Seudre

The estuary of the Seudre

The Seudre is a coastal river in France, which runs in the department of Charente -Maritime, in the Poitou -Charentes. It rises in the Saintonge, in Saint -Antoine, in the municipality of Saint- Genis -de -Saintonge. The initially rather insignificant river drains generally in a northwesterly direction and opens to the 68 kilometers between Marennes and Ronce -les Bains, in the municipality of La Tremblade, in an imposing estuary, opposite the island of Ile d' Oléron, in the Atlantic Ocean.

The estuary of the Seudre passes through wetlands, marshes and former salt fields. Today, especially oysters and mussels are grown, marketed under the designation Marennes -Oleron.

Shipping

The Seudre is navigable from its mouth to Port-de- Ribérou, in the municipality of Saujon, over a length of 25 kilometers by ship. There is a sea water sluice upstream limits the brackish water conditions.

The ship channel Canal de la Seudre à la Charente connects the Seudre with the river Charente between the cities and Marennes Rochefort.

Places on the river

• Saint- Germain -du -Seudre
• Saint -André -de- Lidon
• Corme- Ecluse
• Saujon
• Étaules
• La Tremblade
• Marennes
• Ronce- les- Bains