Sansais-La Garette, a market-garden village between hill and dale, between cereal plain and bocage marsh!
SANSAIS
Pédestre
Jaune
Culturel, Historique
In the heart of the Marais, a green country and water trail, Sansais - La Garette is a treasure trove of history, architecture and nature, where water and land intermingle. This route includes several tarmac sections.
Have a good walk and remember that you are not alone on the paths you are going to take. We invite you to respect nature: avoid picking flowers and plants, do not leave any rubbish behind, respect inhabited areas, stay on the paths, keep dogs on a leash.
This commune is made up of 2 centres, 4 km apart: the market town of Sansais, perched on its hillside, and La Garette, a picturesque, touristy village clinging to the side of a hillock and built as close as possible to the marshes of the Sèvre.
Step 2: Le Port Jaguin
In the past, La Garette had 2 ports used to transport goods and livestock to the parcels of marshland. Traffic was intense. Along with Coulon, these ports served as a link between the Gâtine and Saintonge regions.
Step 3: La Maison du Cheval
In the 19th century, a stud farm housed Poitevin draught horses, Poitou bullocks and Poitevin mules.
Step 4: Le bocage
You are leaving the communal marshland to enter the bocage. Under the Restoration, the commune of Sansais-La Garette was allocated "communaux" over which the inhabitants had acquired rights, recognised by law and the civil code. The commune still owns a few hectares of this land, known as the "Grands Marais", which is still rented out for pastoral purposes.
Step 5: Rue du Château
Henri IV seized it in 1587. During the Revolution it was sold to Louis François CHABOT. Born in Niort in 1757, this constable of the king's guard was promoted to general at that time. He died at the Château de Sansais in 1837.
Step 6: Église Saint-Vincent
Built in the middle of the 12th century, it replaced a Merovingian building erected on the site of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary. Burnt down during the Hundred Years' War, it was rebuilt to plans by Bergeron from Niort. The current church was completed in 1880.
Step 7: Mairie
Built at the end of the 19th century, this imposing building bears witness to the solid roots of the republican tradition in the heart of the marshlands.
Step 8: La Garette
La Garette with its old fishermen's houses between the street and the canal. This typical street is home to landing stages, shops, craftsmen and restaurants... The marshes of La Garette are only accessible by boat.
