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Exceptional coastline 

        With more than 250 km of coastline, the Vendée offers bathing waters of very good quality. A veritable Atlantic tourist destination with something for all the family, the Vendée's balneac tradition stretches across 18 renowned resorts, 5 marinas and more than 1,800km of cycle paths.

      Starting point for the Vendée Globe, the resort of Sables d'Olonne is not to be missed. With its lively atmosphere and warm ambience, you'll be charmed by La Chaume, an authentic fishing village.

      Saint Jean de Monts, with its 8 km of beaches, has many entertainment areas dedicated to children: Walking, cycling or sailing.... it's up to them! You'll also find footpaths and cycle paths between sea, dune, forest and marsh.

    Charming resort, Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, is the oldest Vendée port. It's a favourite spot for sea, beach and holiday lovers. Its 3.5 kilometres of beaches are perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing.

      In the South Vendée Atlantic, La Tranche sur Mer, offers its 13 km of fine sandy beach. Its white houses and narrow streets give it a Mediterranean character that attracts families keen on sun, waves and thrills.

     (Crédit photo: A.Lamoureux) 

(Crédit photo: A.Lamoureux)

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The charm of its îles

Noirmoutier

   L'île de Noirmoutier, is four communes, ten hamlets with low, whitewashed houses covered in pink tiles, a lively town and villages, beaches and forests, harbours and marshes… life, authenticity.

Yeu

   The island of Yeu lies 17 km off the Vendée coast. The island's 23km of land encompasses a wide variety of landscapes: long beaches and coastal dunes; wild coastline encircling sandy coves; sunken lanes winding along the cliffs; hedged farmland with its many plots of land where low houses with tiled roofs and coloured shutters nestle. An island of 5,000 inhabitants, a quarter of whom are under 25, Ile d'Yeu is a lively and friendly place. Access to the Ile d'Yeu by boat is possible from 3 different ports: Fromentine (all year round), St-Gilles Croix de Vie (from April & September) and Noirmoutier (from April & September).

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Le Puy du Fou

          Préparez-vous à voyager dans le temps! Come to the Puy du Fou for an unforgettable day out with family or friends. The days at the Puy du Fou are full of adventure, action-packed and offer a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.Cross the mountains in the heart of nature and enjoy a unique experience!

       La Cinéscénie :  Près 12 million spectators, 20 00 actors on a 23-hectare stage, 24 000 costumes, 1h40 of great spectacle and many novelties … the biggest night show in the world has become an unmissable myth. 

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Green nature: the Marais Poitevin 

      Repousséé par les alluvions des cours d'eau, l'Océan laisseé place à un vaste marécage aménagé; par l'Homme. First under the direction of the monks of the Cistercian and Benedictine abbeys and then at the request of Henry IV, the inhabitants dug canals and raised dykes over 37,000 hectares to assuage and exploit the land…

     Le Marais Poitevin, turned into a mystérious labyrinth of canals home to architectural treasures: the ruins of Maillezais Abbey, the églises whose portals provide history lessons. The Marais Mouill, the Marais Dess Dessacute, and the Polders are just some of the landscapes that contribute to the rich flora and fauna of the Marais Poitevin, appealing to nature lovers and offering boat trips, hiking trails and the iodised flavours of the Baie de L'Aiguillon. This land of thousands of waterways vibrates to the rhythms of boats gliding peacefully by, immersing you in a gentle melody of enchanting and unique scents.

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The South Vendée: a land of history and culture

      The Sud Vend&e appeals to lovers of history and culture partly because of its wealth of architectural styles.

     So you can décover the towns of Luçon of which Richelieu was the young évêque, and Fontenay le Comte. With its 1,700 buildings and 86 hectares of parkland, Fontenay le Comte has earned the prestigious Ville d'art et d'histoire (City of Art and History) label. For your visit, take the "A Thousand Years of History" tour through Place Belliard, Parc Baron and Rue des Loges with its timber-framed houses.

      A little further north of Fontenay Le Comte, come and discover the small town of Vouvant. Perhaps you'll catch a glimpse of the serpentine silhouette of the Mélusine fairy, which keeps watch over the treasures of the Cité Médiévale, ranked among « one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France ».

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Le Bocage Vendéen     

     Nestling in the shelter of the hills that extend the Armorican Massif to the Seuil du Poitou, the Bocage Vendéen has its own place in the diversity of the terroirs of our department.

    Le Bocage, c’est d’abord un paysage, avec ses hedges, ses chemins creux, ses croix et arceaux au carrefour des chemins de traverse, ses logis et ses fermes étroitement associ&és&… Mais c’est aussi une histoire. The Bocage Vendéen is populated with Gallic warriors and Roman legionnaires from Mont Mercure to Mont des Alouettes, haunted by Gilles de Rais, Maréchal de France et compagnon d’armes de Jeanne d’Arc, évangélisé par les disciples du père de Montfort, qui repose à Saint-Laurent sur Sèvre.

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A land of events

       Experience the great race of the Vendée Globe, which takes place every 4 years from Les Sables d'Olonne! Known the world over, the Vendeacute;e Globe is a non-stop, unassisted, single-handed, round-the-world sailing race. See you on 8 November 2020 for the next start!

      What's more, if you've spent a day in the Vendée this summer, you may have been able to take part in the next round-the-world race;perhaps attended the Grand Départ du Tour de France on 7 and 8 July, an honour for the department to have been able to host this renowned race.

     Don't forget to book your accommodation to attend all these great events!

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Well-être spaces

      La Vendée also welcomes you for wellness days at its two thalassotherapy centres in Saint-Jean-de-Mont and Sables d'Olonne. Located by the sea, in an environment conducive to relaxation, these centres offer a variety of cure formulas to suit everyone. Don't hesitate to ask us about accommodation options in the vicinity of the thalassotherapy centres!