Maison de la Baie du Marais poitevin

About the museum

The Maison de la Baie du Marais poitevin is located in Esnandes, about 12 km north of La Rochelle, facing the Baie de l'Aiguillon. It brings together a tourist information office, a site holding the “Valeurs Parc naturel régional du Marais poitevin” label, the mussel-farming museum and guided tours of the church.

The mussel-farming museum tells the daily life of mussel farmers: their know-how, their gestures and their adaptation to the tides. The route traces the farming of mussels on bouchots (mussel stakes) in the Baie de l'Aiguillon from 1235 up to their consumption, and explains why Esnandes is considered the birthplace of mussel farming in France.

The neighbouring church of Saint-Martin is a Romanesque building from the 12th century, fortified in the 14th century to protect the coast from English attacks. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1840. Guided tours allow visitors to climb onto the ramparts to admire the bay. The Maison is now run by La Rochelle Tourisme et Événements for the La Rochelle urban area.

Highlights

• Mussel-farming museum and history of the bouchots since 1235
• Fortified church of Saint-Martin, listed since 1840
• View over the Baie de l'Aiguillon from the ramparts
• Pointe Saint-Clément, a bird-watching spot a few minutes’ walk away
• Voie verte (cycle path) from La Rochelle to Esnandes (16 km)

Permanent exhibition

• Musée de la Mytiliculture – History of mussel farming on bouchots in the Baie de l'Aiguillon since 1235 and the daily life of mussel farmers.

Operated by

La Rochelle Tourisme et Événements (Agglomération de La Rochelle)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The website displays the “Tourisme et Handicap” label and provides documents on the site’s accessibility, on welcoming visitors with disabilities, and an accessibility certificate.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Esnandes is about 12 km north of La Rochelle. You can cycle there along the voie verte, a 16 km route along the coast.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit