Parc Naturel du Marais, Nature park in Villers-sur-Mer, France
The Parc Naturel du Marais is a wetland of around 30 hectares (74 acres) on the eastern edge of Villers-sur-Mer, near the border with Blonville-sur-Mer. Although close to the sea, the area is fed by freshwater running down from the surrounding hills.
The land was once used by local farmers before being turned into a protected natural area. This shift happened to keep the land in good condition and give wildlife a safe place to settle.
Many visitors come simply to walk, and the paths are quiet enough to spot birds like the grey heron or the little egret at close range. At the water, you can watch mute swans drifting slowly and coots raising their young in the channels dug for that purpose.
The park is open year-round and has marked paths, benches, and a children's play area. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the ground can be soft in wet periods.
Although the park sits right next to the sea, the water in the marsh contains no salt, fed entirely by freshwater from the hills. Gulls and herring gulls come here to wash off salt and parasites in this fresh water, especially at high tide.
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