MARENES, a town of France, capital of a cognominal arrondissement, in the department of Charente-Inférieure, is situated near the mouth of the Seudre, about a mile from the Bay of Biscay, and 24 miles S. of La Rochelle. Marennes is a well-built and thriving commercial town, with tribunals of primary instance and of commerce. It is surrounded by salt marshes, which render it very unhealthy, but constitute a great source of profit to the town from the salt that is got from them. The principal articles of commerce are salt, oysters, brandy, and agricultural produce. Pop. (1851) 4534.