Step 1: DEPARTURE
From the Tourist Office.
Step 2: Rue d’Aunis
Aunis is the old name of the province around La Rochelle. It was on this street that the city's first temple was located in 1605. It was probably destroyed in 1622.
Turn right onto rue du Presbytère then left to get back onto rue de la Baratte.
Go around the cemetery.
Walk along the Saintes road and cross to take the path to the allotment gardens.
Step 3: The Gardens of Saturn
The allotment gardens known as “Jardins de Saturne”, created in 2010 and managed by the association of the same name, are spread over 1,4 ha. Divided into 56 plots, they are redistributed to
members for growing their vegetable garden.
Take rue du Dr Jean-Claude Dubois then chemin des Gabards.
Take the path to the marsh.
Step 4: The Riollet marshes
Many mills existed on the Seudre. The Morgard water mill operated until around 1945. When Mr. Chevalier stopped his activity in 1996, he was one of the last flour millers in the department.
Turn right, Chemin des Serres, to follow the Seudre.
Step 5: The Moulin Inn
Despite very favorable exposure to west and northwest winds, the production of “wind-powered” flour was supplemented by “hydraulic” manufacturing. Although milling activity ended in the 1850s with the advent of flour mills, 42 water mills persist in the Seudre basin, including 7 powered by the tide. Some were saved from destruction thanks to residential or hotel rehabilitation such as the Auberge du Moulin.
Step 6: The Thermal Baths
The Saujon thermal baths were founded in 1860 by Dr. Louis Dubois. The buildings were built by his son Stanislas in 1880. Formerly a hydrotherapy and electrotherapy center, the Saujon Thermal Baths are a reference in the field of mental health. The health resort has specialized psychiatric clinics and a thermal spa.
Take rue Carnot to return to the tourist office.
