Chilling in Coulon

 Continuing our little ramble around France we headed for our next stop Camping Venise Vert near Coulon. Situated in the Marais Poitevin ( Green Venice), a large nature reserve that lies between Niort and the Atlantic Ocean. The area covers over 100, 000 hectares of land and is the second largest National Park in France.

Coulon is one of the "Character Villages" of France. A very French holiday area in the heart of the Marais Poitevin with numerous windy rivers and streams running through it. A great draw for canoes, paddle boards and fisher folks.

Our campsite was about a 20 minute walk from Coulon on a lovely French site. Complete with very hot water, clean loos and showers, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, a small bar and restaurant we were soon set up. It was very hot and humid!

 Enjoying the hugely unseasonable very hot sun.

Having a meal in the very nice camp restaurant. Confit of duck!

We set off to explore Coulon. A very interesting village and quite busy with mainly French tourists. There were dozens of boats waiting for passengers, so obviously it was a very popular place.

There was a massive local fayre going on which looked very well attended. The donkey racing looked like it could have been worth finding, although we didn't actually get round to it! Apparently Coulon is big in the "donkey" world.

There were loads of visitors enjoying the river and the general atmosphere.

I am always surprised how these small French villages go to so much trouble with their environment. This little bee sculpture for instance.

Interestingly the corn was so much bigger than the Somerset varieties.

Houses were carefully placed on both sides of the many rivers and small streams with small boats moored for the trip across. In olden times even cattle were transported that way. Now it looked like predominately holiday homes.

At least the postie didn't have to actually row across the river to deliver the mail.

Lots to see in Coulon from the wine shops to picture galleries. It's only a small place but they even had their own land train.

On our second morning we got the bikes out and rode into the village to suss out a French car boot sale. It was massive. Lots of very interesting items sadly not enough room in the van to bring any home.

Certainly an area of France well worth exploring and one we are sure to visit again.