GITES
WITH POOLS.
| We Specialise in Gites and Cottages with Pools in the South Vendee. France. |
Attraction in the Vendee.
Marais
Poitevin
Le Port
de Courdault
As soon as
it was created in 1840 the port experienced intense activities. On the edge of
the plain it proved, as for all other ports of the marshes, a determining factor
in the opening up of this territory.
The form of the basin at the end of the canal is that traditionally adopted for ports in the Marais Poitevin.
"gabarres" the commercial barges drawn by horses along the tow paths would arrive at Courdault and this trade continued up untill the 1950s, with the final closure of the port in 1960 with the closure of the last sawmill.
The basin is supplied with water from springs which is fed along stone aquaducts. The quay wall has replaced the original dock
The form of the basin at the end of the canal is that traditionally adopted for ports in the Marais Poitevin.
"gabarres" the commercial barges drawn by horses along the tow paths would arrive at Courdault and this trade continued up untill the 1950s, with the final closure of the port in 1960 with the closure of the last sawmill.
The basin is supplied with water from springs which is fed along stone aquaducts. The quay wall has replaced the original dock
Today
Caurdault is the departure point for ramblers and cyclist and for boats that
want to explore the Rigoles and les Conches canals.
Maintenance is an ongoing neccesity both from the upkeep of the canal banks and walls but also from nature. The later becomes more difficult as the years go by firstly because the trees that border the canals are not lopped as in the past, due to lack of dependence on the wood for industries such as ash handle for tools or willow for basketry or indeed for fuel. Secondly from weed invasion. The Jussis which was introduced more than a century ago in the south of France has invaded much of the terrortory and where as most of the major waterways are kept under control many of the sub canals are not.
Maintenance is an ongoing neccesity both from the upkeep of the canal banks and walls but also from nature. The later becomes more difficult as the years go by firstly because the trees that border the canals are not lopped as in the past, due to lack of dependence on the wood for industries such as ash handle for tools or willow for basketry or indeed for fuel. Secondly from weed invasion. The Jussis which was introduced more than a century ago in the south of France has invaded much of the terrortory and where as most of the major waterways are kept under control many of the sub canals are not.
Return to
the Marais
Poitevin page for detailed information on these remarkable
marshes
Restaurant, l'Auberge Trou Vendeen, Courdault.