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Vendee, France travel guide

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The Vendée is a very popular region with visitors, especially those with children, above all for the coastline and family entertainment.

There are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Vendee...but it seems that most children prefer paddling than sightseeing...

Vendee beaches and coast

Vendee is best known as a beach resort, and for good reason. The Vendee beaches are long, and gentle sloping, perfect for the children and great for windsurfers and birdwatching, and are often backed by pine forests. Some highlights include:

- Saint-Jean-de-Monts, a 'Station Kids' with 20 km of fine beach),

- the attractively named 'cote de Lumiere (coast of light) including Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer,

- a whole list of other beaches and resorts including Brem-sur-Mer, Olonne-sur-Mer, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Jard-sur-Mer, Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, Longeville-sur-Mer, La Tranche-sur-Mer, La Faute sur Mer, L'Aiguillon sur Mer...

Some parts of the coast are rather built up with campsites, others sections are lined with grand 19th century villas, and others backed by attractive pine woods. Some are easily accessible and some require a bit of effort, but one thing is certain - you will certainly find a family beach to your liking somewhere here in Vendee!

Attractions and entertainments in Vendee

The Vendée region has various 'man-made' attractions. These include:

the very popular Puy du Fou theme park - various special events and historical re-enactments take place in a carefully designed setting of France through the ages.
Bluebeard's castle at Tiffauges has various displays and spectacles laid on for entertainment
the water park at Oceanile, Noirmoutier
there are more gentle quiz-pathfinder games at Chateau de la Guignardiere.

Most regions of Vendée have some sort of festival or display close to hand, especially during the summer months - ask at the tourist office close to where you are staying.

Vendee Nature

There are several ways to enjoy the natural environment of the vendee department:

there is more to the island of Noirmoutier than salt, enjoy one of the marked out nature trails
the marshy region north of La Rochelle at Marais Poitevin - is a peaceful and unique marshland region
take a boat out from the northern coastline of Vendee to explore the quiet island of Ile d'Yeu and chateau:
The Massif Forestier of Mervent-Vouvant is an extensive (13,000 acres) region, largely wooded, and criss-crossed with rivers, footpaths, cycle trails etc and has a lake where water-based activities can be pursued. It is in the south-eastern Vendee. Visit also the nearby village of Foussais-Payre.

Fontenay-le-Comte

Historical monuments in Vendee

Although less numerous than in the Loire to the east there are a sprinkling of historical monuments to discover in the Vendee, including:

the ruined abbey at Maillezais is on the border of the Marais Poitevin marshes
the abbey at Nieul-sur-l'Autise is also in the Vendee department
the 'Logis de la Chabotterie' is an interesting and entertaining way to learn about life in the region pre-Revolution

Vendee villages and towns

Visit the village of Vouvant, a classified most beautiful village and the inland town of Fontenay-le-Comte - a listed 'town of art and history'

There are lots of small pretty villages, often little more than hamlets, that you will pass as you travel around the department. most without a particular noteworthy 'highlight', but no less enjoyable for that!

Cycling

Vendee is a 'cycle friendly' department and various routes are laid out, both along the coast and inland, and varying in length from about 20-65 kilometres - ask for the brochure 'Les sentiers cyclable' in any Vendee tourist office.