Vendée - Loisirs - Vacances
V.L.V's top twenty places to visit
1. Noirmoutier
Le Gois
If you want to make life more interesting, then forget the bridge, find outthe low tide times and either go or come back via "le Gois". This is a man made cobblestone road (D498), which used to be the only way over to the island and you can still drive over it at low tide. The times are advertised on large boards, so make sure you don't get stuck! You can park on the way over at the edge and watch the French collecting their seafood, but be careful that you are on firm ground.
Just a short drive north from the campsite, you will get to Fromentine andthe bridge, which takes you over to the island of Noirmoutier. The island is 19km by 7km and has both long sandy beaches and rugged and rocky coastline.
There are various beaches and small villages on the way to the town of Noirmoutier itself, which will take you about 30 mins to drive to through the island.
Here, there are several attractions. The lovely sandy beach of "plage des dames", the port and fishing boats, the castle, sealand aquarium, a 17th century church and 3 different museums. Also, there is a large water park called "Oceanile", which has lots of different outside water attractions and an indoor pool with toboggan.
There are heaps of small cafes and restaurants and the main shopping street is pedestrian and has lots of interesting shops. The industries on the island include market gardening, oysters, delicious new potatoes and salicorne, a kind of seaweed/vegetable.
There is also a centre for goats cheese and angora wool at Luzay. The goats are milked every day at 6pm if you are interested.
2. L'Ile d'Yeu
The island is just off the coast from St Jean de Monts and can be reached from Fromentine or St Gilles by boat. lt is 10km by 4km and is situated 17km off shore.
The island's main industry is tourism and yet it is still wonderfully underdeveloped. The majority of people still hire a bike to cycle around the island and visit the beautiful beaches and rocky creeks, megaliths and Norman castle.
Of course if you want to be lazy, there are jeeps to rent and you can even take your own car, although it is an expensive option. Port Joinville is the capital of the island and has a lively fishing port and wharf with lots of lovely restaurants and cafes. The lobster here is highly recommended.
3. Notre Dame de Monts
Only a couple of minute's drive from the site is Notre Dame de Monts.This is a smaller version of St Jean and has a nice church and a small main street to wander down to the beachfront.
There are are several nice restaurants, sorne modem and othes that feature a lot of local produce.
On the beach, there is a sailing school and sand yachting center.
"Chateau D'Eau" : From Notre Dame, you can visit the water tower, which bas a lift to the top and gives you a bird eye's view of the Vendeen countryside.
Also "jardin du vent", a new venture which looks at the wind in all its forms and the kids can try out the sail powered roundabout. Very popular with the children and lots of space to run around.
4. Sallertaine
With a 15 minute drive from the campsite you will find this artisan village, where local artists have settled and work and also sell their products to visitors.
There is a lovely village atmosphere and a couple of nice cafes and restaurants if you want to stop and have lunch.
This is a busy little market town, 18kms from St Jean de Monts. lt has been famous for its monthly duck markets and fairs since the early 20th Century. The very popular and delicious ducks and chickens from Challans can he tasted on many menus featuring local produce. In the sununer, there is a huge duck slide for the children in the square at Challans. There is quite a good selection of shops in the center and there are also two hypermarkets Hyper U and Leclerc and a Macdonalds. During August, every Thursday, they have a festival called "Autrefois Challans". Everybody dresses in early 20th century clothing and there are old fire engines and police trucks and horse and carts. There are lots of little stalls and food to huy and in the evening a champagne dinner. Definitely worth a visit if you are here at the right time
6. Apremont
The nearest freshwater lake to the site is about 30 mins drive from the site and it's worth it if you fancy a change from the beach.
There are pedaloes for hire and you can picnic on the lakeside or there are a couple of nice restaurants in the center to have lunch.
Apremont also has a charming renaissance castle to visit, and is a pretty little village.
7. Commequiers
Not far from Apremont, there is a feudal castle and medieval fortress and keep for those that like history. For the fitter and more energetic, there is the "Velo Rail". An old railway track has been fitted out with huge bikes that work on the track. There is enough space for the whole family, but only 2 cyclists, so ifs quite hard work ! There is a track and stops along the way and you have a couple of hours to get there and back, but beware, you have to lift the bike off the track if you meet people coming the other way ! Far more relaxing is the Hotel de la Gare, which has a smashing menu and very friendly owners and weil worth stopping at for a meal. There is a small garden for the children to play in.
8. Coex
Once again in the same area, Coex is a very modest, small village, but it is the home of the "Parc Floral". This is a lovely botanical garden, recently done up and there is a charming walk through different areas of vegetation, tropical trees, perfumed plants, water based plants. It's not too big to be boring and makes a pleasant change from the sand and the sea. It also now has a great kids play park and lots of area to run around. On the way back towards St Jean de Monts, at Soullans, there is a coppersmith' s workshop, which you can visit and buy from his work.
9. St Hilaire de riez
At St Hilaire, you will find open in June, July and August, the Atlantic Tobbogan, a water park, wich has just been greatly improved with a huge wave pool.
10. St Gilles Croix de Vie
Driving from St Hilaire along the coast road towards Sion and St Gilles, you will go along the rocky, cliff side and pass the " trou du diable " (devil's hole), which is a rock formation, where the water sorges through the hole in the rock, making quite a show. Its nice to drive along here when its really windy and stormy as weIl as when it sunny.
Once at St Gilles, there are lots of shops, cafes and restaurants all the way along the port, which make it lively and animated. Ifs a nice day out, if the weather isn 't so good as there is plenty to see and do. ln the evenings there are often musical festivals and market stalls lining the streets. There are boat trips, yachts to hire, fishing boats to watch coming in and out and quite a lot of shipping activity as weIl as the long sandy beach and quite big surf. This is called the "Grande plage" and is the other side of the bridge, lots of nice restaurants which overlook the sea. St Gilles is famous for its sardine fishing and of course this means that the seafood is excellent, be it in the restaurants or at the market. The sardines are delicious if barbecued.There is also a 16th Century church with beautiful stained glass windows.Possibly not to mention, but there is also a Macdonalds and a hypermarket "Leclerc".
11. Brétignolles sur mer & Brem sur mer
Heading off south from St Gilles, you arrive at Bretignolles sur mer, which is a small and very French seaside resort. The beaches are lovely and the water is very clear. Just a little further south, Brem sur Mer is also very French, but it has great beaches and good surf on certain beaches for the surfers. There is also the "Parc d'attractions" which is a fun park for the kids with lots of alternative wooden rides, bouncy castIes etc.. You can also visit the local vineyards and wine producers and taste the local grapes. The Rosé is really quite nice. There is a wine museum and a 11th century church to visit.
12. Talmont St Hilaire
Further south just north of Les Sables, this village has some interesting points. There is a medieval fortress to visit in the attractive center and there are lots of brocante (antique) shops to browse in. Just outside the village is the well known Automobile museum, which ahs 140 vehicles and lots of accessories and poster.
Nearby is Port Bourgenay, a pleasure port and holiday center and fromhere you can take the coast road along to "Les Sables".
13. Les Sables d'Olonne
Since Ellen MacArthur came second in the Vendee Globe around theworld sailing competition, Les Sables is perhaps better know to the British, as it is from here that the race started and fmished 3 months later. Les Sables is a lovely resort with a huge gently sloping bay and a lively fishing industry and pleasure port. You can go out on fishing trips here.There is the seafront area with cafes and bars and restaurants to wander and look at, ranging from fast food to gourmet cuisine. There is also an aquarium, a zoo and a spa center, as well as old fishermen's cottages, the Arundel tower, a splendid church and a modem art museum in an abbey.The shops are varied and you cao easily spend a whole day in Les Sables.The early moming fish market is the place to get fresh fish, but you will have to be up early !
14. La Rochelle
The next large town on the coast is about 2 hours drive from St Jean deMonts. However, it is a beautiful old fishing port and the buildings (townhall, law courts and the renaissance quarter and the exquisite shops arewell worth the drive. La Rochelle is a big town and the 5th largest fishing port in France, but tourism plays a major role here too and there are boat trips around the harbor and out to the famous Fort Boyard. ln July and August, there are many musical festivals and the streets are full of musicians and street theatre.There are also, of course, lots of cafes, restaurants and bars surrounding the port, which makes a lovely setting for lunch.
15. Marais Poitevin
Just inland from La Rochelle and also known as the Green Venice, you will find an expanse of land reclaimed from the sea with a series of interlinking waterways. You can hire punts or small motor boats and mosey down the river, enjoying the tranquility and the greenery. Especially nice on hot sunny days! There are also organized trips in large boats.
16. Le Puy du Fou
This amazing park has been developed over several years and is now aquite outstanding Attractions Park. Do go and visit ! It's very different. During the day, you can visit a living 18th century village, watch musical shows, see a roman stadium with fighting, watch a daring medieval horse show, enjoy the falconry show (huge vultures!) and spend the whole day in a beautiful park land surrounding, with lakes, trees, flowers and animals.There are restaurants in the complex and you need a whole day to see everything. This part is weIl worth doing, even though it is a good 1&1/2 hr drive from St Jean, the children will he delighted and sleep all the way back! In the evening there is a fantastic light and sound show, with 1500 fountains 1800 lasers and projections and 300 fireworks.The show starts when it gets dark and finishes about 12 midnight, so it makes it hard to do with young children. It is in an outdoor amphitheater,so take a blanket. The 700 actors are all local people and aIl the animals live in the park in the daytime. It is very famous in France and you need to book.
17. La Roche sur Yon
The capital of the Vendee, the town layout is based on Napoléon. There are lots of old buildings and heaps of shops and its nice to visit when the weather is a bit dull. 40 minutes from La Roche sur Yon is Mortagne s/Sèvre, where you will find a railway museum and a steam train.
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18. Poitiers and Futuroscope
A good 2 and a half-hour drive will take you to Poitiers, home of the hitech space park "Futuroscope".There is lots to do and see, especially if you have older children that would appreciate the amazing technology, and of course the fun rides. It is worth the drive. There are hotels to stay in an around the park.
19. Nantes
Only 45 minutes from St Jean, Nantes is a big cosmopolitan town. It has lots of shops, a castle, a cathedral, botanical gardens and palaces and towers. There is heaps to see and it is ideal for a dull weather day.There is a superb restaurant called "La Cigale" which has got mosaic decoration on the walls and ceilings, which nearly takes your mind off the food!! You can eat lunch or just have tea and cakes in the afternoon.Near to Nantes at Port St Pere is the "Planete Sauvage" This superb drive through safari park is great fun, best not to go when it is really hot, because you are in the car, most of the time. It is a lovely park and very weIl done, the animaIs seem to be happy and are easy to spot. A great, grey-day outing. New is the dolphins pool and show and the monkey wooden bridge tour. Both are spectacular. It's a full day out, take a picnic and you can stop half way and eat it.
20. La Baule
One hour north of the campsite, La Baule is a glitzy resort, the other side of the superb St Nazaire bridge. It bas great beaches and shops and sornelovely old style houses. At Pornichet, just along the coast from La Baule centre has a super casino, if you fancy taking your chances on the poker machines. At St Nazaire, which is one of the biggest boat building towns in France, there is a guided visit around a huge battleship, where they show you howthey are built. On the way is Pornic, a small pretty seaside port and town, which has a bustling happy atmosphere and nice cafes and restaurants around the harbour. There are also rocky and sandy beaches if you fancy a change of scenery from the Vendee. Next to La Baule is Guerande, a historic, walled village, which is lovely to stroll around.
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There is a potter, glass engraver, dry flower producer, furniture maker,wooden toy workshop, weaver's workshop, and local farm produce to buy. There is also a bread museum where you can see the process of bread making and there are workshops for the kids to make their own bread and cookies. Excellent fun!
The canoe trips also go from here and, for a couple of hours, you can paddle through the creeks on big, safe, family, canoes, and see the local wildlife close at hand.
Just nearby to Sallertaine, there is also the "Bourrine de Rosalie", which is a typical vendeen house made from mud and stone and a thatched roof. This is how the people used to live around here and a nice insight in to the history of the vendee.
There is also the "Moulin de Raire", a windmill dating from 1560, which still grinds grain every day. You can visit all the floors and watch the machines at work and even taste the quality of the flour in the brioche (sweet bread) that is for sale. Kids love it.
5. Challans
facilities. Make sure you bring hats and the sun cream, as there is not a lot of shade. Also in July and August, the local fun fair sets up shop and you can go and whizz around on watlzers, dodgems etc ..
There is plenty of grass to sit and picnic on and a lake and pedaloes for hire. You can easily spend aIl day here and there is fast food and drinks for sale as well as changing and storage
Follow the coast along from St Jean de Monts and you arrive at
St Hilaire. There is a huge long sandy beach and more pine forests all the way to Sion sur l'Ocean. Along the way, there is a naturist beach and holiday center, if you are interested ! Just in between St Hilaire and St Gilles is the "sel de la vie", a salt maker explains the process of salt making. There are also horse and cart rides.
