Andilly is a marshy commune in the western part of the Poitevin Marsh located in the northwest of the Charente-Maritime 6.5 km south of Marans, the chief town of the canton, and 17 km north-east of La Rochelle, the prefecture of the department.
Setting
The commune includes the town of Andilly, the village of "Sérigny", and a place called "Bel-Air".
Andilly belongs to the western or dried-up part of the Poitevin Marsh and is a large grain-producing area. The commune is particularly well served by diversion canals, for draining and irrigation. Among these, two major canals cross the commune: the Canal du Curé crosses from east to west and the Canal from Marans to La Rochelle from north to south.
Andilly is watered in all the central parts and in the west by the Canal du Curé, which is formed from the lower reaches of the river Cure that is canalised from the commune of Anais. In Andilly, the Canal du Curé has long been called the Grand Canal of Andilly since its construction in 1771.
From north to south, the commune is traversed by the Canal from Marans to La Rochelle, which crosses the Canal du Curé northwest of Andilly town where significant crossing locks were built at a place called the Locks of Andilly.
Locks of AndillyPlan of canal at Andilly locks
History
During the Wars of Religion Andilly was an advanced military post.
There are remains of the castle
There are ruins of a priory and a castle with underground passages
There are also prehistoric underground refuges and relics
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