Description
The Marais Poitevin is an area entirely shaped by man. For more than 1,000 years, mankind has put considerable effort and astonishing ingenuity into water management. It all began in the Middle Ages with the monks. Then, in the 17th century, major works enabled the water to be channelled and managed on a long-term basis. It is these major works that you will discover in the dried marshland. In 1602, Champagné-les-Marais began to organise salt marshes. The water level was strictly controlled to harvest this "white gold". The salt was used to supply the town of Poitiers, the grocery shops in Marans and Luçon, and farms for salting pigs and butter. These salt marshes remained in operation until 1931. Few visible traces remain of these meticulously tended areas. In most cases, all that remains are low-lying areas known as "marais-gâts". However, salt production played a major role in the marsh's economy. Salt has been produced around the Golfe des Pictons since Gaulish times.