Réserve naturelle nationale de la baie de l'Aiguillon, National nature reserve on the Atlantic coast of France.
This protected wetland spans approximately 4,900 hectares across Vendée and Charente-Maritime departments, featuring vast mudflats surrounded by salt marshes that serve as crucial feeding and resting areas for numerous migratory bird species throughout the year.
The reserve was officially established through two phases, with the Vendée section created in 1996 under the Juppé II cabinet and the Charente-Maritime portion added in 1999 during the Jospin administration, following initial protection proposals dating back to 1959.
The bay maintains strong ties to traditional mussel farming on wooden stakes called bouchots, a cultivation method invented in this region that continues to shape the local landscape and economy while coexisting with conservation efforts.
Visitors can access organized guided tours and educational activities through the French Office for Biodiversity and the League for Bird Protection, with strategic viewpoints available at Pointe Saint-Clément and Port du Pavé for wildlife observation.
The reserve hosts over 74,000 water birds annually and serves as a reference site for studying halophilic ecosystems, while benefiting from the European LIFE program funding that supports habitat restoration and scientific monitoring initiatives.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
