Stay 
Surgères and its château
approx. 12 km
The château enclosure holds a Romanesque church with a 23 m Saintonge-style façade, saved from destruction in 1841 thanks to Prosper Mérimée.
Photo: Chris06, CC BY-SA 4.0
Château at Marsais: a château stay near the Venise Verte
This château at Marsais stands in the countryside of Charente-Maritime, a short drive from the Marais Poitevin. The Expedia listing, whose title refers to the Venise Verte, lists a château-style property with five bathrooms, laundry facilities and a rare policy: dogs are welcome. It is a base for exploring Surgères, Niort, Aulnay and La Rochelle from a quiet village.
At a glance
- Location
- Marsais, Charente-Maritime (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), near the Deux-Sèvres border and about 6 km from the Marais Poitevin regional nature park, according to Expedia
- Accommodation
- Château-style property listed by Expedia as a château; five bathrooms with showers and bidets
- Highlights
- Wi-Fi in all rooms, laundry facilities, tumble dryer, iron, central heating, dogs allowed
- Guest rating
- 5.6/10 from 4 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from 4 pm · check-out at 11 am
- Good to know
- Dogs allowed (up to 4 in total) · non-smoking · the listing does not name the historic building
Staying at the château at Marsais: a quiet base near the Venise Verte
To stay at this château at Marsais is to base yourself in a rural village of just under 1,000 inhabitants, on the edge of the Aunis and Poitou countryside. The listing’s title places the property “at the foot of the Venise Verte”, the green-Venice wetland of the Marais Poitevin. Expedia lists the Marais Poitevin regional nature park about 6 km away, and the town of Coulon, the Venise Verte’s capital, lies about 22 km away as the crow flies.
The listing mentions Wi-Fi in all rooms and internet access in some public areas, as well as laundry facilities, a tumble dryer, an iron and ironing board and central heating. There are five bathrooms with showers and bidets, and bed linen, towels, soap, toilet paper and a hair dryer are provided. Stone buildings with tiled roofs are arranged around a courtyard shaded by a large tree.
The property is non-smoking, and dogs are welcome (up to four in total), which is unusual for a château. The Expedia summary used for this guide does not give the number of bedrooms, so check that on the listing before booking.
Photos of Château à Marsais
History around the château at Marsais: castles and churches of Aunis and Poitou
- 995 – The “Chatel Gaillard” of Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, ruled by a lord called Adalbert, stands on the heights of the village.
- 1027 – The lordship of Dampierre passes by dowry to Hugues Maingot, of a powerful family of Surgères.
- 1104 – Niort’s fortified site burns; at the end of the 12th century Henry II Plantagenet rebuilds it as a formidable fortress with a double keep.
- c. 1120–1140 – The Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre at Aulnay is built at the request of the canons of Poitiers.
- 1373 – Bertrand du Guesclin takes the Plantagenet fortress of Dampierre back from the English.
- 1545–1550 – Jeanne de Vivonne adds two superposed Italian-style galleries to the château of Dampierre.
- 1840–1841 – Aulnay church is among the first French buildings to be classified (1840); Prosper Mérimée saves the façade of Surgères church (1841).
- 1926 – The Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne is classified as a historic monument.
The history of the château at Marsais is not documented in the sources used for this guide, and nothing ties the listing to a named historic building. Wikipedia’s article on Marsais mentions the remains of a château that belonged to the Count of Marsay, who fled to the Netherlands during the Wars of Religion, near the village school, but there is no evidence that it is the same property.
The village church of Saint-Vivien is known for a rare wood-panelled vault and keeps the relics of Jean-Philippe Marchand, a martyr of the Carmes in 1792. Around Marsais the region offers a rich heritage of Romanesque churches and Plantagenet fortresses.
Facilities and services at the château at Marsais
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); facilities may vary from room to room.
Bathrooms & bedding
- Five bathrooms
- Showers and bidets
- Bed linen provided
- Towels and soap provided
- Hair dryer
- Toilet paper
Comfort & laundry
- Wi-Fi in all rooms
- Internet access in some public areas
- Laundry facilities and tumble dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Central heating
- Non-smoking property
Eating out
- Le Sulky, about 15 minutes by car
- La Ferme Gourmande, about 15 minutes by car
- Le Maraichin, about 16 minutes by car
- Ice-cream makers about 15 minutes by car
Getting there
- Villeneuve-la-Comtesse station, about 10 minutes by car
- La Rochelle – Île de Ré airport, about 51 minutes by car
Where the château at Marsais is: between the Marais Poitevin and Surgères
Marsais lies in the north of Charente-Maritime, in the catchment of the Surgères area, a short drive from the Deux-Sèvres border. A car is the practical way to get around: according to Expedia, Villeneuve-la-Comtesse station is about 10 minutes away by car and La Rochelle – Île de Ré airport about 51 minutes.
Surgères, with its château enclosure and Romanesque church, is about 12 km as the crow flies; Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, which Expedia puts at 17.5 km, and the Zoodyssée animal park are about 15 km away. Niort and Coulon, the gateway to the Venise Verte, are about 22 to 24 km away, and La Rochelle about 43 km.
The village has a Romanesque heritage of its own nearby: the church of Dœuil-sur-le-Mignon is about 4 km away and the Neolithic Péré burial mounds about 6 km away.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from the château at Marsais)
| Marsais (village centre) | approx. 200 m |
| Dœuil-sur-le-Mignon (church) | approx. 4 km |
| Péré burial mounds | approx. 5.5 km |
| Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon | approx. 9.5 km |
| Surgères and its château | approx. 12 km |
| Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne | approx. 15 km |
| Zoodyssée animal park | approx. 16 km |
| Saint-Pierre Church, Aulnay | approx. 22 km |
| Coulon and the Venise Verte | approx. 22 km |
| Niort keep | approx. 24 km |
| La Rochelle | approx. 43 km |
Distances are calculated as the crow flies from the coordinates given on Expedia; driving times to the station and airport come from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around the château at Marsais
Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne
approx. 15 km
A Renaissance château on two islands of the Boutonne, known for two superposed Italian-style galleries added between 1545 and 1550; classified in 1926.
Photo: Ritadesbois, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saint-Pierre Church, Aulnay
approx. 22 km
A Romanesque church built around 1120–1140, once a stop for pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela and now on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Photo: Jochen Jahnke, CC BY-SA 3.0
Coulon and the Venise Verte
approx. 22 km
The capital of the Venise Verte, the eastern “wet marsh” of the Marais Poitevin, which was awarded the Grand Site de France label in 2010.
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0
Niort keep
approx. 24 km
A double keep beside the Sèvre Niortaise, the only remnant of the fortress strengthened by Henry II Plantagenet and Richard the Lionheart.
Photo: Jfpnt, CC BY-SA 3.0
La Rochelle
approx. 43 km
The prefecture of Charente-Maritime and its biggest town, with nearly 80,000 inhabitants. The Old Port is the natural starting point for a visit.
Photo: Remi Jouan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tours & activities near Château à Marsais
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Discover La Rochelle: Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle
Walking tour of La Rochelle in English. Find out about the history of La Rochelle, visit the key sights to see, discover the best things to see and …
View details ›
The Océâmes Treasure in La Rochelle
IMPORTANT: The rate is 42 € / TEAM (6 maximum, if more, contact me) Passionate and creator of games of logic, reflection and observation for many …
View details ›
Planet Exotica entrance ticket
An exotic adventure The Planet Exotica Zoological Park immerses you in a true exotic universe: snakes, crocodiles, alligators and other reptiles …
View details ›
Food Tour - Discover La Rochelle
The La Rochelle Food Tour provides a unique insight into the gastronomic delights of La Rochelle and the surrounding region.
View details ›
Au Cœur du Château - VSOP D’USSÉ & XO BARON OTARD
An architectural masterpiece of Gothic and Renaissance inspiration, the Château de Cognac opens its doors and reveals its history and some of the …
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Discover Braastad Cognac
A dive into a family cognac house, whose work reflects the values. An authentic experience, where you discover the development of cognac through all …
View details ›
retro road trip/ Méhari, 2CV & Burton in Rochefort, La Rochelle
Get ready for an exceptional experience. Whether it's a getaway in town, on the coast, on the islands of Ré or Oléron or an adventure on the …
View details ›
Citadelle Gin Distillery Tour in English
A visit to the Citadelle Gin Distillery will immerse you in a dynamic, fresh atmosphere, totally suited to the summer season. Just 15 minutes from …
View details ›Some descriptions are machine-translated.
Who is the château at Marsais for?
Dog owners
Expedia lists dogs as welcome (up to four in total), which makes the property a rare château stay for travellers with pets.
Groups and families
Five bathrooms, laundry facilities and a tumble dryer suit relatives or friends sharing a house for several days.
Marais Poitevin explorers
The Venise Verte, with Coulon as its capital, is the region’s great natural draw and lies about 22 km away.
Heritage road-trippers
Surgères, Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, Aulnay and Niort offer castles, Romanesque churches and a double keep within about 25 km.
Good to know before booking the château at Marsais
- Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
- Dogs are allowed, up to four in total; check the exact conditions with the property.
- The property is non-smoking.
- The name of the historic building is not given in the listing, so treat it as a château-style rental in the village of Marsais.
- A car is recommended: the nearest listed station is about 10 minutes away by car.
- The summary used for this guide does not state the number of bedrooms; check it on the Expedia page.
Find available dates at Château à Marsais
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the château at Marsais?
Yes. It is listed on Expedia as a château in Marsais, Charente-Maritime, and can be booked there.
Are pets allowed at the château at Marsais?
Dogs are allowed, up to four in total, according to Expedia.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
How far is the château from the Venise Verte?
The Marais Poitevin regional nature park is about 6 km away, according to Expedia, and Coulon, the capital of the Venise Verte, about 22 km as the crow flies.
How far is it to Niort and La Rochelle?
Niort is about 24 km away as the crow flies and La Rochelle about 43 km. The airport at La Rochelle is around 51 minutes by car.
Is there Wi-Fi and laundry?
Yes. The listing mentions Wi-Fi in all rooms, laundry facilities and a tumble dryer.
Room pictures, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Marsais château listing on Expedia.
Looking for a quiet château stay near the Marais Poitevin? Check availability and current prices for the château at Marsais on Expedia.
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