L'Éguille is the last oyster port, the furthest east, up the Seudre River before reaching the port of Ribérou in Saujon. Coming from La Rochelle, you cross the small bridge at L'Éguille to enter the Royan region.
The oyster port of Éguille
Dug from the stream of the Brande, the port channel stretches over 200 m. On each side, the oyster huts (whether traditional or in the form of establishments) dot the two quays. The hunting lock opens onto a small basin serving as a reservoir. The removable pontoon and the wooden pontoon welcome boats coming to dock, whether fishing or pleasure.
All around, the marshes, which were once used for salt production, refine oysters as they do throughout the Marennes-Oléron basin. Life in the port follows the rhythm of the tides. Only the pétanque players ignore the attraction of the stars and are always ready to tease the jack. Sitting on a bench, we breathe in the sea air. We are there for a salty break.
L'Éguille, a small port of character, is a place of rest, stroll and discovery. It is good to take your time, there is no rush.
During a short walk, signs tell us the history of the village: the presence of the customs officers, the chain ferry, the construction of the swing bridge... If we take the sea, the stand-up paddle allows you to gain height to guess the interior of the marshes.
The simplest shows are often the most user-friendly. The quays of the port are also places of demonstrations for the flea markets or sea festivals. As a high point, at the end of the summer: the Ascent of the Seudre, one of the highlights of Royan Atlantique, invites boats without engines to set off on a nautical trip from La Grève to La Tremblade or from La Cayenne to Marennes to arrive at the port of L'Éguille. Imagine all those sails entering the port!
From town to marsh
The small alleys annexed to the port lead to the town. A small porch gives access to the courtyard of the old castle. We cross it in the shade of the lime tree to arrive in front of the church. A locust-false-acacia towers over the square, which you leave via an alley as charming as it is discreet, very close to the old presbytery. We take the Grand Rue to pass in front of the imposing curved pediment of the old post office and arrive in front of the large rebus on the wall of the school. The answer ? Search carefully...
Le Detours® trail takes us on a 6 km discovery of the marshes following the markings. It's a step aside for a total change of scenery. Destination The Pointe : a feeling of being at the end of the world at the confluence of the Seudre and the Liman channel. The canal network feeds the Eguillais marsh. We are in the middle of an ecosystem where wading birds like the heron and the little egret live. It is also a migratory site for swans, storks, and wild geese.
La bicycle ride, The Pointe de L'Éguille takes us along the Seudre to Corme-Écluse (bikes are available for hire at the tourist office from April to September).
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The other municipalities of the Seudre estuary
