Marais salants de Guérande is a swamp landscape on the Guérande peninsula near the mouth of the Loire in the Atlantic Ocean. The layout of the salt marshes as a mosaic of shallow basins connected by a system of canals dates back to the 9th century. Although an artificial landscape, the swamps have a high diversity of flora and fauna. Certain parts are classified as Important Bird Areas (IBA).
Full screen map of Marais salants de Guérande (On tentative list - France)
I visited this tentative WHS in July 2016. On the way to Carnac, I stopped for some sunrise birdwatching at the Parc Naturel Regional de Briere, close to Saint-Joachim. I spotted a number of bee eaters, avocets, terns, shelducks and birds of prey as well as some locals filling sacks of salt in a serene environment. Even though I enjoyed my visit, I don't think this site has any OUV and moreover there are very similar (and better!) sites by the Charente river such as the Marais Poitevin with interesting abbey remains too.
