La Vendee - lots to see and do for all the family

Bathing

The Vendee is renowned for its excellent beaches. Whevever you stay in the Vendee, the nearest coast will offer you plenty of sandy beaches. Many beaches have designated bathing areas with life-guards offering safe bathing for all ages. (Photo L'Obs)
There is a nudist beach to the south of La Faute sur Mer, towards the point.
See Angela Bird's beaches page
Discover La Tranche sur Mer

Cycling

The Vendee is one of the French departments with the most extensive network of cycling trails, all well signposted. Along the coastline is always a favourite, but there are also some magnificent trails inland through quiet authentic countryside, or through forests, such as Mervent/Vouvent. The nearest tourist office will have local guide-sheets and there are several good books that list the best trails in the department. One of our favourites is the island of Yeu - accessible by boat from the main coastal towns - bike hire when you arrive - you can do the whole island in a day.
See Angela Bird's cycling page.

Windsurfing, surfing, kite-surf

For surfing, Les Conches ("Bud Bud") near La Tranche-sur-Mer, or La Pointe du Payre near Jard-sur-Mer are popular spots in the Vendee and there is also Bretignolles sur Mer. Surfing is usually in designated areas outside the bathing zone.
Find surfing spots in the Vendee. on this map.
For kite-surf, Bretignolle-sur-Mer is a popular choice. There is a kite-surf school at Bretignolles and also at St Jean de Monts and Noirmoutier. There is an excellent water sports school at Les Sables d'Olonne.
The coast is well loved by windsurfing enthusiasts, particularly around Jard-sur-Mer and la Tranche-sur-Mer. Several of the inland lakes also offer possibilities for windsurfing.

Sailing

Beginners and children can take lessons at La Tranche-sur-Mer on a specially prepared lagoon. There is hire of dingies and catamarans at most of the coastal towns. St Giles and Sables d'Olonne also offer skippered charters. See sailing in the Vendee.

Forest adventure parks

There is one near Moutiers les Mauxfaits and one near Jard sur Mer (Pointe du Payre), and also at St Hilaire de Riez, Mervent forest and St Julien des Landes.
See O'Fun Park at Moutiers les Mauxfaits - One of the best tree top adventure courses in France, offering not only 17 different tree top trails of differing difficulty, but also paint ball, climbing walls, bungy jumping, pony rides, zip lines, water jumps, nature trails and much more besides. Activities for children of all ages. Parents needn't feel left out here either.

Golf

Anywhere in the Vendee, you are not far from a good golf course - La Domangere (Nesmy), Coex, Port Bourgenay, St Jean de Monts, Les Sables d'Olonne, La Rochelle, Cholet, Niort.
See details of golf courses
Buy golf passes on-line

Fishing

There is freshwater fishing on the many rivers and lakes (permits are available locally, usually from a bar-tabac). Beach casting does not require a permit. There are sea fishing trips from most of the coastal ports and resorts. There is also the "Pescalis" fishing park, near La Chataigneraie, which also has mini-golf, picnic areas, horse riding, nature trail, etc. to keep the whole family happy.
See the Pescalis website.

Wine tasting

The Vendee area has many local wine producers offering some light rosé wines, crisp white wines and some interesting reds.
The main areas are around Mareuil sur Lay, Brem sur Mer, Pissotte juste north of Fontenay le Comte and around Vix in the Marais Poitevin.
Further north towards Nantes you enter into the Muscadet region and you can also go further afield into the Anjou region ; Angers is around 1 hour - 1½hour drive from central Vendee.

Wine testing visits at Vignoble Epiard, north Vendee - just north of Rochserviere

Wine tasting visits at Mourat, south Vendee, Mareuil sur Lay - near to Luçon.

Wine tasting visite at Domaine Coirier, east Vendee, Pissotte - near to Fontenay le Comte.

Wine tasting visite at Domaine St Nicolas, Vendee coast, Brem sur Mer. Biodynamic wines.

More activities

Micro-lights: Initiation is available near La Tranche-sur-Mer. and also light aircraft flights over the coast and islands. See the website and also initiation flights here.

Hot-air ballooning: Initiation flights available in the north of the Vendee. Montgolfiere du Bocage can also offer to arrange individual flights starting near your holiday property - ideal for a special celebration.

Go-karts: Just inland from La Tranche sur Mer at La Noziere / La Jonchere. Children from 7 years upwards. See the website.

Le Puy du Fou

The one thing you MUST see during your stay in the Vendee. This famous history theme park is unique in Europe, offering a full day out, packed with fun for all ages, including a full-size Roman amphitheatre with chariot races and gladiators, a Viking invasion, stunning falconry displays, recreated villages from several different periods of history, and much more...
The 'Grand Park' with its day-time attractions is open to visitors, without reservation, throughout the season (get there on-time for the opening to have a chance of getting round the major attractions in a day) and there is night-time 'son-et-lumiere' open air theatre for which you need to book months in advance (but well worth it!). See their website.

Green Venice (Marais Poitevin)

Created hundreds of years ago, this network of waterways around the river Sevre Niortaise, was designed to absorb the winter flood water and to offer good pastures for cattle in what was otherwise unexploitable land. Today, it still fulfills it's function, as well as being a charming place to visit, with its tranquil tree-lined waterways. Many villages in the south-east corner of the Vendee offer punt hire or guided trips around portions of the canal network (Velluire, Vix, Damvix, Coulon, Maillezais). Maillezais offers a good restaurant next to the embarcation as well as the ruined abbey to visit - see the website.  Or this one.

Botanical gardens

Le Court d'Aron at St Cyr-en-Talmondais. Thousands of rare plants in a delightful setting. Formal gardens and natural woods. Spectacular lotus flower lakes in bloom from June to September. See Le Court d'Aron.
Perfumed Gardens Les Olfacties at Coex - A unique collection of fragrant plants from all over the world, boutique of natural perfumes. See Les Olfacties.

Steam railway

Mortagnes sur Sevre - 22km of steam train ride between Mortagnes & Les Herbiers through picturesque valleys and over impressive viaducts. See the website.

Velo-Rail

At Commequiers - A 10km ride through the countryside on a pedal-driven rail cart along the former railway lines. See the website.
There is also a medieval chateau to visit at Commequiers - See the website.

Chateaux

There are dozens of chateaux to visit in the Vendee. Here's just a few :
Chateau de la Guignardiere, at Avrille - Furnished Renaissance chateau to visit, children's treasure trail, vast park, a nice afternoon out. See the website.
'Blue Beard's Chateau' at Tiffauges - Medeival warefare displays. In the village there is also a model village and nice picnic spots on the river bank. See the website
Chateau de Noirmoutier - One of the finest medieval castles in France. Photos here.
Chateau de Talmont St Hilaire - A good example of a medeival fort, various events throughout the season. See the website.

Museums

Historial de la Vendee, Les Luc sur Boulogne - spanning 7000 years of history and including 85 hi-tech interactive displays and a specific section for children. See the website.
Museum of Prehistory, St Hilaire la Foret - Reconstructions of stone-age life, demonstrations, museum. See the website.
Automobile Museum, Talmont St Hilaire - Over 200 vehicles from 1885 to the present day, including several unique prototypes. See the website.
Chateau and museum La Chabotterie. See the website.

Historic towns and villages

Fontenay-le-Comte: Has a splendid boulevard, the river Vendee, an historic old quarter and a renaissance chateau to visit.
Lucon: Charming town, with an impressive cathedral and gardens to visit.
Pouzauges: Existing since medeival times, one of the most fascinating towns in the Vendee 'Bocage'. Remarkable 12th century chateau.
Clisson: Very picturesque, with its chateau on the river bank.
La Rochelle: Just south of the Vendee, in Charente Maritime. The old port with its famous street cafés and restaurants and the historic town centre are well worth a visit, as is the fabulous aquarium. Boat trips to La Rochelle from some of the Vendee's coastal resorts. Nantes: Well worth a visit, for its splendid architecture, great shopping and the excellent choice of restaurants in the old quarter. Visit the stunning "Machines de l'Ile".
Vouvant: Art exhibitions throughout the village in the summer. See the website.

Zoos, aquariums, bird-life

Zoo, Les Sables d'Olonne - Over 200 animals in semi-liberty in this attractive, well-maintained park.
Aquariums - At Port Bourgenay and, of course, the impressive aquarium at La Rochelle.
Salt Marshes, Les Sables d'Olonne - Guided boat trips through the salt marshes, see traditional salt production and the fabulous bird-life.
Bird reserve, St Denis du Payre - Situated in the Marais and welcoming large numbers of migrating birds. See website LPO.

Islands

Island of Ré: Reached by bridge from La Rochelle, or by boat from some of the Vendee coastal resorts. Charming port of St Martin-sur-Re is not to be missed, some nice beaches, a lighthouse to visit, great cycling in the salt-marshes (bike hire).
Island of Yeu: 1 hour by boat from St Gilles Croix de Vie or Fromentine. Really beautiful and highly recommended for a day out. You can go right round by bicycle in a day (bike hire available), passing sandy beaches, wild moorland and rocky coves.
Noirmoutier: Linked to the mainland by bridge and by the famous causeway (Le Gois), exposed at low tide. Extensive beaches, château to visit.
Ferries to the islands