The Vendee

EARTH and WATER in the heart of history.

Your stay, which is far from the daily stresses, will lead you into another world. Reconnecting the cultural and the playful, the entertaining and the educational, the spectacular and the emotional. Whether you days are action packed or quiet and tranquil, your visit to the Vendee will be full of hidden surprises and will stay in your memory for a very long time.
  

Our favorites

EARTH

• Abbeys : Maillezais, Nieul sur l'Autise,  
• Castles : Tiffauges called "Château de Barbe bleue", Saint-Mesmin, Sigournais, Pouzauges
• A wealth of Heritage can be found in the listed towns and villages of:
  • Fontenay le Comte : City of Art and History, Most Beautiful Detours in France
  • Saint Michel Mont Mercure and the Archangel Saint Michel, the highest point in the Vendée
  • Sallertaine : City and Crafts
  • Vouvant (one of the 1st Most Beautiful Villages in France, born from the legend of Mélusine)
  • Pouzauges
• Towns of Character
  
  • Mallièvre
  • Mouchamps
  • Mervent : Green Holiday Station
• Mortagne sur Sèvre :          
• Mange Cailloux Museum to familiarize yourself with minerals
• Mouilleron En Pareds : Clémenceau - de Lattre National Museum in Mouilleron-en-Pareds 
• Réaumur : manor of Sciences
• Saint Sulpice Le Verdon : home of the Chabotterie (Mecca of the des guerres de Vendée) and General Charette

 

Outdoor leisure activities:

• Many hiking trails crisscross the coast, the Breton and Poitevin marshes, the high and low hedgerows
  • 1000 km of marked hiking trails (Vendée Rando)
  • 1100 km of cycle paths (Vendée vélo)

 

Attractions:

• Puy du Fou (Les Epesses)
• The Steam Tourist Train for a journey back in time crossing 3 valleys on magnificent viaducts
• O'Gliss Park: Slides, rivers with buoys, thrills, wave pool...

 

THE WATER

The Vendée coast and its islands will delight you with their 250 km of protected coastline, including 140 km of beaches.

To enjoy the joys on the water, in the water, underwater, no need to go to the sea or the islands of Noirmoutier and Yeu. Many lacs reservoirs of dams, rivers and swimming pools will satisfy your desire to swim. And if swimming is not your favorite activity, try the boat, canoeing (the salt route offers a wide choice of walks and hikes around Sallertaine), a gentler activities and closer to nature.

 

EARTH and WATER at the heart of PARKS AND GARDENS

For nature lovers, remarkable parks and gardens will be revealed to relax in peace:

• Court and Aron floral and tropical park in Saint Cyr en Talmondais
• The sculptural gardens in Thiré (home of the Franco-American Conductor William Christie) which hosts the Festival des Arts Florissants every year
• Oriental park of Maulévrier (largest Japanese garden in Europe)

 

EARTH and WATER at the heart of GASTRONOMY

Vendée gastronomy is also inspired by these 2 elements to surprise your taste buds.

• The prefou, much appreciated as an appetizer (piece of bread dough, rubbed with garlic and buttered) is eaten hot.
• The mogette, is also very appreciated in toasted bread (toast rubbed with a clove of garlic, buttered and covered with very hot mogettes).
• Brioche.
• Challans poultry labeled Label Rouge.
• The wines of the Vendée Fiefs (Brem sur Mer, Pissotte, Mareuil sur Lay, Vix), without forgetting Le Domaine de la Barbinière Chantonnay (since 2015 in conversion to Organic Agriculture)
• Seafood and fish: oysters, Sablaise sole, sardine from Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, mussels from the Aiguillon bay and
• the white gold of the salt marshes (Saint-Hilaire de Riez, l'Ile d'Olonne, Noirmoutier en l'Ile)