About this place
Marais du Cerisaie is a wetland nature reserve set within the forests surrounding Rambouillet, in the Yvelines department of the Île-de-France region, France. It lies close to the villages of Gazeran, Poigny-la-Forêt and Cerqueuse, surrounded by parts of the Forêt domaniale de Rambouillet, including the smaller woodland areas of Bois de la Pommeraye and Bois de Gazeran.
What is Marais du Cerisaie?
It is a "réserve biologique dirigée" (directed biological reserve), established on 7 December 1988. The reserve covers roughly 0.96 km², with a perimeter of more than 7 kilometres. The area consists of marshland, peat-forming ground and open water surrounding a larger body of water known as the Grand Étang, with which the marsh forms a single ecological unit. Together they are listed in France's national natural heritage inventory as a ZNIEFF site — a zone recognised for its ecological, faunal and floristic interest.
Why is this area protected?
The "directed biological reserve" status means the site is subject to active conservation management aimed at preserving wetland-specific habitats and species. Wetlands of this kind in central France are valued precisely because intact, lightly altered marsh ecosystems embedded within large forest blocks are relatively uncommon. Thanks to its position within the wider Rambouillet forest, Marais du Cerisaie forms part of a broader mosaic of habitats linking woodland, open water and marshland.
How do you get there and what should you know before visiting?
The reserve lies southwest of Rambouillet, near Gazeran and Poigny-la-Forêt, small settlements typical of the Yvelines countryside. Because of the terrain — dense vegetation, water channels and boggy ground — moving through the marsh itself can be demanding, particularly in summer when plant growth is at its densest. The surrounding forest, however, offers a well-developed network of hiking trails; one popular loop of around 12 kilometres starts at the Étang de Coupe Gorge and passes through the vicinity of Marais du Cerisaie.
What else is there to see nearby?
The area around the reserve belongs to the much larger Rambouillet forest complex, a well-known destination for hiking and outdoor recreation within easy reach of Paris. Immediately adjacent are the smaller woods of Bois de la Pommeraye and Bois de Gazeran, which together with the wetlands create a varied landscape combining dry forest ground with damp low-lying areas and open water.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Marais du Cerisaie located? In the Yvelines department, Île-de-France region, near the villages of Gazeran and Poigny-la-Forêt, within the forested area surrounding Rambouillet.
What type of protected area is it? It is a "réserve biologique dirigée" (directed biological reserve), created in 1988, covering wetland and open-water habitats.
Can the area be explored on foot? Yes, although the marsh itself can be hard to cross due to water and dense vegetation. Marked hiking trails run through the surrounding forest, including a route connecting to the Étang de Coupe Gorge.
How large is the reserve? It covers about 0.96 km² (roughly 96 hectares), with a perimeter of more than 7 kilometres.
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