Port de la Haye-Fouassière

Over the centuries, the Sèvre Nantaise has formed a vital link between the Haut-Poitou region, the Nantes vineyards and Nantes. From the Middle Ages onwards, it became an essential route for transporting people and goods, irrigating a dynamic region where wine, cereals, wood and even stone moved to the rhythm of the current. The port of La Haie-Fouassière is an integral part of this river network. Brought to life by the comings and goings of flat-bottomed barges and scows, perfectly adapted to the meandering river, it reached its apogee in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A veritable lung for the local economy, it facilitated the export of wine production - particularly Muscadet - and maintained close links with the many mills set up along the Sèvre, which were the driving force behind craft and agricultural activity. Little by little, the arrival of the railway and the development of road transport relegated river navigation to second place. As a result, the port lost its commercial vocation, giving way to a calmer site that bears witness to a rich past centred on the river. Today, it's an inviting place to stroll. The well-preserved quays provide an ideal setting for reconnecting with the history and landscapes of the Sèvre valley. Just a stone's throw away, the gardens of Los Corrales - named after the Spanish twin town of Los Corrales de Buelna - extend this discovery in a green and exotic atmosphere. Opening onto the valley, they reveal an entrance with exotic accents, reminiscent of the great botanical explorations of the eighteenthᵉ century, particularly those conducted at Le Pallet. The path continues to a more intimate area, where a shaded picnic area and a few fruit trees invite you to relax. Three themed gardens enhance the visit: a white and blue garden, with a delicate blend of perennials, a "simple" garden, combining aromatic and medicinal plants, and an elegant, fragrant garden of English roses. An ideal place to combine heritage, nature and the good life in the heart of the Vignoble Nantais.