Étang de Bolmon, body of water in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Étang de Bolmon is a shallow coastal lagoon near Marignane, with calm blue-green water and dense reed beds along its edges. A raised wooden boardwalk crosses part of the wetland, leading to three bird observatories where visitors can watch ducks, coots, and herons without stepping onto fragile ground.

The pond was created by human activity, likely for fishing or livestock, and later became a protected natural area. During the Second World War, in September 1941, an Air France plane came down in the shallows here, leaving a story still remembered by some local walkers.

The name Bolmon is tied to the local wetland identity, and the site is part of a Natura 2000 protected area where educational panels explain the plants and birds found along the water. From the Parc des Quatre Vents, a nearby green space built on an old landfill, visitors can look down over the lagoon and watch the daily rhythm of wading birds and small boats.

The walking route is flat and easy to follow, with a boardwalk suited to strollers and wheelchairs. The trail begins just past the Jaï district, so come in the morning or late afternoon when bird activity is higher and the low sun makes the water easier to watch.

A few abandoned boats lie half-sunk near the shore, their hulls now used by grey herons as quiet perches. In spring, wild orchids appear in the damp ground close to the trail, an easy detail to miss when the water attracts all the attention.