Another must visit during your stay is the Venise Vert (The Green Venice). Now a French regional park, the Marais Poitevin is a system of canals, dykes and slow flowing rivers amongst meadows and poplar trees through which farmers are often seen travelling in flat bottomed punts. There are numerous places (Maillezais is one of the best, 20 min drive from L'Hermenault) where small rowing boats can be hired (with or without guides). Maps are provided and you can navigate round canal systems to set routes. The canals range from 20m wide to narrow stretches barely wide enough for the boat. All the canals are completely covered with a very distinctive weed giving them the appearance of flat green land, hence the 'Venise Vert' name.