismond. The route follows the Veille Autise, passes through the small hamlet of Coudreau and crosses a short stretch of open plain before returning to the marsh. The transition between water, hamlet, plain and marsh makes for a varied walk without needing to combine different trails.
The stated duration is two hours and 15 minutes, giving you a clear indication of the time and distance involved. Check local conditions before setting out. If you are planning a shorter outing, you can compare the route’s duration with the boat trips rather than treating the activities as equally long options.
Boat Trips
At the Embarcadère de l’Autize, signposted, unguided boat trips are available lasting one, one and a half or two hours. Guided trips are made in traditional boats known as “plates”. The offer also includes immersive trips at dawn or dusk, with a guide and gourmet tasting. The options therefore differ in what they offer: the unguided trips vary in duration, while the immersive format includes a particular time of day, a guide and a tasting.
A three-hour canoe route also starts at the Embarcadère de l’Autize, passing through wild marshland and linking three picturesque hamlets. It is longer than the unguided boat trips mentioned above, the longest of which lasts two hours. The options range from a one-hour boat trip to one and a half hours and a three-hour canoe route; at two hours and 15 minutes, the circular hike falls between them.
For the 2026 season, “Le marais qui s’éveille” is listed in Saint-Sigismond as a guided sunrise experience in the morning. It is intended for small groups of two to four people. Check booking availability before travelling; group conditions may also change.
Another option is the 1.5-hour tour offered by Nomad’Trott, which starts at the Embarcadère de l’Autize in Saint-Sigismond and is suitable for all levels. Check booking availability and operating dates before travelling.
The Embarcadère de l’Autize states that it keeps almost twelve kilometres of navigable waterways clean and accessible every day. This information from the operator may change in the future.
A Cultural Highlight
The Église Saint-Sigismond is a Neoclassical building dating from the 1840s. For travellers who would like to include architectural history in their choice of destination alongside experiences in the marshes and on the water, the church offers a tangible point of interest.
Discover more destinations: Notre-Dame-de-Riez, La Chapelle-Palluau, Saint-Martin-Des-Noyers, Sainte-CĂ©cile, Chasnais, Puyravault, Saint-Benoist-Sur-Mer, Saint-Cyr-En-Talmondais.
See the wider travel overview: Vendée.
