Spotlight on the Vendée
Vendée is a great centre for family holidays with miles of long, gently sloping sandy beaches and for popular family entertainment among the beautiful lower Loire countryside inland.
The Vendee is a very popular area for visitors, especially those with children and those who appreciate the beaches and the family entertainments and attractions of the area.
There are many places to visit and things to do in Vendee … but most children apparently prefer to paddle than to look at cities and castles!
Vendée beaches and coastal resorts
Most visits to Vendée are concentrated in one of the many seaside resorts, with their long gently sloping sandy beaches and family friendly facilities. Vendee is best known as a centre for beach holidays, and for good reason. The Vendee beaches are perfect for children and great for windsurfers and birdwatching, and are often backed by pine forests, ideal for cycling. Whatever else you might enjoy you will always find a beach to enjoy in the Vendée
Getting to the Vendée
The Vendée is a reasonable drive from the southern channel ports – La Rochelle at the southern end of the Vendée coast is around 3.5 hours driving time from St Malo or 4.5 hours from Caen.
It is well served with airports, with La Rochelle and Nantes having busy airports with direct flights from the UK at either end of the Vendée coast, and within a comfortable drive from both Bordeaux and Limoges airports.
Towns and villages away from the beach
The inland regions of Vendée are less visited than the coast but there are several interesting towns and villages to explore including Vouvant, classified among the ‘Les plus beaux villages de France’
There are several pretty villages, often little more than hamlets, that you will pass as you travel around the department, often without a particular noteworthy ‘highlight’, but no less enjoyable for that. Among them the village of Nieul-sur-l’Autise is visited for the 12th century Abbey of Saint Vincent.
One of the prettier market towns in the Vendée is Fontenay-le-Comte, officially listed as a ‘town of art and history’, where you can visit the castle and the historic centre. Lucon towards the south of the department has an interesting cathedral to visit.
Another highlight to the east of the Vendee is to be discovered in the unique marsh areas of the Marais Poitevin on the border between Charente-Maritime and Vendée, and on the edges of the Marais-Poitevin, you can visit the evocative ruins of Maillezais abbey.
Other attractions and entertainments in Vendee
As well as the resorts, towns and villages of Vendée there are other popular family attractions including:
- Puy du Fou theme park – various special events and historical re-enactments
- Bluebeard’s castle at Tiffauges
- Interactive Quiz-pathfinder games on your smart device 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.
For lovers of historical sites, there are a good number of historical monuments to discover in the Vendee, including:
- the ruined abbey at Maillezais
- the abbey at Nieul-sur-l’Autise
- the ‘Logis de la Chabotterie’ – learn about life in the region pre-Revolution
Cycling & Nature
Immediately behind many of the beaches are extensive pine forests with level easy cycling routes laid out.
Vendee is a ‘cycle friendly’ department and various routes are laid out varying in length from about 20-65 kilometres – ask for the brochure ‘Les Sentiers Cyclable’ in any Vendee tourist office or see the Vendée à Velo website (French).
A wild exploration of The Massif Forestier of Mervent-Vouvant (13,000 acres) with much woodland and beautiful countryside by bicycle or on foot is a must.
Where to stay in Vendée?
France For Families has a great selection of family friendly self catering accommodation in and around Vendée – Here is a selection:
Villa Acacia
3 bedroom villa for 6 with pool near Sables d’Olonnes
Villa Sophora
4 bedroom villa for 8 near Les Sables d’Olonnes
Les Pins du Phare
4 bedroom house for 8
400m from the beach at La Tranche sur Mer
La Chauvetterie
4 bedroom house for 8
with pool near Lucon
See the full selection of accommodation in Vendée available through France for Families click HERE
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