At Taugon’s main square, the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste stands at the highest point in the village. Its broad Neo-Romanesque façade makes a striking cultural statement in a destination whose other attractions are shaped largely by marshland, canals and nature. The church can be seen from the outside all year round.

Church and religious art

The sanctuary houses a monumental 18th-century altarpiece. The ensemble includes wooden statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, as well as a bas-relief of the Pietà. The church thus brings several specific works of art together in one place: the altarpiece provides the setting, while the statues and relief depict different religious subjects. Visitors who want to get to know Taugon beyond its landscape will find a cultural highlight here, with clearly identified historical details.

Nature activities in different time formats

The Pôle d’éducation à l’environnement in Taugon offers half-day and full-day outings on a ten-hectare nature site. These formats give you an idea of how much time to allow for each activity. Check booking options and programme availability before travelling.

Workshop topics range from sensory discovery of the Marais Poitevin to animal life and rural landscapes. These offer different ways to explore the area: through the marshland itself, its wildlife and the wider rural setting. The topics can help you choose an activity that matches your interests, without implying that all workshops cover the same content.

Walking trails between canals and marshland

The “Circuit randonnée - au coeur du Marais” circular walking route starts at the discovery trail behind the Échappée Nature building and crosses a canal via a footbridge. After 2.5 kilometres along a marshland road, the route reaches the Sèvre and follows the private embankment that surrounds the Marais de Taugon. The description gives a clear picture of the route: first the canal crossing, then the stretch to the Sèvre, followed by the embankment around the marshland.

Les Combrands is a good place for a waterside walk. There, the circular trail follows the Canal de la Route d’Eau and leads to a rise with a view over the water. The “Circuit randonnée - le canal de la route d'eau” takes a different approach: it follows canals, where you may be able to observe the remarkable biodiversity of the Marais Poitevin. The two descriptions emphasise different things: one names the route and viewpoint, while the other focuses on the possibility of observing nature.

Canoeing, trails and wildlife

The Pôle Nature du Marais Poitevin lies at the entrance to the Parc Naturel Régional du Marais Poitevin and is one of Charente’s natural sites classified as “Échappées Nature”. You can explore the area by canoe along its canals. Trails and picnic areas also offer opportunities to observe local wildlife and plant life.

The nature experiences differ in format: the Pôle d’éducation à l’environnement’s outings and workshops are available as half-day or full-day activities with specific themes, while the Pôle Nature centres on canals, canoeing, trails and picnic areas. For a stay that combines culture and nature, the church on the main square, the marshland trails and the nature activities complement one another, without requiring a fixed itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Léoville, Gourvillette, Saint-Césaire, Marennes, Cierzac, Saint-Porchaire, Chenac-Saint-Seurin-D'uzet, Puilboreau

For the overview of the wider region: Charente-Maritime.