The Vendée

Transcription

The Vendée

Press Pac k
The Vendée,
Holiday destination
Collection 2014
www.vendee-tourisme.com
Where is the Vendée?
Where is the Vendée?
NORVÈGE
FINLANDE
The Vendée is an area of Western France which lies on the Atlantic Coast, south of the Loire, between the cities
of Nantes and La Rochelle. It is about 600 km from the UK.
GRANDE-BRETAGNE
ESTONIE
SUÈDE
RUSSIE
LETTONIE
DANEMARK
IRLANDE
Highlights
LITUANIE
BIÉLORUSSIE
PAYS-BAS
BELGIQUE
Océan
Atlantique
LUXEMBOURG
LA VENDÉE
POLOGNE
ALLEMAGNE
UKRAINE
RÉPUBLIQUE
TCHÈQUE
PARIS
SLOVAQUIE
FRANCE
SUISSE
AUTRICHE
HONGRIE
SLOVÉNIE
ROUMANIE
CROATIE
BOSNIE
HERZÉGOVINE
PORTUGAL
ESPAGNE
ITALIE
SERBIE ET
MONTÉNEGRO
BULGARIE
ALBANIE
GRÈCE
How do I get to the Vendée?
It is really easy to get to the Vendée, thanks largely to the proximity of the airports at Nantes and La Rochelle,
both of which are less than an hour’s drive away and served by scheduled flights from the UK. The area has also
opened up to road and rail traffic, making travel by car (via ferry or tunnel) or train equally viable.
By air (about 1 hour):
To Nantes-Atlantique Airport
(83 km from the Vendée)
From London City (Air France by Cityjet)
From Manchester, Southampton (Flybe code share Air
France)
From Liverpool, London Gatwick (Easyjet)
From Dublin and Shannon (Ryanair)
From Glasgow
To La Rochelle/Ile de Ré Airport
(94 km from the Vendée)
From London Stansted, East Midlands and Dublin
(Ryanair)
From London Gatwick and Bristol (Easyjet)
From Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton
(Flybe)
From Leeds-Bradford and Edinburgh (Jet2)
By rail (about 6 hours):
From London Saint Pancras to Lille Europe (Eurostar),
then TGV from Lille Europe to La Roche sur Yon/Les
Sables d’Olonne
From London Saint Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord
(Eurostar), then TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse to
La Roche sur Yon/Les Sables d’Olonne
Main stations in the Vendée: La Roche sur Yon,
Challans, Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, Les Sables d’Olonne,
Montaigu, Luçon.
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By road via ferry/tunnel (about 7 hours):
To Saint Malo (265 km from the Vendée):
From Portsmouth (Brittany Ferries)
From Weymouth, via the Channel Islands
From Poole (Condor Ferries)
To Caen (393 km from the Vendée):
To Roscoff (402 km from the Vendée):
From Plymouth and Cork (Brittany Ferries)
To Le Havre (421 km from the Vendée):
From Portsmouth (LD Lines and Brittany Ferries)
To Cherbourg (428 km from the Vendée):
From Poole (Brittany Ferries)
To Dieppe (484 km from the Vendée):
From Newhaven (LD Lines)
To Boulogne (604 km from the Vendée):
From Ramsgate (Euroferries)
From Dover (Speedferries)
To Calais (636 km from the Vendée):
From Dover (P&O Ferries and LD Lines)
From Folkestone (Eurotunnel and Speedferries)
To Dunkerque (676 km from the Vendée):
From Dover (DFDS Seaways)
To Saint Nazaire (52 km from the Vendée):
From Roselare (LD Lines)
A dynamic tourism economy:
• tourism is a top-tier component of the Vendée economy,
• the No. 1 tourism département in France on the Atlantic seaboard with nearly 35.8 million nights booked for
tourism,
• 5 million tourists welcomed each year,
• 87% are French clients (Western France, Paris region, etc.),
• 13% are international clients (from Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, etc.),
• reception capacity of 820,000 beds,
• average trip duration is 10.5 days,
• the tourist season now lasts six months from April to September with nearly 90% of nights booked,
• a strong trend towards year-round attraction.
A diverse, high-quality tourism offering:
• a diverse, high-quality accommodation offering,
• 250 km of coastlines with 80% protection, 140 km of fine sandy beaches,
• an unexpected variety of landscapes including dunes and forests, wild, rocky coastlines, bocages and wetlands, etc.,
• over 100 natural, protected areas covering more than 2,000 hectares,
• two islands (Yeu and Noirmoutier), 18 seaside resorts and eight marinas (moorings for 6,400 vessels),
• two convention centres, two thalassotherapy centres, five 18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole course,
• over 1,000 km of cycling tracks,
• a vast range of water activities for every season,
• fine cuisine takes centre stage with four Michelin-starred restaurants,
• over 500 events held every year,
• world-famous events: Vendée Globe, Tour de France, etc.,
• over 300 sites to visit or for leisure activities,
• a unique sight-seeing venue that now welcomes over 1.74 million visitors each year: le Puy du Fou® (voted the
best theme park in the world in 2012 and in Europe in 2013).
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Destination Vendée
Coastal beauties
• Saint Jean de Monts: the children’s favourite....................................................................................................... 6
• Saint Gilles Croix de Vie: strong maritime tradition............................................................................................... 6
• Les Sables d’Olonne: the sea town......................................................................................................................... 7
• La Tranche sur Mer: a village by the sea ............................................................................................................... 8
Vendée islands
• Noirmoutier: the mimosa island............................................................................................................................... 9
• Ile d’Yeu: the pearl of the Atlantic........................................................................................................................ 10
Marais Poitevin and its unique villages
• Marais Poitevin: the land of wide open spaces.................................................................................................. 11
• The unique villages of Vendée classified Petites Cités de Caractère......................................................... 12-13
Outdoor activities
Vendée by bike
• Vendée: the largest network of bicycle tracks in France ................................................................................. 14
• The 25 finest circuits in Vendée............................................................................................................................. 15
• Vélodyssée – at the heart of the Euro Velo Route 1 ..................................................................................... 15-16
• Welcoming cyclists to Vendée ............................................................................................................................. 16
Horse-riding in Vendée… ride to your heart’s content .............................................................................. 17
Rambling in Vendée
• Vendée on foot… absolute bliss!.......................................................................................................................... 18
• GR® 8, the Vendée customs path......................................................................................................................... 18
• The 2014 event: the 15th “4 jours en Chantonnay”........................................................................................... 19
Water sports in Vendée
• Fair stands the wind for Vendée and its water sports!........................................................................................ 20
• The Va’a, the Polynesian canoe.............................................................................................................................20
• Stand Up Paddle surfing is in the latest it thing!................................................................................................... 21
Fishing in Vendee, leisure trips
• Fresh-water fishing in Vendée: leisure trips........................................................................................................... 22
• At the seaside, shellfish picking............................................................................................................................. 22
Unusual “gentle trips”
• Ballooning over the bocage ................................................................................................................................ 23
• Night-time canoe trips (with bivouac).................................................................................................................. 23
• Venise Verte in a horse-drawn caravan.............................................................................................................. 24
• Marais poitevin by kayak… from Venise Verte to the ocean in seven days................................................... 24
Réalisation avril 2014.
Dossier de presse réalisé par Vendée Expansion – 33 rue de l’Atlantique - CS 80206 - 85005 LA ROCHE SUR YON Cedex - tél. 02 51 44 90 00 – fax 02 51 62 36 73.
Malgré tout le soin apporté à sa réalisation, ce document peut contenir des erreurs d’impression ou omissions, dont Vendée Expansion ne saurait être tenu pour responsable. Les descriptifs, tarifs
et conditions de séjours sont donnés à titre indicatif et peuvent varier en fonction des dispositions réglementaires éventuelles. Photos, textes et descriptifs non contractuels. Ne peut être vendu.
Vendée Expansion est titulaire de tous les droits de propriété intellectuelle relatifs à “ Vendée, Une passion, des Plaisirs ” qui lui appartiennent ou détient les droits d’usage y afférant. Vous ne
pouvez en aucun cas, reproduire, représenter, modifier, transmettre, publier, adapter sur quelque support que ce soit, par quelque moyen que ce soit, ou exploiter de quelque manière que ce
soit, tout ou partie de “ Vendée, Une passion, des Plaisirs ” sans l’autorisation écrite préalable de Vendée Expansion.
L’exploitation non préalablement autorisée par Vendée Expansion, à quelque titre que ce soit, de tout ou partie de pourra faire l’objet de toute action appropriée, notamment d’une action en
contrefaçon.
Crédits photos : A. Lamoureux/Vendée Expansion, Institut Sports Océan Les Sables d’Olonne, J. Damasse/Vélodyssée, C. Rouché/Comité Vendée Surf, Commune de L’Aiguillon sur Mer, S.Bourcier,
M. Chaigneau, Va’a, Air Caroline, Agence Parenthèse, Jean-Sébastien Evrard/Communauté de Commune Ile de Noirmoutier, J. Auvinet, Office de Tourisme de La Tranche sur Mer, A. Lamoureux/
Pays de Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, D. Fugère, V. Mercier, J, C.Angibaud /M. Osullivan, CDelicado/KPWT, PascalBeltrami-OT-des-Sables-d-Olonne, Collibert®, Berlose/PCC Pdl, PCC/PDL R.Etienne
Serigra, J-Luc Fort.
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Bed & Breakfast
• Logis de la Venerie in Olonne sur Mer (bed & breakfast).................................................................................. 25
• L’Epicurienne in Sables d’Olonne (bed & breakfast)......................................................................................... 25
• Logis des maraîchers in Olonne sur Mer (bed & breakfast)............................................................................... 25
• Grange aux peintres in Vouvant (bed & breakfast) .......................................................................................... 25
• Moulin de la Roche in Tiffauges (former watermill)............................................................................................. 26
• Maison d’Olivier in Mesnard La Barotière (former school)................................................................................. 26
• Manoir du Moulin in Sainte Hermine (former watermill)..................................................................................... 26
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Top addresses in Vendée
Hotels
• L’hôtel de Luxe (4-star) run by Thierry Drapeau in Saint Sulpice le Verdon...................................................... 27
• Hôtel Les Voyageurs in Ile d’Yeu........................................................................................................................... 27
• Terragora Lodges, a quaint, ecological and unusual hotel in Les Epesses ..................................................... 28
• Luxury wooden houses (Le Boisniard 5-star hotel) in Chambretaud ................................................................ 29
• Hotel or art gallery? Château de la Barbinière in Saint Laurent sur Sèvre (4-star) ......................................... 29
• Domaine du Brandois in La Mothe-Achard (4-star hotel).................................................................................. 29
Holiday lettings
• Résidence Belle Plage in la Tranche sur Mer (holiday residence).................................................................... 30
• Chromatic, the arts B&B for musicians in Grosbreuil........................................................................................... 30
What’s new in Vendée camping
Back to nature
• 100% nature in La Ventouse in Jard sur Mer (3-star)............................................................................................ 31
• Nature in the meadows in La Chapelle Hermier (4-star).................................................................................... 31
• Les Ramiers in the heart of the Longeville sur Mer forest (2-star) ...................................................................... 31
The unusual: sleeping at the camping site
• Ecolodges in Domaine des Moulins in La Guérinière (5-star) ............................................................................ 32
• Bubble room, treehouse at Château la Forêt in Saint Julien des Landes (4-star)........................................... 33
• Tents, bungalows and old-style caravans at the Petit Rocher in Longeville sur Mer (4-star)......................... 33
• A yurt at the Cleroca camp site in Grues (3-star)............................................................................................... 33
New facilities in 2014
• The 2,000 sq. m. water sports complex in L’Océan in Brem sur Mer (3-star).................................................... 34
• A natural beach in the heart of L’Evasion in Landevieille (4-star)..................................................................... 34
• Exceptional water parks thanks to MS Vacances (5-star).................................................................................. 34
Quality camping in Vendée .................................................................................................................................... 35
The latest on places to visit
• Puy du Fou® (Grand Parc® and Cinéscénie®): a new Renaissance world .................................................. 36-37
• Logis de la Chabotterie, a new stage design..................................................................................................... 37
• Indian Forest, new attraction, the “Water Jump” ............................................................................................. 38
• Idea for a break: Retro escapade in a 2CV ....................................................................................................... 38
• 2004, Clemenceau year in Vendée ............................................................................................................... 39-40
Fine cuisine : restaurants, top addresses in Vendée
• A new gastronomy restaurant, “Les Genets” in Brem sur Mer ......................................................................... 41
• New in Saint Jean de Monts: le Quai des Dunes................................................................................................. 41
• A Michelin star for Les Brisants in Brétignolles sur Mer ......................................................................................... 42
• Restaurant la Marine in Noirmoutier en l’île (2 stars, 4 chef’s hats) .................................................................. 42
• Chef Thierry Drapeau, the delectation provocateur ........................................................................................ 43
Well-being and golf courses
• Côte Ouest, a new lease of life for the thalassotherapy centre in Les Sables d’Olonne ......................... 44-45
• Thalassotherapy in Saint Jean de Monts.............................................................................................................. 46
• Vendée golfing… the must-play 18-hole courses .............................................................................................. 47
• The 9-hole course at Les Alouettes aux Herbiers ................................................................................................ 47
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Destination vendée
Coastal beauties
Saint Jean de Monts: the children’s favourite
Les Sables d’Olonne: the sea town
Located only 90 minutes from Nantes and La Rochelle, les Sables d’Olonne is the Vendée seaside
resort town famous for its long beach of fine sand and its legendary Vendée Globe race that starts
at Port Olona every four years. With its strong maritime tradition testifying to its rich history, Les Sables
d’Olonne, the sea town is an absolute must as a destination for all kinds of water sports.
Grande plage and Remblai
A favourite spot for walks all year round to enjoy the scenery,
the sea and its changing reflections from one season to the
next. All long Grande Plage, cafés, bars, restaurants, crêperies,
shops selling accessories and souvenirs, and art galleries are
delighted to offer visitors a welcome respite from busy lives.
With its 8 km of extremely safe beaches (the beach inclines gently and there is no current), Saint Jean
de Monts is staking everything on family safety: identification masts, safety bracelets for children and
many beach monitoring and emergency first aid stations! Pignon shellfish hunting. Many areas and
activities just for children. The 15 km of fine sandy beaches by the ocean are an ideal place all year
round to run with the wind: try sand yachting on the beach for a new experience…
Enjoy the resort on foot, on rollerblades, on horseback or by bike…
The esplanade is a pleasant venue for completely safe rollerblading. Most of the bicycle tracks are located in
clean and secured sites for great rides across the forest and wetlands.
Saint Gilles Croix de Vie: strong maritime tradition
Saint Gilles Croix de Vie is a charming, listed
seaside resort that has preserved its lifestyle
and traditions over the decades. The coastal
village boasts a wide range of activities to
try with family and friends.
Fishing, sailing, ship-building and major
nautical events such as La Solitaire du
Figaro, Le Tour de France à la Voile and
Les Jeux Nautiques Atlantiques make the
village one of the major centres along the
Vendée coast.
20 th Jeux Nautiques Atlantiques
(14-18 July 2014)
The town of Saint Gilles Croix de Vie was
selected to host the 20th Jeux Nautiques
Atlantiques from 14 to 18 July 2014. The
Regional Olympics and Sports Committee for
Pays de la Loire is at the helm of this event.
Over 500 young athletes from five countries (Portugal,
Spain, Ireland, Great Britain and France) are expected to take part. The highly
regarded competition is the only international sporting event that’s been bringing together young nautical
sports hopefuls from around the Atlantic since 1995. The variety of sports is wide, as can be seen in rowing, kayak
canoeing, kitesurfing, flipper swimming, freestyle swimming, sports lifesaving, surfing and of course, sailing.
The JNA also feature many events involving sportspersons from the Loire, around the Atlantic and tourists. The
event will provide an opportunity to enjoy – perhaps not for the first time – all the many assets of our region (sports,
culture and tourism).
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Coastal beauties
The Vendée watersports capital
The Institut Sports Océan awaits you to introduce you to or improve your water boardsports or sailing: surfing, sea canoeing,
hobie cat catamaran sailing and stand-up paddle surfing.
The Atlantic Ocean with its waves and breakers is paradise
for water board sports aficionados. Surfing and wave skiing
championships are held at Les Sables d’Olonne and the world
champions have even set up their own school there. Top-rank
instructors!
A seaside town
Thanks to its port, fishing, commercial and marina activity, Les
Sables d’Olonne is a dynamic town throughout the year with a
cultural season programme during the off-season, free events
on the sea front during the summer, arts and crafts markets,
concerts, a pedestrian centre with a wide variety of stores and
the Halles for fresh produce. A stroll along the little streets is
a must to discover the town’s heritage and living testimony
to its past: old ship-owners’ houses, 18th-century town houses,
seaside villas with a variety of regional styles and fishermen’s
cottages, etc.
Focus on La Chaume, an unusual area
Access is via the “sea bus” ferry that crosses the channel
to the three ports all year. The docksides with their colourful
houses, narrow streets and the pointed church spire make this
a favourite landscape for artists. La Chaume, once a rocky
islet, became “l’île Vertime” and was connected to the mainland in the Middle Ages after the wetlands were drained. The
wild coast of la Paracou makes a wonderful contrast with the
rocky coastline along “la Route Bleue”, a wetlands area just
a short distance from the regional forest of Olonne. A gorgeous natural environment to enjoy.
La Chaume is still the neighbourhood for fishermen. A mural
in place de l’Eglise depicts the area’s unusual atmosphere.
Dotted around are monuments such as Arundel Tower, the
former keep of Château St Clair, the governor’s residence
when the town was still ruled by the English, the St Nicolas
Priory and its canons pointing seawards in memory of a sea battle in the 17th century against an Anglo-Dutch
fleet and the lighthouses and moles, Brise Lames and the semaphore. Not forgetting the streets with their evocative names: rue du Vilbrequin, rue de l’Echelle, rue du Hasard, rue du Regard, rue du Soupir, rue de l’Amour.
A full agenda of things to see…
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Destination vendée
Coastal beauties
La Tranche sur Mer: a village by the sea
Vendée islands
Noirmoutier: the mimosa island
La Tranche-sur-Mer is one of the rare
seaside destinations to have preserved
its massive constructions and asphalted
embankments. Thanks to its magnificent
authentic scenery, its 13 km of beaches
bordered by dunes and the quality of its
bathing water, this little seaside village
with a population of 2,700 has been
committed to preserving the environment
for many years.
After entirely redeveloping the municipality to
promote gentler modes of transport, limit car
traffic and improve conditions for tourists and
residents, the village is now striving to become
a “sustainable destination”.
“Mamie malice et Papy complice” (Fun and games with Grandma and Grandpa) to highlight
social bonds between generations
The Tranche-sur-Mer tourist office has launched an operation called “Mamie malice et Papy complice” (Fun
and games with Grandma and Grandpa), for all grandchildren and grandparents. The project intends to
highlight moments of sharing and complicity between generations. The operation began with a competition
offering pairs of grandchildren and grandparents the chance to win weekends with activities to do together at
Tranche sur Mer.
Several generations going on holiday together is a trend that’s become more popular during the recession. The
presence of large numbers of “grandparents” at the resort enables young people, children and teenagers to
come on holiday and enjoy a wide variety of activities throughout the year. That’s why we wish to highlight those
special moments grandparents and their grandchildren share together that help our seaside village to exist and
retain its identity as a young and dynamic family resort.
Furthermore, the environmental approach adopted by Tranche-sur-Mer has validity only if it includes the sharing
of knowledge between current and future generations who must in turn preserve the environment they will
inherit.
The “Mamie Malice et Papy Complice” project therefore came about through combining human values and
economic realities. It is part of an approach to promote the value of social bonds between generations in
families that are dear to our community.
Noirmoutier island acquired its“île aux mimosas” nickname thanks to its exceptional microclimate
and remains a little corner of paradise for nature-lovers: its blue salt-water wetlands stretch over a
third of the island to contrast the white sandy dunes caressed by the ocean breeze and the woods
of holly oak, strawberry trees and marine pine… Tucked away in the hollows of Bois de la Chaise,
the large villas exemplify Noirmoutier and stand as witnesses to La Belle Époque and “sea bathing”.
Tourism and “classic yachting” were born in these sandy inlets facing the mainland.
In addition to a preserved natural environment, Noirmoutier boasts 40 km of beaches, a large number of water
activities for all, including sailing schools, sea gardens for children, diving school, paddle surfing, land sailing
and kitesurfing, jet skiing and sea kayaking, along with excursions on old sailing boats and for sea fishing, etc.
The island also has three ports, port de l’Herbaudière and port Morin face the ocean, and the historic port of
Noirmoutier en l’île.
Local flavours
Noirmoutier is at the crossroads of land and sea and lives according to the pace of its earliest activity all year
long: fine oysters and tidewater mussels, early potatoes and the famous “Bonnotte” potato, fleur de sel sea salt
and samphire, line-caught bass, sole and seafood. The region’s culinary delights are brilliantly showcased by the
island’s chefs.
Le Gois, the only road of its kind in the world
The appeal of this island also stems from its unusual access. In
addition to the bridge the island can be accessed by “le Gois”,
a 4 km-long route than can be used only twice a day at low tide.
A curiosity that was the only one of its kind, the Passage du Gois
long served as the umbilical cord connecting the island to the
mainland until a bridge was built in 1971.
Les Foulées du Gois: “the race against the sea”. Every June, 30
athletes race against the rising tide... a spectacular challenge
pitting Man against Nature.
Noirmoutier and la Belle Plaisance
Noirmoutier is a temple to Belle Plaisance regattas. The magnificent stretch of water in Baie de Bourgneuf offers
an outstanding area for sailing. Each summer, gorgeous international sailboats, fore-and-aft sails, requin and
dragon vessels from the Atlantic coast meet up for three days of regattas starting at Plage des Dames. One
example is the Lissac Classic Noirmoutier which regularly pitches 50 boats around the Pen Duick. And it’s there
that “La Chaloupe”, has been organising the famous “Régates du Bois de la Chaise” for a quarter of a century.
The event features nearly 70 working and Belle Plaisance leisure craft in a festive and friendly setting with as
much to see on land as at sea.
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Destination vendée
Vendée islands
Ile d’Yeu: the pearl of the Atlantic
Enjoy the charms of the wild coastline
listed as a “natural site” with its steep cliffs
overlooked by the formidable “Vieux
château” in Ile d’Yeu.
The coastal path, which is currently being listed
as a GR path, as well as the interior network,
make the island a wonderful location for
ramblers. Use the sign-posted routes as your
guide and take your time with a leisurely
ramble. Ile d’Yeu boasts a wide variety of
sea activities: sailing, deep-water fishing, sea
kayaking, underwater diving, surfing, etc., but
also many beaches for swimming or just kicking
back and relaxing. Ile d’Yeu was long the
leading tuna port on the Atlantic and still gives
fishing pride of place, with bass, monkfish, sole,
turbot, sea bream, hake and various noble
shellfish being unloaded at the docks of PortJoinville.
The wild coast
Between Pointe du But and Pointe des
Corbeaux on the southern part of the island, the wild coast stands in
testimony to the Celtic lands of Brittany and Ireland. The landscape
is dotted with many capes and points. Enjoy the wide blue yonder
from Pointe du Châtelet and la Tranche. Port de la Meule, a small
fishing port landscaped into a ria over which proudly stands the
iconic chapel of Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, which serves as a
natural shelter for mariners. Inlets with fine, sandy beaches are nestled
amidst the cliffs: Belle Maison, Anse des Fontaines, les Sabias (a tiny
beach with fishermen’s huts), les Soux and les Vieilles.
Dune coast
The coast becomes gentler after Pointe des Corbeaux with a series of
beaches alongside a dune environment dominated by marine pine
and holly oak forests. Nearby, a network of wetlands is home to many
protected species of birds. Rocky outcrops break the succession of
beaches between Marais Salé and Ker Châlon.
New: 28 km of the sentier douanier d’Yeu
Recently approved and listed in the GR catalogue by the French Rambling Federation, it will be possible to tour
the island using the coastal path now known as GR80 from spring 2014. Ramblers will be able to enjoy the coastal
scenery around the island along this 28 km-long circuit.
To enjoy just part of the GR path, the ID Bus service (which runs daily from April to October) connects PortJoinville to the starting point of your choice and ends where you wish.
Also from spring 2014, people who prefer short walks will have five routes to choose from, each between 7 and
10 km in length and which are called “sentes”. The sente des Marais, sente des Oïls, sente du Noroit’, sente des
Creusland and sente de la Meule are all routes to enjoy the treasures of the seaside and also the most hidden
spots of the island inland.
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Marais Poitevin
and its unique villages
Marais Poitevin: the land of wide open spaces
As the second largest wetland area
in France after Camargue and the
fifth largest in Europe, this area with its
outstanding ecological variety, flora,
fauna and cultural and landscape
heritage was awarded the Grand Site
de France label in 2010.
From the Venise Verte to baie de l’Aiguillon
via the dried marsh, the area’s diversity can
be seen in a mosaic of landscapes shaped
by mankind over the last ten centuries. A
trip across its land and waterways reveals all
the breathtaking and yet at the same time
fragile beauty of these wetlands, as they
depend on a very changeable balance.
This secret, poetic area is ideal for everyone
who loves calm, peaceful nature as the
best place for cycling, sailing, walking and
ecological and sustainable tourism.
Wetlands form the transitional border between land and water and are among the most exceptional areas for
ecological and biological diversity on the planet. Wetlands serve as filters to clean and control the flow of water
with extraordinary biodiversity thanks to their high concentrations of nutritional items. In addition to fisheries,
shellfish farms and farming – the three activities traditionally located in these areas – tourism also plays a key role
in the economy.
The Marais Poitevin is a land of nature and greenery, but has also preserved its surprising architectural heritage
from its particularly unusual history and lifestyle. Medieval abbeys, Romanesque churches and Renaissance
châteaux all blend in harmoniously with the traditional habitat of simple fishermen’s’ huts, mills and small ports...
Religious fervour at the start of the second millennium prompted a surge of monasteries and abbeys. In the
12th century the three abbeys of Maillezais, Nieul sur l’Autise and Saint-Michel en l’Herm combined forces to
overcome the swamps and drain the surrounding territory. All three bear witness to the vitality of monastic life
in the region and each is an architectural model. Maillezais, the necropolis of the dukes of Aquitaine, served as
a Benedictine abbey, cathedral and then fortress and was a spiritual citadel with an international reputation in
its time. Its capitals, modillions and interweaving foliage are all testimonials to the stone-cutter’s art; its vestiges
perfectly illustrate Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. As a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture,
the royal abbey of Nieul sur l’Autise owes its prosperity to the patronage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of
France and then of England. Listed by Prosper Mérimée in 1862, it is one of the rare monastic complexes to
remain complete with church, cloister and monastic buildings. The abbey of Saint Michel en l’Herm has been
a family-owned property since 1818. It was founded in 682 and boasts a turbulent history. The main part of the
keep (known as the “château”), refectory and monks’ pavilion, which can be admired today, date from the
end of the 17th century.
For more information >
Please request the special press pack “Le Marais Poitevin, 2014”
in French only – by phoning +33 (0)2 51 47 88 23, or emailing f.coutonlaine@vendee-expansion.fr.
It can also be downloaded from the press space on
11
Destination vendée
The unique villages of the Vendée
The “Petites Cités de Caractère” distinction is awarded to towns and villages with an outstanding
architectural and landscape heritage. Apremont a few kilometres from the coast, Mallièvre and
Mouchamps in Bocage, Vouvant, Famoreau, Foussais-Payré and Nieul sur l’Autise in the southern
part of the département are all examples of the multiple facets of Vendée identity.
Apremont the stronghold
Apremont lies some 20 km from the coast in a fine green
setting. It is crossed by the Vie, a small tidal river with a
steep landscape. The castle’s two Renaissance towers
stand proudly in the heart of the village.
A fortress dominated the Vie valley in the Middle Ages. In
the 15th century, the Lord High Admiral, Philippe Chabot
de Brion, a childhood friend of King Francis I, had its
imposing residence built there. The heritage discovery
trail takes you on the exploration of the narrow streets,
Gallo-Roman bridge, fine houses and residences and
the church (built in the 20th century) and the watch
path overlooking the village.
Mallièvre, an old weavers’ village
The village of Mallièvre overlooks the white waters of
the Sèvre Nantaise. Its origins go back to the mists of
time. The village emerges after a bend beyond a fine
stone bridge that has been well maintained on a rocky
outcrop.
This is where you can really feel the area’s charm. Here,
the remnants of the medieval castle, the lofty residences
of the masters and the houses perched on the granite
rock set off the high dry-stone walls, the narrow alleys
and floral rockeries... The former weavers’ village has
not forgotten the activity that made it prosperous.
After touring its heritage, country paths along calm
and green hillsides bring the visitor naturally back to the
banks of the Sèvre.
Mouchamps: the gateway to Vendée
The quaint little village of Mouchamps is one of the
gateways to Vendée. The village lies in the heart of
the Vendée bocage. Perched on a rocky outcrop,
Mouchamps dominates the Petit Lay river.
Its church, the former castle chapel, stands as a final
witness of the old medieval site where a fortress was
located. The Protestant church also bears witness to a
Protestant community from the 16th century onwards.
Several houses which still have Renaissance features
are dotted among 19th-century town houses. The Frères
Martel monument was built in 1930 in memory of Cdt
René Guilbaud who died in 1928. The man known as
“The Tiger” was laid to rest close to his father in 1929 in Le
Colombier, the Clemenceau family home.
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Vouvant: the medieval village
The charm of the medieval village with its ramparts nestled in a river
bend stems as much from the remnants of the Middle Ages with its
magnificent church and exemplary Romanesque entrance as from
its narrow, flowery streets. Ensconced in the bend of the Mère river,
whose wandering course adds charm to the delightful little valley,
the former medieval stronghold today defends only the tourist’s
view from the top of its rocky knoll. The quaint little village is replete
with piety and legend; its impressive 11th-century Romanesque
church seems to be in the throes of a timeless dialogue with the
old keep, which legend say was built in one night by the fairy
Mélusine. The church is listed as an historic monument and has a
remarkable entrance with small columns capped by gorgeous
sculpted archivolts. Its charming streets lined with houses of varying
styles convey the gentle lifestyle of this small village.
Faymoreau: the mining village
A humble cobbler digging a well one day in 1827 hit upon a seam of
coal. From that discovery, a mining town took root a short distance from
the old village of Faymoreau. It was organised, structured and unusual in
the outstanding wetland countryside.
For 130 years people came from all over, united by courage and community
spirit to share a fine human endeavour. Memories are evoked today by the
town’s layout: the mining cottages with straight façades, carefully tended
allotments and fishing stages around the pond. Contemporary stainedglass windows by Carmelo Zagari in the old Mining Chapel cast light on the
humble gestures of those men who laboured in the shadows. The museum,
which is located in what used to be the glaziers’ dormitory, brings out the
glorious industrial past of the Faymoreau mining region. Far from
forgetting its past, Faymoreau turns it into an asset for the present
and the future.
Foussais-Payré:
Renaissance
between
Romanesque
and
At the edge of the Mervent forest on the banks of the Vendée
river, the village of Foussais-Payré bears witness to two golden ages
of architecture. Its Romanesque church built between 1050 and
1100 is one of the most outstanding of the Bas-Poitou region and
has preserved vestiges of the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars
of Religion. At the chevet, the priory (now the town hall) stands
out with its fine fireplaces and its wooden staircase dating from
the 17th century. The Renaissance, another fertile period of builders’
talent, prompted some impressive buildings in Foussais-Payré: the
house of François Laurent (1552) had a loggia with an interior
courtyard, the “auberge Sainte-Catherine”, owned by the family
of mathematician and humanist François Viète (1540-1603) and
the Halles covered market, which were built in the 16th century.
At the entrance of the village of Payré sur Vendée, former lime
furnaces evoke the location’s industrial activity in the 19th century.
Nieul sur l’Autise, curling up against its abbey
The great Eleanor of Aquitaine casts a long and enduring shadow
over the abbey of Saint Vincent de Nieul sur l’Autise where she
was born. Founded in 1067 by the Lord of Vouvant, the abbey
and its neighbour of Saint Pierre de Maillezais cast a civilizing
influence over the Bas-Poitou region. The land-reclaiming monks
ensured the region’s prosperity by creating the Marais Poitevin,
which was reclaimed from the sea. Today Saint Vincent’s Abbey
is an outstanding testimonial to monastic architecture with its full arching sculpted façade, its chapter house
and Romanesque cloisters (the only remaining intact examples in the west), which give this unique village its
radiance. A well-inspired village which seems to blend, today as yesterday, into the beneficial proximity of its
abbey. Not far away is the Neolithic camp of Champ Durand which makes its contribution to local memory
along with the watermill along the Autise river, showing that in Nieul heritage is a past and present undertaking.
13
outdoor activities
Vendée by bike
The cycle is complete! Vendée is ready for cycling
fans – professionals, amateurs, tourists, adults and
children!
Dedicated and protected cycling tracks have been
completed along with the Vélodyssée, a section of a
route that takes you from Norway to Portugal.
At last the car can be left in the garage so you can set off
solely by bike. Getting to the beach, going shopping, out to
a restaurant, exploring the valleys of the Bocage, getting lost
in the Venise Verte, visiting the abbeys… Just hop on your bike
and you can get there!
Cycling has the advantage of saving on fuel and getting us
fit, whether racing off or affording the luxury of taking our time.
Pop the children in the child trailer, some baguettes in the front
basket and a picnic in the bag!
This is the life!
Vendée, the largest network
of cycle tracks in France
The Vendée General Council initiated the départemental cycling network in 1995, which now stretches over
1,060 km to make it the largest network in France. Enjoy the département in complete safety with family and
friends using the various tracks crossing the Vendée landscape from the coastline of the Marais Poitevin to the
Bocage. Since 2013 you can tour all of Vendée by bicycle with full peace of mind.
Vendée now has a cycling network aimed at sightseeing with outstanding diversity:
• A wide range of landscapes: wetlands, forests, dunes, bocage ;
• A wide range of developments: proprietary asphalted sites or sites with sanded surfacing along the coast,
small country roads in the Bocage, the former rail track between La Roche sur Yon and Coëx, tow paths
along the Canal de Luçon and in the Marais Poitevin ;
• A wide variety of difficulty levels: from very flat on the coast and in Marais Poitevin to deep valleys in Haut
Bocage.
Specific signage will guide you throughout your route along the cycling tracks in Vendée. Everything has been
set up to ensure maximum safety: cycle paths have dedicated tracks or are on little-used roads, with signage for
cyclists, etc. However do remain vigilant, especially on roads used by vehicles at some intersections. There are
picnic areas for taking a short break before setting off again along the route.
2014: what’s new in Vendée Vélo
The Vendée network of cycling tracks will be even denser in 2014, especially in the south of the
département and in the seaside resort of Talmont Saint Hilaire.
13 km of cycling tracks to follow the Vendée river
Work has already begun to construct a cycling track between the town of Fontenay le Comte and the
municipality of Le Poiré sur Velluire. The 13-km long track will make it possible to travel along the river that gives
its name to the entire Vendée département.
5 km to enjoy the magnificent natural environment of Talmont Saint Hilaire
The new track will make it possible to cycle from Port Bourgenay, the ocean façade of the municipality of
Talmont Saint Hilaire to the small oyster port of La Guittière. A fantastic excursion through natural environments
varying between forest, salt marshes and oyster ports... the epitome of how mankind can co-exist with nature.
14
The 25 finest circuits in Vendée
The département network and its 1,060 km of cycling
tracks have been supplemented by a very dense
local network that has been extensively developed
just inland from the coast. Almost 1,000 additional km
extend the départemental offering. The small roads
along the bocage, the coast, islands and Marais
Poitevin are ideal for this form of exploration.
Cycling fans will enjoy the new “bike” circuits that will
help them connect both to the département track
and local networks.
A short circuit in Brétignolles sur Mer
Go round the small seaside resort of Brétignolles sur
Mer in just 8.7 km (50% on départemental tracks).
The track goes through the tiny hamlets of the village
before returning to the départemental cycling track
along the coast, from which you can enjoy the
bays and beaches of Marais Girard and then La
Parée. Have a quick stop-over in Le Rocher de Saint
Véronique.
Explore the circuit of Noirmoutier island
Various tracks will enable you to enjoy the multiple
facets of the Noirmoutier island. The “Entre marais
et moulins” track, for example, is 19.6 km long and
meanders through the saltwater marshes before
returning to the village of La Guérinière with its small
white houses, windmills and narrow streets. A quick
trip across the forest before a stopover in Port Morin
(a small marina) from where the view is breathtaking:
wild, natural beaches as far as the eye can see.
Between vineyards and bocage in Rocheservière
In Rocheservière, start off by breathing in the atmosphere of the medieval village with its bridge whose foundations
hark back to Roman times, its narrow streets, its “Maison des Arts et Traditions” watermill, bijou châteaux and the
La Boulogne river. Then set off for Saint Philbert de Bouaine via the small roads along the Muscadet vineyards.
The “vignes et bocage” circuit is 26.8 km long and offers a refreshing change of scenery.
Vélodyssée: COTE DE LUMIERE BY BIKE
Roving break (290 km)
6 days / 5 nights
From
€ 549
per person
The Côte de Lumière will enthral you with its sun, beaches, dunes and holly oak and pine woods. A stay-over in each
port, a detour via the wetlands and a return trip through the bocage hinterland. A wild trip to Noirmoutier island.
Roving break with the following main stay-overs: Les Sables d’Olonne / Saint Gilles Croix de Vie / Bouin / Noirmoutier (or
Ile d’Yeu as an option).
> Prices include accommodation (half-board) in 2-star or 3-star hotels (beverages not included) based on a
double room, a “cyclists’” breakfast, luggage transfer from one hotel to the next with a travel pouch provided.
Possible options: bike hire and one day on Ile d’Yeu.
> More information available on www.vendee-tourisme.com – “Idée Séjour” [break ideas] section
tel. 00 33 2 51 62 76 82
15
outdoor activities
Vendée by bike
Vélodyssée at the heart of the Euro Vélo route 1
Imagine a route along the Atlantic coast where
cyclists and nature reign supreme. A véloroute
where you can feel to go at your own pace, explore
and contemplate, a véloroute that makes it possible
to recharge your batteries and get away from it all
gently. Don’t forget: this véloroute is the longest in
France. Welcome to Vélodyssée, a new 1,253 km
route of cycling tracks, 70% of which have been
created as dedicated car-free tracks for cycling that
crosses France from Brittany to the Basque coast.
Fair stands the wind for England, Spain, the Black Sea…
Developed with openness in mind, Vélodyssée is a fully European route. In taking it, you travel part of the Eurovélo
route 1 which connects Norway to Portugal via the UK, France and Spain.
You will also be connected to several international routes such as Eurovélo route 4 (from the English Channel to
the Black Sea) and route 6 (Eurovélo routes along rivers from Nantes).
Vélodyssée in Vendée
The cycle track along the Vendée coast between Bouin and L’Aiguillon sur Mer via the Noirmoutier and Yeu
islands is currently the most complete with 89% having been finished. To date 200 km have been developed
along the coastline, 150 km of which as dedicated sites.
For more information >
please ask for the specific “VéLODYSSéE” press pack.
“Accueil Vélo” in Vendée
A brand for the perfect cycling holiday!
“Accueil Vélo” is a national brand that guarantees cycling tourists high quality reception and services tailored
to their expectations in listed tourist establishments.
The brand is awarded to various kinds of tourism established on the strength of a quality charter: accommodation,
bicycle rental and repair specialists, sightseeing and leisure sites and tourist offices.
In choosing an “Accueil Vélo” establishment, the cycling tourist is certain to find equipment and services
that meet his or her expectations for perfect cycling holidays. Services and features
range from secured bicycle shelters provided by accommodation facilities to specific
information in tourist offices and include a bicycle parking area in visitor sites and the
availability of luggage storage facilities at the bicycle rental agencies to guarantee
you a high-quality welcome.
At the end of 2013 Vendée had 169 service providers listed as Accueil Vélo specialists.
Cycling tourists can therefore choose from 102 accommodation facilities, 27 tourism
sites, 13 bike renters and 27 tourist offices, all listed as Accueil Vélo compliant.
Horse-riding in Vendée
Vendée on horseback: 454 km of signposted circuits. Over 450 kilometres on
horseback to explore an alternative Vendée with its
mosaic of landscapes ranging from beaches to forests to
small valleys, hills, plains and wetlands…
Gallop along the long Vendée beaches or explore Ile d’Yeu and
Noirmoutier with their changing scenery. Protected forests open
up their paths to you. The salt marshes with the wild carnations
and natural reserves afford an opportunity to observe very diverse
flora and fauna.
In the Marais Breton Vendéen the horse-riding circuit goes through
a vast and mysterious area featuring canals, fishing grounds and
birds.
The Bocage with its hollow paths and gentle hillocks has many paths
to explore on horseback... It also presents the history of Vendée with
its châteaux, abbeys and churches all bearing witness to a glorious
past and the Guerre de Vendée.
Nature-lovers and those who appreciate silence will be thrilled by a
walk in the Marais Poitevin. An astounding maze of canals bordered
by ash trees takes the rider and their horse to the heart of a green
and magical country.
Worth exploring especially on horseback:
• Vallée de l’Yon: with its interesting paths and many possible circuits and magnificent fords,
• the Sigournais region: a nature and history ramble with its dovecotes, châteaux and picturesque villages,
• the circuit of the bois de la Caillère St Hilaire: explore several remarkable châteaux,
• the circuit of Saint Pierre du Chemin – Menomblet: a path known for its pathways,
• along the coastline, two legendary routes: explore the forest of Olonne sur mer and Jard sur mer and as a
high point, access to the beaches,
• the forest of Longeville sur Mer and its beach: another special destination for horse-riding tourism along the
coast,
• Vouvant and environs: in particular the medieval village of Vouvant and the étang de Cezais,
• Mervent Vouvant circuits: 50 km of signposted paths for 100% forest hikes: flora and fauna changing every
season.
The cycling almanac for 2014
Vélocéane holiday biking!
Sunday, 14 September 2014
A cycling event to share with the family, the 12th Vélocéane will take you on a journey of discovery (or renewed
acquaintance) with the countryside around Saint Jean de Monts in a fun and family atmosphere!
Route: departure from Le Perrier. A secure 25 km-long circuit. No particular difficulty: the land is flat and
manageable by all. Villages with events throughout the circuit: “leisure” village, “gourmet” village, “the cycling”
village, “identity” village, digital events, exhibitions and introduction to the wetlands…
16
17
outdoor activities
Rambling in Vendée
Vendée on foot… absolute bliss!
Given its location at the edge of the Armorican
peninsula and the Aquitaine basin, Vendée boasts
outstanding diversity in geological formations across
the ages along with a wide range of scenery to
explore when rambling.
Which is all to the good! The département is crisscrossed with signposted pathways with 1,027 km of
GR® and GRP® and over 4,000 km of Promenade et
Randonnées (PR®) routes, including 95 signposted
circuits totalling 1,047 km.
GR® 8, the Vendée customs path
On the GR8, walk along the Vendée coastline with its 221 km of signposted
paths. Explore the customs path from Bouin in the north to Baie de l’Aiguillon
in the south.
Follow a route with a mosaic of highly different landscapes, from fishing
ports to wetlands, from dunes to forests, from a rocky coastline to broad
fine-sand beaches... The circuit has many surprises in store for extraordinary
vistas and fine local encounters.
Level: no difficulty
Type of route: ramble
GR8 signage: white and red
> Three selected sections of the GR8
From Bouin to Barre de Monts… 28 km in the heart of the Marais Breton Vendéen
Imagine broad meadows stretching as far as the eye can see, intersected by estuaries and canals; a coastline
of traditional ports and fisheries where oyster farming reigns supreme. Nature-lovers will enjoy spotting the many
types of birds that make this location famous for bird-watching. Move on to the picturesque port du Bec with its
coloured boats before resting your backpack at Barre de Monts.
From Saint Jean de Monts to Saint Gilles Croix de Vie… 23 km to explore the Vendée
corniche
Follow a pine-scented path redolent with the scent of the sea: you will cross the pine and holly oak forest
before getting to the village of Sion. Then, to get to St Gilles Croix de Vie take the “Corniche vendéenne”, three
kilometres of granite rocky coastline between the ocean and Belle époque villas. The corniche is listed as an
outstanding natural site. The timeworn cliffs feature many natural treasures you can explore along your route.
St Gilles Croix de Vie is worth tarrying over at night. Walk along the dockside to the jetty and enjoy the fishing
village atmosphere...
From Brem sur Mer to Les Sables d’Olonne… 31 km along the Côte de Lumière
The path varies between wetlands, dunes, forest and rocky coastline along this route. Follow the bends of the
saltwater marshes and stop off at the bird observatory. Take a guide and don’t forget your binoculars to admire
grey heron, the black-winged stilt, the elegant avocet… The vista is gorgeous.
Before arriving in Les Sables d’Olonne, cross La Chaume, a quaint little fishing village with coloured houses and
narrow streets. In going back along the seafront, stroll in the famous quartier de l’Ile Penotte with its houses
decorated with seashells.
18
The 2014 event: The 15th “4 jours en Chantonnay”
29 May to 1 June 2014
The “4 jours en Chantonnay” event is the rambling event in Vendée featuring four days of walking,
18 circuits and its night-time circuit.
In 1999 one Andreas Van Den Brink contacted
the Chantonnay town authorities to propose
a walking concept from his native Holland:
walking over 20 km in at least two consecutive
days and being part of the International
Marching League (I.M.L.). The “Association
Randonnée 4 jours en Chantonnay” was set
up in July 1999. It opted for the maximum
number of walking days (4) and the longest
distance (42 km).
Today the event transcends France’s
borders. The only town in France to be
listed in the International Marching League
is Chantonnay, which therefore represents
its country alongside 23 other towns and
cities in the organisation such as Barcelona,
Washington D.C. and Blankenberge etc.
Nearly 5,000 walkers (a quarter of whom are
from abroad) meet up during the four days
over the 18 circuits on offer... with a different
route each day and choice of distances: 8,
12, 21, 28 and 42 km (routes are straight-line,
not as a circuit; transfers are provided). The
“4 jours en Chantonnay” event also features
many theme-related actions and a nighttime ramble.
Vendée on foot… ramble along the GR8
5 days / 4 nights
From € 225
per person
Group special offer
The five-step rambling circuit will reveal the northern section of the GR8 route from
Bouin to Les Sables d’Olonne.
> The break includes accommodation for four nights (selection of various facilities according to your budget),
half-board from day 1 to day 5, visit to an oyster farm and vineyard and 24-hour telephone assistance along with
detailed maps of the circuit and the guide to perfect rambling.
> For more information: www.vendee-tourisme.com – Séjours Groupes [group trips] section
tel. 00 33 2 51 62 65 27
5 days/ 4 nights
From € 250
per person (based on a
double room)
For individuals
Same programme as for groups.
> More information available on www.vendee-tourisme.com – “Idée Séjour” [break
ideas] section - tel. 00 33 2 51 62 76 82
19
outdoor activities
Water sports in Vendée
Fair stands the wind for Vendée and its water sports!
SUP (Stand-Up Paddle Surfing) is the latest thing!
Vendée is a French département that leads the world in the water sports industry.
Stand-up paddle surfing is gaining more and more
aficionados along the Vendée coast. The water
sport imported from Hawaii arrived on French
coastlines in 2006 and became a hit immediately.
It may look very simple “you row standing up on
a large surfboard”, in fact, it’s nothing of the sort.
It is a highly technical sport “well, for those doing
it in waves!”
The flagship of the Vendée economy is firmly rooted in marinas, yachting clubs and associations that add life to
all kinds of water sports on a serious or recreational level.
The people of Vendée compete with the best in the world in practically every discipline. The Lissac Classic and
Régates du Bois de la Chaise in Noirmoutier, the vital stages of the Course du Figaro, the Tour de France à la
Voile, the Edhec and the Transgascogne in one of Vendée’s marinas, the Reef Vendée Pro en surf event at
the spots at Brétignolles-sur-Mer, a round in the French kitesurfing championship and the Everest des Mers, the
Vendée Globe, all are events hosted along the Vendée coast.
Vendée firmly embraces the wide blue yonder and the future with the concern to preserve its environment
and heritage.
For more information about water sports
in Vendée in 2014 and its calendar >
ask for the “Vendée, Destination nautisme 2014”
press pack – in French only – by calling 00 33 (0)2 51 47 88 23, or
by emailing f.couton-laine@vendee-expansion.fr. It can also be
downloaded in the press space on www.vendee-tourisme.com
Caroline Angibaud, the Vendée queen of
SUP
Caroline Angibaud is not at her first attempt in the
world of water sports. Caroline is a former world WaveSki champion and began her sporting career on a
surfboard before moving onto the Longboard.
Caroline says she began Stand-Up Paddle Surfing
entirely by chance. She discovered SUP when she was
taking part in a pairs surfing competition with Loïc Caillet
in Hawaii in 2010. “I wasn’t much good”, says Caroline.
“The board was too big and too heavy... I was clumsy”.
But Caroline persisted. She took part in a competition
in California with her brother Lionel in October 2011.
She managed to catch a wave and finished second
behind the world’s best competitor in the discipline.
Today, Caroline confesses that she’s “no longer 20” and
concentrates on the sport with more than honourable
results. In 2013 she was champion of France for SUP and
first in the Coupe de France circuit. In the World Cup, she
was first in Abu Dhabi, third in Huntington Beach, second in
la Torche, and fourth in the World Championships.
For Caroline, Vendée is ideal for SUP. “Here we have
different types of waves, wind and exposure. You can
always find somewhere to practice. We don’t often get the
perfect wave, but it’s very technical”, she explains.
Surf at Côte de Lumière
The Va’a, the Polynesian canoe
As the latest arrival in the water and sailing sports world in mainland France, the VA’A is becoming
increasingly prevalent along the Vendée coastline.
Sea-watchers have been able to see rather unusual vessels with their left-hand outrigger for some years now.
Polynesian canoes known as “va’a” brave the sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent waters of the Vendée
coast.
From 29 to 31 May 2014, Vendée will host again the spectacular Polynesian canoe race: The “VENDEE VA’A”.
Aboard their V6 (a canoe with six rowers), over 15 teams will battle it out in a race 100 km long in three legs over
two days from Les Sables d’Olonne, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Ile d’Yeu and then back to Sables where the arrival
will be judged.
20
Discover the joys of water sports and sailing at Grande Plage in Saint6 days / 5 nights
Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, which is reputed to be ideal for learning to surf!
From Professionals will instruct you throughout the courses that can be done at
per person
any age. A sporting break and a moment of true relaxation to share with family or friends! For
your comfort an apartment hotel is located 900 metres from the beach, and close to the port. At
the end of your day, once you’ve had your fill of adrenaline, why not relax in the indoor, heated pool in the residence
with its integrated Jacuzzi!
€ 338
> The price includes (on the basis of four people) 5 surf sessions, accommodation in the apartment hotel, bike rentals
and breakfast.
> More information available on www.vendee-tourisme.com – “Idée Séjour” [break ideas] section
tel. 00 33 2 51 62 76 82
21
outdoor activities
Fishing in Vendée, leisure trips
Fishing is one of the undeniable assets of Vendée: sea-water fishing, shellfish picking, surf casting and
of course fresh water fishing are all activities to discover. Featuring reservoirs, saltwater canals, large
freshwater canals, rivers and streams, etc., Vendée is an angler’s paradise.
Freshwater fishing in Vendée: fishing locations and the
“Vacances Pêche Vendée” label
Make no mistake, Vendée has some small fishing
spots no one would expect as well as lakes set up for
the activity. Whether a beginner or an experienced
angler, Vendée has 4,500 kilometres of water courses
for everyone and 1,300 hectares of lakes (reservoirs
and dam lakes). You have to come to Vendée to
discover those superb areas to fish a fine specimen
from the water among the 140 fishing facilities
listed, or be in harmony with nature in a fantastic
atmosphere for relaxing.
Ballooning over the bocage
Wandering as a cloud...
What about allowing yourself to get the big picture without
looking down at people! Well, of sorts. Tempting, isn’t it? Take a
gondola, some hydrogen, some canvas, put it all together and
inflate it. Off you go in a hot air balloon, ready to stand over the
world and look over the countryside in Vendée and Puy du Fou®!
Happy landings!
If such a journey is a dream come true for you... a hot air balloon
trip is unforgettable. As free as a bird, fly over Puy du Fou® and the
gentle hills of the Bocage. Explore the unknown countryside that
peaks your curiosity. Experience unique sensations when ballooning
in complete safety. Drift away on the wind…
It’s showtime for the earth from the skies!
Montgolfière du Bocage – Saint Pierre du Chemin
The tourism directorate at Vendée Expansion has
been using the region’s natural resources to develop
fishing tourism for several years and actively works
on setting up exploration packages tailored to
everyone’s tastes. Over 30 “Pêche@ accommodation
establishments” have already received the Vendée
label.
> For more information: www.vendee-tourisme.com
At the seaside, shellfish picking
With its 250 km of coastline, Vendée offers the skilled angler an unrivalled opportunity. On hide tide days, shellfish
pickers can be seen filling their baskets all along the Vendée coastline.
Sometimes they come from farther afield and even from Paris, attached to the sea by the fleeting contact that
returns man to his origins, to a time when he lived by hunting and gathering and knew how to obtain his food.
The best places for successful fishing...
• on Noirmoutier Island: Gois, Chaussée Jacobsen, rocher du
Cob, la Blanche, plage des Dames, le Vieil-La Madeleine, la
Guérinière,
• in Saint Jean de Monts and Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, pignon
shellfish can be found at low tide on broad, sandy beaches
(especially at the start of a rising tide),
• in Brétignolles sur Mer on the rocks at la Sauzaie, la Normandelière,
la Gachère and at Marais-Girard (oysters). La Sauzaie was
originally a shrimp fishing village,
• in Talmondais on the rocks at plage de la Mine de Jard
(various kinds of crab and limpets, winkles... the oysters are not
recommended...),
• in Saint Vincent sur Jard on rivière du Goulet (Clemenceau,
Belestat,…) shrimp, clams, limpets and winkles,
• in La Tranche sur Mer on the Côte sauvage (phare du Grouin du
Cou).
Night-time canoe trips in the Marais Breton Vendéen
For 30 years the Route du Sel has been using canoes to navigate through the maze of former salt
marshes in Baie de Bretagne.
Using a sustainable tourism approach, a wide
variety of walks and rambles start around
Sallertaine, a typical village of the Vendée
wetlands. Historic heritage and rich contemporary
culture are a permanent team around the village
of artisans with its windmills, Ile Chauvet and its
abbey...
Bivouac rambling
“Why are we creeping forward stealthily like
Indians on the warpath?” “Because we’re gliding
over the waters in the heart of the Marais”. Silence
is golden for the magic to work, to make the most
of the life flourishing in the reeds. On the return
trip an abbey rises on Ile Chauvet; further off, with
night falling, the windows of a small farmhouse
offer a glimpse of candles on a laid table, the
scent of something cooking on a grill, a wood
fire. In the early hours of the morning, frogs croak,
herons fly over. This is a renewal, your awakening,
that of the inhabitants of the wetlands and its
spectacular nature. The unusual breakfast awaits
you not far away...
> Prices per person: €89 including canoe hire, a
guide, a barbecue dinner in the great outdoors
with candles and champagne, a night in a
bivouac and breakfast.
Duration: approximately 21 hours.
La Route du Sel – Sallertaine - www.laroutedusel.com
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Venise Verte in a horse-drawn caravan
Logis de la Venerie in Olonne sur Mer
Bed & Breakfast – Gîtes de France - listed as 3 épis
The wandering life for a few days…
Keep the reins in hand and command your destiny. You’re free! There’s
no need to go in for long speeches, nor speak the language of horses
to live one’s destiny in a horse-drawn caravan. But we can offer one
tip... It pays to be friends with the horse. After all, s/he’s the one pulling
the caravan! Remember to feed and care for the horse and pat it too.
If you do, the horse to will take you to the heart of Marais Poitevin.
At the pace of a horse’s trot, the secret “Venise Verte” will reveal all
her splendid nature. Here, the wildlife pays little heed to horses on these
pathways. On the contrary, it goes about its usual business. Here the grey
heron hunts the canals for frogs.
> Practical information:
Set off on an adventure in a caravan for four (every convenience) and follow the country routes for a six-day
break. Nothing is left to chance; there are stopovers for supplies and food in several villages.
Les Roulottes de l’Abbaye – Maillezais
Marais Poitevin by kayak in six days…
At the entrance to Les Sables d’Olonne Elisabeth and Fabien welcome you to
their charming home, an 18th century house with a fascinating history.
Make the most of the proximity of Les Sables d’Olonne from here whilst
breathing in the countryside and its peace. The five rooms have been
tastefully decorated. The shady garden and heated pool will make your days
a delight...
top addresses in vendée
outdoor activities
Bed & Breakfast
Le logis de la Vénerie – 7 rue des Hannetons – Olonne sur Mer
This six-day journey is recommended for people who love
nature and are looking for something new... Six days to
get to Baie de l’Aiguillon… Six days to canoe to your
heart’s content in the second largest wetlands in France,
the fifth largest in Europe (100,000 hectares).
L’Epicurienne in Les Sables d’Olonne
Bed & Breakfast – Gîtes de France – listed as 3 épis
From Fontenay le Comte where it is possible to pick you up at
the station, after preparing the kayaks, the small team (there
must be at least four people, but no more than ten) goes down
the “Vielle Autize” river to bivouac in the Venise Verte. Day 2
of the programme includes: passing through two locks and a
tour of the drainage works. Night 2 is spent in a campsite under
a tepee. Day 3: the group is advancing in the Venise Verte and
comes near to the royal abbey of Maillezais (with a tour possible). A second bivouac is organised close to Vix.
Day 4: Sèvre Niortaise, the central artery of the marshes. The journey continues with the day ending at the
campsite to rest. The ocean approaches on day 5 with a stopover in a mussel port followed by a shuttle to the
centre of Ile de Ré for a final bivouac. On day 6 the group will go along the coast in the morning before a final
picnic and return by road.
Canoe nature in southern Vendée – Fontenay le Comte
The house located in the heart of Les Sables d’Olonne features architecture
reminiscent of the beginnings and growth of this legendary seaside resort in
the 19th century. One hundred metres from the famous Remblai des Sables
d’Olonne, Mr and Mrs Pangaud give you a warm welcome in their B&B with
decoration that is both charming and contemporary and sure to please.
Maison l’Epicurienne – 9 rue Villebois Mareuil – Les Sables d’Olonne
Logis des maraîchers in Olonne sur Mer
Bed & Breakfast – Gîtes de France – listed as 4 épis – country cooking
Authenticity and design in the famous seaside resort of Les Sables d’Olonne.
This B&B in Olonne sur Mer has been renovated with a chic, designer touch.
Its magnificent pool and location near the sea are just more reasons to
add to the many this four-bedroom 4-épi B&B in a typical restored Vendée
farmhouse can list. The local period construction contrasts charmingly with
the pure interior design.
Le Logis des maraîchers – 58 route des maraîchers - Olonne sur Mer
Marais Poitevin in a kayak
La Grange aux peintres in Vouvant
6 days / 5 nights
From € 299
> The break includes hot meals (breakfast and dinner cooked and eaten together),
picnic lunches, canoe hire (single or twin-seater) and the presence of a qualified
instructor and nature guide.
> More information about “Unusual trips in Vendée” on www.vendee-tourisme.com
“Idée Séjour” [break ideas] section - tel. 00 33 2 51 62 76 82
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per person
on the basis of 12 people
6 days / 5 nights
From € 399
per person
on the basis of 6 people
Bed & Breakfast – Gîtes de Vouvant
The quaint village with character is now famous for its painters. This is perfectly
in keeping with your arrival in “La Grange aux Peintres”. Mr and Mrs Rouffignat,
painters and art-lovers, welcome you to their home in this splendid and tastefully restored building. Everything refers to their passion for painting: the names
of the five rooms (perhaps with a slight preference for Degas?), their own works
exposed... Charm, comfort and warm decor will be sure to please.
La Grange aux peintres – Faîte – Vouvant
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Le Moulin de la Roche in Tiffauges (watermill)
Seasonal lettings and bed & breakfast – 5 stars
Philippe and Catherine Maindron decided to transform an old watermill
that had been abandoned for years into a luxury gîte or B&B (either can
be chosen). Inside is a combination of old and contemporary stones with
one or two very modern touches. New York City is the new beating heart
of the mill. A monumental mural of Times Square decorates the stairwell
in industrial metal. The round bed is perfectly located in the king-sized
wedding suite...
The exterior is a small corner of paradise. Nature has been generous... a
harmonious river meanders lazily... crossed by a small Roman bridge... a
wooded hill offers a pleasant setting for the complex.
La Vallée de la Roche - Tiffauges
La Maison d’Olivier in Mesnard la Barotière (former school)
Bed & Breakfast Clévacances – 4 clés
Located in the heart of Bocage Vendéen 15 km from Le
Puy du Fou® and the Sèvre valley, Olivier and Isabelle
welcome guests to their former 19th century schoolhouse.
This fine, charming residence was built in 1884 in the
centre of Mesnard la Barotière. Today it has four cosy and
spacious guest rooms with evocative names: “the history
class”, “the science lab”, the “music room”, the “writing
workshop” and the “proctor’s lodge”. And even if there
aren’t as many children as before, you can hear how
happy the new boarders are by the pool or under the old
covered playground.
La Maison d’Olivier – 8 place de l’église – Mesnard la Barotière
Hôtels
L’hôtel de Luxe run by 2-star chef Thierry Drapeau in Saint Sulpice le Verdon
New in summer of 2013 – 4-star hotel – Relais et Châteaux restaurant
Near the Logis de la Chabotterie and the
restaurant with two Michelin stars also endorsed
by Relais et Châteaux, Chef Thierry Drapeau and
his wife Karine have opened a unique luxury hotel
(4-star) in a pure style in harmony with nature. It
is strongly bound to the atmosphere that can
be felt in the restaurant and in the fine cuisine
of Thierry Drapeau… The idea being to ensure
continuity after dinner.
The 14 rooms are certainly luxurious with
contrasting colours. Designed to be part of
nature, the hotel has six “superior” rooms, five
junior suites and three suites. Each room features
a flatscreen television, mini bar, access to free
broadband Wi-Fi, a safe, an Illy coffee machine
and has a terrace overlooking the country. There
is even a heliport planned for those in a hurry.
The unique concept of the Thierry Drapeau hotel is based on the creation of a bakery,
chocolate
shop
and tea room and boutique selling products made on site at the heart of the hotel. What
better than to wake up in the morning to the scent of fresh pastries? Prize-winning chef
Thierry Drapeau comes to meet his customers every morning at breakfast (served in
three services).
A well-being area with Jacuzzi and sauna ensure ideal relaxation.
Thierry Drapeau, the chef with two Michelin stars to his name, also gives cookery
lessons “just like at home” in his new hotel. Contact us.
Hôtel Thierry Drapeau – Domaine de la Chabotterie – Saint Sulpice le Verdon
Le Manoir du Moulin in Sainte Hermine (former water mill)
Bed & Breakfast Clévacances – 4 clés
Located in the heart of Vendée, the manor is surrounded by a
large private garden alongside a small stream and greenery. The
ambitious restoration of this former watermill began in 2011 when
the two new owners, Shari Swan and Warren Coulson, set up
there. The two entrepreneurs are Canadian and had been living
in Amsterdam for the previous 15 years.
Shari and Warren provide four luxury rooms with bathroom and a
family suite with two rooms and a bathroom.
The building’s architectural features have been preserved
as much as possible with its high ceilings, stone walls and solid wood
floorboards. The furniture has been made to measure. Beds are made
with fine, pressed cotton linen, quilts and duvets in microfibre and
microfibre pillows.
The suites all have an LCD television, DVD player, access to a mini-bar
and wireless Internet connection. The bathrooms feature Italian tiling
with large rain shower heads and a bath, and beauty products from
Compagnie de Provence, towel racks and bathrobes...
Le Manoir du Moulin – Sainte Hermine – www.manoirdumoulin.com
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Hôtel Les Voyageurs in Port-Joinville (Ile d’Yeu)
A warm, authentic reception is the key feature of
this establishment founded in 1860 and run by the
same family for the last four generations.
Recently renovated, the hotel has 19 rooms with a
view of the port and sea or the village. The warm
comfort and decor will appeal to holiday-makers
coming for a romantic weekend, for families on
holiday or for a business trip.
What’s new in 2014
Every room has been completely renovated
and redecorated. The hotel now features a room fully equipped and
tailored for the needs of disabled guests as well as a new seminar room
for conferences and business meetings (flip chart, video projector, Wi-Fi
access – tailored estimates).
Hôtel Les Voyageurs – Quai Carnot – Port Joinville
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Terragora Lodges, a charming, unusual and eco-friendly hotel
New – opening in summer 2013
5-star hotel and restaurant
On the slopes of Le Boisniard, which appears to have
been inhabited from the dawn of civilisation, now stand a
château, a small manor, annexes and... wooden houses.
It is not unusual when wandering along the lanes of the property
to come across megaliths, a silent testimonial to another age.
In the château and manor, fine rooms with evocative names such
as “Casanova”, “Pompadour”, “Orchidée” and “Cupidon” give
free rein to dreams and romance. Whereas in the park the latest
addition, the wooden houses, blend into the green landscape.
You’d almost imagine Robin Hood or Robinson Crusoe in the area.
Hotel attractions:
• a spa area,
• cooking classes with the chef of the “La Table du Boisniard” restaurant.
Château du Boisniard (5-star hotel) – Chambretaud
In Les Epesses (a municipality of Le Puy du Fou®), “Terragora Lodges” has
invented a new universe with its hotel complex focusing on ecotourism. Close
to the Sèvre Nantaise area, in a natural coomb bathed in silence combining
stone, water and woodland along with flowering meadows, the new Eco
Lodges was created for the start of summer 2013.
Terragora Lodges, surprising organic architecture
“Nymphéa” rooms on stilts overlook the wetlands in silver birch. Sleek lines contrast with lush nature in the midst
of nature… The “Terrier” rooms in bare earth emerge as lunar igloos to round out the space. The “Chrysalide”
cocoon rooms are decorated in copper, wood and zinc to stretch up to the treetops. Cabins in chestnut wood
blend into the forest and overlook the stream meandering between blocks of granite. Three cabin themes make
for very comfortable havens in touch with nature.
In a 19-hectare park declared a natural zone, eight unusually shaped lodges, 16 cabins and a central 250 sq. m.
area for the restaurant and living area (library and lounge) with fireplace, are “open all year round to outdoors
people”.
Buildings are constructed entirely from natural materials. 70% of hot water is produced using solar energy and
heating is provided in part by stoves and fireplaces.
From Senegal to Vendée, back to your roots
This new adventure began in Senegal in 2001. Jean-Pierre, a
businessman from Vendée, sold his energy-saving company and with
his wife Sylvie built an ecological hotel park on the hills of Niassam in
Senegal (www.niassam.com). The project was a success.
In 2010 they decided to return to their Vendée roots to develop a
concept of a socially responsible tourism company similar to their
Senegalese enterprise.
The French project was launched as a project in French-speaking
architecture schools to design rooms “inspired by animal habitats”,
a competition sponsored by Edouard François (2011 designer of the
year) and approved by the municipality of Les Epesses.
Another original feature of the project is its global approach: “We
are designers, builders and operators of the project”, along with its
family and social aspects: “the site welcomed local artisans, youth
training scheme participants, employees, us the creators and two of
our children”, says Sylvie.
For them the ecological consistency of the project is paramount.
It includes both energy-saving criteria and the choice of natural
materials along with a certain ideological approach to life in nature
with harmonious and aesthetic constructions.
Terragora Lodges is also a social enterprise; profits are invested back
in the development of the project and in local activities around it.
Terragora Lodges – Les Epesses – www.terragora-lodges.com
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Le Boisniard luxury wooden houses in Chambretaud
Hotel or art gallery? Château de la Barbinière
A rather strange creature welcomes guests in the park around
Château de la Barbinière: the unicorn by Leonardo Lucchi. In the
great hall a small ballerina (also by Lucchi) balances on her golden
plinth. On the wall near the fine stairs are paintings by Jean Jansem
and Yves Boullie facing each other for a joust in ochre. In the dining
room with its fine openings, the sun lights up works by JIVKO… Is this a
château or an art gallery?
Hotel owners Brigitte and Serge like to think that the works have their
place in this fine edifice. “Here they come to life”. And if you want to
get up close and personal with the artists, Château de la Barbinière
arranges meetings in the summer. At the “Soirées Confidences”
events, one of the artists will take you by the hand into his or her
world…
Château de la Barbinière (4-star hotel) - Saint Laurent sur Sèvre
Domaine du Brandois in La Mothe-Achard
Domaine de Brandois, a charming 4-star hotel near the ocean in Vendée and only 15 minutes from Les Sables
d’Olonne, welcomes guests to a special environment.
Its château dating from the end of the 19th century and its 20 hectares of forest and meadows are
an ideal location to recharge your batteries: heated pool (in season), horseriding, mountain biking and rambling have pride of place
in this property that gives accommodation in Vendée all
of its renown.
With its 38 designer rooms at the château and the priory as
well as the orchard, Domaine de Brandois fulfils everyone’s
desires. Rooms all share refined decor and a modern touch.
The same applies to the communal areas. The lounge
features hi-tech fixtures, the dining room has modern tables
and Starck-designed chairs.
In the restaurant or on the terrace, Chef Nathan Cretney
shares with you a cuisine that puts the accent on regional
produce prepared with the utmost respect. And to keep up
with produce that’s in season, the restaurant menu changes
at the start of every month.
Domaine de Brandois – La Forêt – La Mothe-Achard
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Résidence Belle Plage in La Tranche sur Mer
Tourism residence
As hotel and restaurant owners in La Tranche sur Mer
since the 1920s, the four generations of the Guicheteau
family have been permanent fixtures of tourism life in the
area. The Guicheteau siblings are still partners, this time in
their latest project, the Résidence Belle Plage. Their aim
is to “make these apartments a warm and friendly place
opposite the sea”.
The south-facing residence opposite the central beach has
12 apartments fully fitted with all modern conveniences in
the centre of La Tranche sur mer (nine apartments with
100 sq.m. and private terrace of 25 sq.m., two apartments
with 85 sq.m. and three large sea-view windows and one
50 sq.m. apartment with a 6 sq.m. private terrace). The apartments were designed
to make the most of the view and ocean. Living areas are all designed around the
sea view. Bedrooms are located around an interior courtyard to the make the most
of the quiet.
In La Belle Plage all apartments are connected... which is very ingenious! For
reunions of family and friends, the residence can host 30 people in a single area.
Résidence Belle Plage – 41 bis rue Anatole France – La Tranche sur Mer
Chromatic, the arts gîte for musicians in Grosbreuil
Holiday lettings – 4 clés Clévacances – 6 to 12 people
France (stylist, designer and occasional musician)
and David (artistic director and former music label
director) left the hustle and bustle of big city life to
set up in the country and live a different lifestyle. They
converted the former stables into an unusual gîte
where the charm of the stonework combines with
pure, contemporary lines designed by the owners
and built in partnership with architects Philippe Rizzotti
and Daya Bakker. The decor is inspired by the work
of the great Designers en vogue, Michel Ducaroit,
Herman Miller, Le Corbusier, Charles Eames and Olivier
Mourgues, but also features recycled furniture and
objects of all kinds given new life. The architecture
is resolutely modern with its metal structure, large
glazed surfaces and polished concrete flooring. The
soft touch in the interiors comes from birch wood and
stonework.
The “Chromatic” gîte with its 4 Clévacances label offers unusual accommodation in Vendée with an indoor
10-m pool heated to 29° all year long, accommodated in a 65 sq.m lounge. On the ground floor, the 70 sq.m
living area comprises a high-end fitted kitchen and lounge with designer furniture. On the first floor the three
rooms each have their own bathroom (Italian-style shower and old fashioned bathtubs) and a mezzanine with
beds and games for children.
An unexpected touch: musical instruments are available in the lounge area, piano, guitars, drum kit, percussion
and a library, along with a video projector system, a serious hi-fi system, the latest iMac with a music playlist,
video and TV.
Live at the pace of the seasons, of unforgettable sunrises and sunsets in a 5,000 sq.m. property in the middle
of fields but near the sea and without overlooking neighbours. Watch the flight of buzzards, resting deer, the
peaceful life of cows and listen to the birdsong. There is no visual or sound pollution, just you and nature...
“Le Chromatic” B&B – La Coutancière – Grosbreuil (17 km from Les Sables d’Olonne)
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Relaxation and a change of scenery are the key concepts of your camping trip! Many campsites (listed with 3,
4 and 5 stars) have swimming pools, some with slides for children to enjoy and even fitness areas for adults.
In tepees, bungalows, mobile homes, caravans, yurts, bubble rooms and treehouses, the emphasis is on comfort
or even the unexpected.
Camping: back to nature
100% nature in La Ventouse in Jard sur Mer
Shaded by a forest of holly oak and close to the beach
and the village centre, the “La Ventouse” campsite is
happy to welcome you to 100% natural holidays.
Here you can enjoy the sensation of the open air, the
pleasure of living freely in a calm environment for holidays
with family and friends that relax you and recharge your
batteries. The “La Ventouse” campsite has committed
to an environmental approach in signing the camping
charter in partnership with the Office National des Forêts.
Try a horse-drawn caravan or an ecolodge tent and
opt for the unusual. They’re comfortable, spacious
and different. Enjoy staying in a surprising and original
ambiance in the heart of the forest.
Holiday lettings
Vendee enjoys a warm climate thanks to the influence of the Atlantic along with pleasant temperatures. Nestled
between verdant nature and sandy coastlines, camping in Vendée makes it possible to appreciate the beauty
of its countryside and cultural activities in a different way.
It isn’t mere coincidence that “camping” today now means “open air hotel”.
Camping La Ventouse (3 stars) – rue Pierre Curie – Jard
sur Mer
Nature in the meadows in La Chapelle Hermier
Located in a protected area 15 km from Brétignolles sur Mer and Saint Gilles
Croix de Vie on land close to the 115-hectare lac du Jaunay, Domaine du
Pré is set in 12 hectares of land and features eco-designed cottages. It boasts
an exceptionally calm area with a covered pool and lake for swimming. It
also attaches much importance to the environment, preserving the site and
its flora. As part of its sustainable development approach, work was carried
out using local contractors.
Camping Le Domaine du Pré (4 stars) – Bellevue - La Chapelle Hermier
Camping Les Ramiers in the heart of the Longeville forest
On the Vendée coast 5 km from Longeville-sur-Mer and
La Tranche-sur-Mer, the Les Ramiers campsite is located
in a magnificent protected forest of pines and holly oaks
(452 hectares).
There is no heated indoor pool here, nor next generation
water sports centre, just the calm of shady oaks. Anthony,
the campsite owner, wanted to preserve the feeling of
the campsites of old between spaces for canvas tents
(number) and six mobile homes carefully shielded by the
trees.
Camping Les Ramiers (2-star) – 10 chemin des Pins
Les Conches – Longeville sur Mer
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The unusual: sleeping at a campsite
Ecolodges in Domaine Les Moulins in La Guérinière
Alain Dominique Perrin, a pure innovator
Businessman and philanthropist, creator of the Cartier Foundation and promoter of the famous “Must”, mentor
in an elite training institute, protector of the arts and proprietor of an extraordinary vineyard at Château
Lagrézette... it is safe to say that Alain Dominique Perrin displays rather eclectic tastes.
And now, managing four campsites (three in Noirmoutier of which
two have been entirely renovated in the Original Camping concept
– Domaine Les Moulins 5* and Domaine Le Midi 4* - and one in
Leucate), in synch with their environment and the coastline, to add a
new layer to this impressionist picture. There is, however, an underlying
consistency in the history of this aesthete and businessman: whatever
the endeavour he has embraced, the key words have always been a
total commitment to excellence.
Original Camping, a truly innovative holiday concept
The Original Camping concept combines environmental concepts
(respect for the natural landscape, better water management, an
innovative letting offering integrated in the environment, etc.), highend services (lodges with private Jacuzzi, sea view, etc.) and modern
and comfortable facilities (outdoor swimming pool and covered
basin with massage benches, swimming lanes and paddling pool)
and sports facilities (tennis, fitness area, water sports, etc.) without
harming the site’s beauty and sustainability.
Original accommodation in wood and canvas is perfectly integrated
into the countryside and features very high quality fittings in the
refined atmosphere of Domaine Les Moulins and in the fun and sports
atmosphere of Domaine Le Midi.
Domaine Les Moulins 5* is the flagship of the Original Camping
brand and is nestled by the sea in five hectares of land in the heart
of Noirmoutier island. It’s the only car-free estate on the island!
Accommodation combines refinement and optimised areas with
all the services of a five-star establishment: Children’s Club, spa,
hammam, swimming pool, fitness room, bar and restaurant and
high-quality events throughout the summer. Lodges with private sea
view terraces and lodges with private Jacuzzis are an exclusive feature
of Domaine Les Moulins.
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Bubble room, treehouse at the Château la Forêt in Saint Julien des Landes
Set in a park of 100 year-old oaks around a 19th-century château, the Château la Forêt
camp site (endorsed by Yellow Village since 2012) features 50 hectares of land, a
3-hectare lake for fishing, an adventure park (tree-climbing facilities) and a paintball site,
along with two water sports areas and an indoor, heated pool, well-being treatments
and many more.
Enjoy a night under the stars cocooned under a quilt. This is the experience offered by
the Bubble room, a room (ideal for two people) of inflated plastic, much of which is
transparent. Once inflated, the room becomes a sphere, with a panoramic vista of the
sky visible through its transparent ceiling.
In the depths of the château parkland there’s also a treehouse suspended above the
lake. The treehouse faces West and is accessed via wooden stairs to three 200 year-old
trees (houses six).
Camping Château la Forêt (4 stars) – Route de Martinet – Saint Julien des Landes
Tents, bungalows and caravans in Le Petit Rocher in Longeville sur Mer
The campsite located in the midst of a forest is only 150 metres from a fine sandy
beach and is ideal for families with young children.
Why not get off the beaten track and sleep in an old-style caravan, an Ecolodge
tent or a bungalow? Well-being and relaxation are the key ideas behind the
Ecolodge tent: accommodation on stilts with a broad wooden terrace. Ideal
for family holidays, the canvas bungalow with all necessary furniture combines
authenticity and simplicity. Finally, comfort and functionality have pride of place
in the unusual cocoon of a wooden old-style caravan to live the Bohemian life.
Camping Le Petit Rocher (4 stars) – 1250 av. du Dr Mathevet – Longeville sur Mer
An international concept
Original Camping is an innovative holiday concept aimed at everyone
that opens up one of the finest sites in France to the French and international public. International guests are increasingly frequent in the estates.
A yurt at the La Cleroca campsite in Grues
Domaine Les Moulins (five-star camp site) – Rue des Moulins – La Guérinière
Camping La Cleroca (3 stars) – Grues
The “La Cléroca” campsite is located alongside the Marais Poitevin close to
Aiguillon sur Mer, a small municipality along the Vendée coast. The site
has all the peace and comfort of a small “traditional”, high-quality facility
with 66 spots and including a heated pool, sauna, multi-sports pitch and
areas for pétanque. There are no mobile homes here. The campsite owners
welcome only caravans, tents and camping cars.
However, visitors can rent one accommodation unit: a modern yurt. An
architectural marvel and eco-friendly, the yurt blends in perfectly with the
natural campsite. Featuring wide openings and a broad dome, the yurt offers
exceptional luminosity during day and allows users to enjoy the night sky. The
yurt has a surface area of 24 sq. m. and can house up to six including kitchen,
terrace and deck chairs, etc.
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New facilities in 2014
Unique in Vendée: the 2,000 sq. m. water sports complex in L’Océan in Brem sur Mer
Acquired by the Campings & Résidence de Vacances
Cybele Vacances network in 2005, the L’Océan campsite
in Brem sur Mer merged with the ‘Le Littoral’ campsite in
2011 to become one of the largest campsites in Vendée.
It is located only 600 m from Plage des dunes and 800 m
from shops. L’Océan is open from April to November and
features 565 spots on a 13-hectare site.
In 2013 the layout of the L’Océan campsite was entirely
redesigned to acquire an incredible indoor, heated water
sports complex. From 12 April 2014 onwards, young and
adult guests at L’Océan will be able to enjoy a swimming
pool, slide with buoys, a counterflow river in an area over 2,000 sq. m. along with various facilities for water
relaxation such as spas, jet baths, massage rivers, geysers and swan neck jets. A snack bar, leisure room, jorkyball
type room and a pirate ship (6.50 m long) all add to the fun.
In light of the investment (€4 million), L’Océan is aiming at being given 4 stars for the 2015 season.
Camping L’Océan (3 stars) – 17 rue du Brandais – Brem sur Mer
A natural beach in the heart of L’Evasion in Landevieille
The L’Evasion 4-star campsite is ideally located by the sea,
5 km from the ocean between Les Sables d’Olonne and
Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, close to Brétignolles sur Mer and
Lac du Jaunay with all its water activities.
At the centre of the campsite, why not refresh yourself in
the natural pool featuring, 2000 sq. m. of fine white sand.
The 100% ecological water park is unique in Vendée and
adds a touch of paradise under the tropics; the water is
turquoise and the sand is fine and white!
Staying in the seaside atmosphere, the campsite features safari lodges on stilts (for 4-5 people) on the edge of
the sandy beach with a view over the lagoon. Change of scenery guaranteed!
Quality camping in Vendée
Of the 86 Pays de la Loire members 38 campsites in Vendée
(9,467 spots) boast the “ CAMPING QUALITE ” label. Vendée
is demonstrating its commitment to quality improvements in
tourism. The Camping Qualité charter guarantees consumers
quality in their holidays irrespective of the campsite site (from
55 to 650 spots) or category (2 to 5 stars), whilst preserving a
broad selection of destinations (from Noirmoutier island to Saint
Michel en l’Herm and including Saint Julien des Landes), prices
and holiday styles (lively, calm, seaside, interior, close to towns,
etc.).
Camping Qualité commitments
• A warm welcome: the manager and his or her team pay special attention to hospitality, availability and
thoughtfulness
• Spotless cleanliness: cleanliness and hygiene are a priority at the campsite
• Specific and accurate information: comprehensive, clear and accurate information about the
establishment; specific description of facilities, services and rates, etc.
• Carefully tended private locations: the utmost tranquillity is ensured at the location, which is tastefully
fitted out with a concern for aesthetics in harmony with the environment
• A preserved and respected environment: nature is protected; the area is developed respectfully,
preservation and environmental solutions are applied. Landscaping and energy saving are priorities that
help preserve an increasingly threatened environment.
A reliable network
Camping Qualité is the network you can rely on!
To meet customer expectations as effectively as possible and rethink day-today operations, facilities are inspected every three years, the quality charter
revised every year and monitoring is adapted to each campsite to help them
continuously improve...
The label is supported by tourism development organisations (CCI, départemental
committees, etc.) that place their trust in the charter!
Camping L’Evasion (4 stars) – Route des Sables – Landevieille
Exceptional water parks thanks to MS Vacances
MS Vacances is a group of camping clubs with two
located in Vendée. The Le Trianon Camping Club next to
Les Sables d’Olonne has 554 camp spots in 12 hectares,
whilst the Les Brunelles Camping Club in Longeville sur Mer
has 607 spots in 13 ha.
Among the major features of both clubs are the water
areas for an alternative offering. Les Brunelles has had
a water park of over 1,200 sq. m. since 2007 including
eight slides – one a one-of-a-kind in the region for thrills,
an indoor pool, paddling pools, Jacuzzis, sauna and
hammam and solarium…
In 2014 guests at the MS Vacances Le Trianon will be able to enjoy themselves and relax in a new 1,000 sq.m.
water park with the same features as the Les Brunelles camping club.
Camping les Brunelles (5 stars) – Les Plantes de la Brunelle – Longeville sur Mer
Camping le Trianon (5 stars) – 95 Rue du Maréchal Joffre – Olonne sur Mer
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the latest on places to visit
Puy du Fou
®
Grand Parc® and Cinéscénie®: a new Renaissance world
Le Grand Parc du Puy du Fou
Cinéscénie du Puy du Fou
With over ten million spectators already, 1,200 actors on a 23-hectare
stage, 24,000 costumes and one hour and 40 minutes of show time
and many new features... the greatest night-time show in the world
has become a must-see legend.
Many new features:
Hailed as the best theme park in the
world in 2012 in Los Angeles, le Puy du
Fou boasts an explosion of glorious
spectacles and adventures for all the
family with four new attractions in 2014 in
the new Renaissance world in the Grand
Parc.
When arriving at Puy du Fou visitors
forget the 21st century and plunge into a
journey back in time. In over 50 hectares
visitors explore a magnificent natural
park with unforgettable experiences
and discoveries to share with all the
family. Listed in the top 15 tourism sites
in France, le Puy du Fou was the first
to obtain “Green Globe” international
certification in 2012.
In Puy du Fou, the natural and the authentic are the common themes in every décor. The thatched huts at Fort
de l’An Mil and the drawbridge in Cité Médiévale are completely genuine. To ensure the authenticity of the
location Puy du Fou has availed itself of the leading specialists, artisans and historians. Five major shows plunge
the visitor into action with the Signe du Triomphe (35 mins), Vikings (28 mins), Secret de la Lance (28 mins), Bal des
Oiseaux Fantômes (33 mins) and finally the Mousquetaire de Richelieu (36 mins).
Le Puy du Fou is a haven for over 1,400 animals that sometimes play a major role! In its horse-riding academy,
the park boasts the largest show stables in Europe (nearly 175 horses). The Académie de Fauconnerie boasts 500
birds of prey from 80 different species.
• new light scene,
• new 3-D video projects and décors,
• six new scenes in four years with new special effects.
Show dates: Saturday 7 and 14 June and every Friday and Saturday
evening from 20 June to 13 September 2014.
Grand Parc du Puy du Fou – Les Epesses
Logis de la Chabotterie
a new stage design
A major location in the Guerre de Vendée as it was here that Charette was arrested on 23 March 1796, Logis de
la Chabotterie is a typical Bas-Poitevin house. A visit of the nine historic and furnished rooms is experienced as a
journey back in time, plunging into the end of the 18th century just before the French Revolution. The gallery of
models affords an unusual tour of Vendée houses with an overview of 12 buildings encapsulating this architectural
approach. Alongside the logis, the walled garden has been rearranged in keeping with old plans for the works done
in the 1990s. Beauty and utility are combined in this living example of a French-style garden, as could be seen in
bas-poitevin houses in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In Domaine de la Chabotterie, chemin de Charette is a green route that takes you to the heart of the bocage
environment to bois de la Chabotterie at the very spot where the Vendée general was captured. A monument
erected in 1911 commemorates his arrest.
New in 2014 (early summer): new stage design
New in 2014: The new “Renaissance” World and its four new attractions
In 2014 le Puy du Fou is extending its journey in time with the
new “Renaissance” World:
•
•
•
•
a new hotel: Le Camp du Drap d’or,
a new restaurant: Les deux couronnes,
a new location: Château du Puy du Fou,
a new show: La Renaissance du Château.
Thanks to an ingenious personal audio guide system, you can walk in the footsteps of Charette at your own pace.
Who was he really? Who were the other leaders of the Royal Catholic Army? What were the main steps and decisive
battles in this civil war? How did an army of peasants stand up to the Republic’s armies? Why did it ultimately fail? At
the height of the repression, under what circumstances did the “elusive” Charette end up being captured in bois de
la Chabotterie? Why did the arrest, which was followed by his execution, bring an end to the Guerre de Vendée?
All these questions can be answered in this experience boasting many technological innovations: image
walls, projections, touch screens, interactive systems, videos, animated films and
models... a new approach to the Guerre de Vendée!
Logis de la Chabotterie – Saint Sulpice le Verdon
With the new attractions the Grand Parc has been extended
by 10,000 sq. m. just for the Renaissance and now presents a
brand new show: “La Renaissance du Château”: Abandoned
for centuries, the Château du Puy du Fou now opens its doors
to you for the first time. The pictures talk, mirrors watch you
and ghosts still dance... The Château unveils its marvels still
haunted by its glorious past.
Season date: 11 April to 28 September 2014
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2014, Clemenceau year
in Vendée
Indian Forest,
a new “Water Jump” attraction
The largest adventure park in France set in 20 hectares
Go hell for leather down the steep track of the Dévalkart and try to break the record! Follow in the footsteps of
Passe Muraille and face the challenge of the 20 trials in Fort Débrouillard. Come and share many activities with
family and friends: adventure circuits, circuits without harnesses, Maxi tyroliennes, paintball, minigolf, Les Mystères
du bois Lambert, ponies, extreme jumping and défi-fun. Adventure welcomes you, free access for visitors!
New in 2014: The Water Jump
The new attraction is a first for Western France. Be the first riders to surf the
newest waves in Vendée. 13 tracks and 9 trampolines are available to test
your incredible positions in skiing, surfing, bmx biking, buoys, and bodysurf…
But what is the Water Jump? “The aim is to go down on skis, surfboard, BMX,
buoys or body surf or on your backside, a slide with ramps that are 5-10 metres
high depending on the level and land on a trampoline that boosts you up to
make freestyle figures for the most experienced before coming back down
into a pool of water with no risk.”
The new attraction has the two-fold advantage of appealing to beginners
and sensation-seekers. Beginners can quickly learn to perform acrobatic
jumps for boardsports and biking along with fun sports like buoys and slides.
More intrepid “sensation seekers” will be able to perform spectacular
acrobatic and sports jumps. To ensure everyone’s safety, suits, helmets and
boardsports equipment are provided. Jumps are performed under the
surveillance of lifeguards.
Open between April and September 2014.
… for the centennial anniversary of the First World War
In 2014 France will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War with many
events. Georges Clemenceau, to whom France owes its victory, will have pride of place given his decisive
role in bringing the war to an end.
For Vendée, Clemenceau is also a son of Mouilleron en Pareds and the old man with a “Bicoque” [ “old
place”] in Saint Vincent sur Jard. Today, the final resting place of this statesman is in the small Vendée
municipality of Mouchamps, close to his father.
Indian Forest – Le Bois Lambert – Le Bernard – Moutiers les Mauxfaits
Retro escapade in a 2CV
Set off on a romantic trip along the Vendée’s country
roads behind the wheel of a legendary 2CV... A touch
of nostalgia for bygone times in this retro escapade... Set off on the country
roads and discover the beaches of Vendée, the bocage and its valleys, the
Marais Poitevin and its unique little villages. This classic car, which its owners call
“cocorico”, is from the 1984 limited series and hasn’t aged at all. It’s yours for
your trip in Vendée. Stay in charming B&Bs.
6 days / 5 nights
From
€299
per person
> Your accommodation: Welcome to this property that is over 250 years
old, a former village bakery which was tastefully and elegantly restored.
Romantically decorated rooms are furnished with antiques restored by the
owner. In the morning enjoy a copious breakfast and savour – perhaps not
for the first time – a delicious Vendée brioche!
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Exhibition: Clemenceau, le Tigre et l’Asie
From 25 October 2014 to 25 January 2015
Location: Historial de la Vendée – Les Lucs sur Boulogne
After its presentation at the Guimet musée national des arts asiatiques and then at the musée
départemental des arts asiatiques in Nice, the Historial de la Vendée will in turn house the exhibition
“Clemenceau, le Tigre et l’Asie”.
The exhibition will introduce the public to an unknown and yet fundamental part of the personality of
the leading men in the history of France. Georges Clemenceau the republican, the radical and “Père la
victoire” is well-known. What we don’t know so much is that he was profoundly opposed to colonialism.
His speech to the Chamber of French MPs on 31 July 1885 to oppose the policy of the Ferry government
in Tonkin and China clearly demonstrates his position. Clemenceau had a genuine passion for Asia, its
art, civilisations and religions.
The broad-reaching exhibition focusing on his personal discovery of India and Buddhism, on orientalism
and his interest in Asia, Ceylon and Japan, is based on collections in the Guimet musée national des arts
asiatiques, but also on Clemenceau’s dispersed private collection.
> Prices include accommodation for five nights in a B&B rated 4 Clés
Clévacances (based on two people in a double room), breakfast, hire
of the 2CV for 5 days (vehicle without driver, unlimited mileage including
insurance).
Option: Return shuttle between the TGV Nantes railway station or the Nantes
Atlantique airport and the establishment is possible, fixed rate of €85 (for 2 persons).
Historial de la Vendée in brief
Opened in June 2006, Historial de la Vendée is a unique museum in France. It displays 7,000 years of
history in spectacular scenes and reconstitutions that are educational, fun and scientific at the same
time. The building has a natural organic roof and emerges from the surrounding meadow.
Figures: 500 sq.m. of temporary exhibitions, 2,200 sq. m. of permanent displays, 1,500 collection items,
250 sq.m. of space for children and amphitheatre seating 234.
> More information available on www.vendee-tourisme.com – “Idée Séjour” [break ideas] section - tel. 00 33 2 51 62 76 82
Historial de la Vendée – Les Lucs sur Boulogne – site open all year round
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National monument
As the summer residence of the statesman,
the house is surrounded by a flower garden
inspired by Claude Monet. It is full of
souvenirs, in particular from his journeys. The
house is moving for its charm and simplicity.
It has been preserved in the exact condition
it was in at the death of the “Tiger” and
retains many personal items including those
to do with the tea ceremony and the art of
ikebana following his travels through Asia.
In an imitation of Japanese sanctuaries,
Clemenceau had also positioned two
bronze foxes at the entrance to his bedroom.
From March onwards, the Georges
Clemenceau house will be hosting a series of
monthly conferences about the statesman.
Contact us for more information.
Between land and sea, Vendée offers comprehensive and traditional
menus to try. With marine infused flavours from the coast, seafood takes
pride of place on your plate: from sea ortolan to oysters, not forgetting
“sablaise” sole and bass.
The Vendée terroir has not been overlooked: charolaise beef, salt
meadow lamb, poultry from Challans, and foie gras... Meat and poultry
will win you over and appeal to every taste, whilst Vendée charcuterie
owes its flavour to the salt marsh products: fleur de sel sea salt and
samphire in particular.
The traditional mogette and Bonnotte de Noirmoutier beans gently
enchant the taste buds and are best served with soups and vegetables,
all washed down with a subtle Vendée wine (AOC) from a wine-making
tradition harking back to the Middle Ages.
To end your meal on a sweet note, the Vendée menu boasts many
desserts, brioches, gâches and fritters, not forgetting our gourmandises,
fruit pastries and ancestral candy... a final and vital tasty treat.
Vendée fine cuisine
The Georges Clemenceau house and garden in Saint Vincent
sur Jard
Restaurants: top addresses in Vendée
A new fine cuisine restaurant: “Les Genêts” in Brem sur Mer
Site open from 15 May to 15 September – every day
Maison et Jardin de Georges Clemenceau – Boulevard de l’Océan – Saint Vincent sur Jard
Musée National des Deux Victoires Clemenceau – De Lattre
The memorial museum for both victories
established in 1959 at the behest of the
widow of Field Marshal de Lattre with
assistance from André Malraux, draws a
parallel between Georges Clemenceau
and Jean de Lattre by bringing together
what they shared: a birthplace (both were
born in Mouilleron en Pareds), their roles in
the two World Wars, their signing on behalf
of France during the “two victories” that
brought an end to the two global conflicts.
“ Clemenceau croqué ” [sketched] exhibition
From February 2014 onwards Amélie and Nicolas will be at their new fine
cuisine restaurant, “Les Genêts” in Brem sur Mer, which is ideally located
between Les Sables d’Olonne and Saint Gilles Croix de Vie. The former
town house, which has been entirely renovated, will be home to two dining rooms
on the ground floor with different atmospheres with another on the first floor with an
intimate ambiance just for seminars, business lunches and family reunions.
Young chef Nicolas Coutand offers a “bistrot cuisine” style for lunches and a
gastronomy style for dinners.
Restaurant Les Genêts – 21 bis rue de l’Océan – Brem sur Mer
New in Saint Jean de Monts: le Quai des Dunes
A remarkable open-air exhibition displays
cartoons and sketches of Clemenceau in
the newspapers of the time. 24 paintings to
be enjoyed in the centre of Mouilleron en
Pareds until December 2014.
Adjoining the Base Nautique a few steps from the beach, the new Le Quai
des Dunes restaurant has made a remarkable entrance on the local market
with a chic and fashionable decor. Chef Arnaud Perreau likes to surprise his
guests and offers a light and inventive cuisine. The menu is different every day
with menus and à la carte dishes featuring fresh, local produce such as lobster
from Ile d’Yeu, sardines and langoustines from Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, duck
and poultry from Challans, potatoes from Noirmoutier and pears poached in la
Troussepinette (a local aperitif)…
Musée national Clemenceau-de Lattre – 1 rue Plante Choux – Mouilleron en Pareds
Restaurant Le Quai des Dunes – 1 avenue de l’Estacade – Saint Jean de Monts
– throughout 2014
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Amélie and Nicolas have taken up a new “gastronomy” adventure!
After a tasty experience in Mirepoix in Ariège, they have returned to
their roots and set up Le Parc des Genêts in Brem sur Mer. Nicolas is
no novice. He acquired his skills between 1998 and 2009 with leading
chefs in various restaurants in France, most of whom had won Michelin
stars (Castel Marie Louise* in La Baule, Le Richelieu* in La Flotte en Ré,
restaurant Trois Gros*** in Roanne and hôtel Nikko* in Paris…).
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A Michelin star for Les Brisants in Brétignolles sur Mer
Chef Thierry Drapeau, the pleasure provocateur
On the sea coast of Brétignolles sur Mer, the
restaurant of the hôtel Les Brisants has just been
awarded its first star by Guide Rouge Michelin®
(February 2014). The talented chef, Jean-Marc
Pérochon, hails from these parts and is known
as a committed ambassador of the region. The
chef’s menu includes oysters from the oyster farm
in nearby La Sauzaie, local shrimps, 100 day-old
Challans poultry, line bass fresh from Saint Gilles
Croix de Vie, a hazelnut crumble with kamok (a
Vendée coffee liqueur)… All of Vendée between
the land and the sea can be enjoyed on your
plate!
At the piano, Jean-Marc Pérochon is a man
who has travelled around from Germany to
the Caribbean, from Provence to the USA. He
discovered flavours in the islands and brought
back brands that leave no doubt: “I memorised
scents, discovered exotic flavours, ginger, vanilla
and mango... My cuisine changed”, he explains.
A first in Vendée: in the idyllic setting of Logis de la
Chabotterie, Thierry Drapeau’s restaurant now has its entry
(January 2014) in the prestigious “Relais et Châteaux”
guide. “It’s the best brand image you could have!” says
chef Thierry Drapeau delightedly.
Restaurant Les Brisants – 63 avenue de la Grand’roche – Brétignolles sur Mer
Restaurant La Marine on Ile de Noirmoutier: a second Michelin star and a
fourth toque from Gault et Millau in 2013
In Noirmoutier the “La Marine” restaurant and its chef Alexandre Couillon have
joined the gastronomic firmament… with a well-deserved award. In early 2013 the
restaurant won its second star from the Guide Michelin®. And, as good news never
comes alone, Gault et Millau awarded Alexandre with a fourth toque that October.
In the opinion of those who were able to judge and decide, “it pays tribute to
a clear and agile cuisine with a sea tang... a valiant menu that puts itself at sea
level to garner its promise: seafood depending on catches with a bouillon of red
onions and cherries; lobster and cauliflower smoked with pine needles, beetroot and
blackberry...”.
This is a fine reward for the chef with two Michelin macarons
who offers a cuisine flavoured by the regions of France
that he has visited in the course of his career. His fine and
streamlined cuisine is generous in emotions and sensations.
He constantly looks for novelty, creation and lightness.
He attaches much importance to the presentation
and decoration of his dishes. He studies how colours go
together, the volume of his produce and their texture.
Thierry Drapeau is constantly looking to offer unusual dishes
using produce from Vendée such as the local truffle, which
he works into golden turnips au gratin with bone marrow, a
puff brioche with fleur de sel sea salt from the salt marches
in Les Sables d’Olonne. His menu includes abalones from
Bouin worked with coco beans from Vendée, Vendée
Gros gris snails from Saint Paul en Pareds and hard-boiled
eggs from Les Brouzils.
In his brand new hotel, “Le Domaine de la Chabotterie” in
Saint Sulpice le Verdon (see page 28 of this press pack),
Thierry Drapeau also offers cookery workshops “just like
at home”. Thierry didn’t hesitate for a moment when
considering the plans for his future course: his cookery of
choice is the housewife’s. The chef must adapt his classes
to the environment of his participants, not the other way
round... In the new “cuisine” workshop Thierry proves
that fine cuisine can be achieved with basic equipment
available to everyone.
Restaurant Thierry Drapeau – La Chabotterie – Saint Sulpice le Verdon
In a contemporary black and white décor facing the fishing port of L’Herbaudière,
the chef surprises guests with his creative and meticulously executed recipes that
never betray the nature of the produce... Never a detail escapes his wife Céline who oversees the perfect
completion of each dish right to the dining room.
Same piano, same chef: La Table d’Elise bistrot
Adjoining “La Marine”, “La Table d’Elise” is the chef’s second restaurant. With simple decor featuring wooden
tables, red-painted beams and sea-going objects on the walls, Alexandre offers “bistrot cuisine” based on a
careful selection of local quality produce of the season.
Restaurant La Marine – 5 Rue Marie Lemonnier – L’Herbaudière – Noirmoutier en l’Ile
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Well-being
In 2013 the thalasso & spa centre with its 1,490 sq.m. of facilities also benefited from the construction of eight
beauty treatment booths. Wraps, baths, underwater jets and sculpting massages are all “flagship” rituals in
thalassotherapy. In the salon’s rooms or at the bar de la tisanerie, waiting times become a moment to take
a break. The centre uses the know-how and style of a team of water therapists, physiotherapists and beauty
specialists in addition to skills in nutrition, fitness coaching and relaxation.
Côte Ouest, a new lease of life for the thalassotherapy
centre in Les Sables d’Olonne
In Les Sables d’Olonne, the Hôtel Côte Ouest & Relais Thalasso faces the ocean with an outstanding view of Les
Sables d’Olonne bay. Tucked away in a 3.5-hectare pine forest by a lake, the establishment makes the most of
its west-facing exposure which provides great light from sunrise to sunset.
The hotel did not just get a new façade in 2013, but a radical change in identity. “We are on a cruise ship with
passengers”, says Sylvie Dubreuil. “The site’s features guided the renovation style for the hotel: Destination Côté
Ouest, the ambiance of a cruise ship in the 1930s”, she continues. Guests become passengers when they arrive
at Côte Ouest.
For a fabulous spa break, the new cocoon area with
eight booths, three of which face the sea, offer sculpting
massages, gentle beauty rituals and time out to enhance
your beauty.
And to improve your health resources, the hydromarin
treatment is a real bonus: seawater pool heated to 32°C,
swan neck jets, bubble benches, counterflow walking,
Jacuzzi, underwater jets and an area for aqua-aerobics.
The well-being area also includes a fitness room (with
professional instructors), a sauna, an oriental hammam
and an aromatherapy room.
Outside, a huge lighthouse guides you to
canopies that protect you from the weather.
Although the infinity pool by the beach draws
the gaze, the 200 parking places are now
hidden by the pine forest.
The tone is set in the foyer: a desk evocative
of old trunks, metal beams… in the lounge bar
are club armchairs, Chesterfields, old pedestal
tables, all creating an ambience with a hint of
“British Empire” to it. The restaurant faces the sea
and is reminiscent of an old, restored ship hangar
with its old bricks and metal beams. The place is
given that extra touch thanks to huge light fixtures
with crystal pendants (Timothy Oulton). There is
a lovely cosy feel to the staircase. The 94 rooms
and three suites have been entirely renovated in
a “cabin” approach with paintings by Rod Stribley
(an English painter who specialists in old ships) and
lights by Eicholtz, Flamanta and Chehoma.
Hôtel Mercure Côte Ouest (4 stars) et Relais Thalasso – Les Sables d’Olonne
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Thalasso therapy in Saint Jean de Monts
To enjoy the thalasso centre in Saint Jean de Monts is to opt for fundamental care and respect for traditional
thalassotherapy techniques in harmony with nature thanks to the salty air of the ocean, the area’s vast open
spaces and the use of its famous sea mud from baie de Bourgneuf. Thalassotherapy in Saint Jean de Monts is
encompassed in a 3,000 sq.m. facility in the heart of the pine forest dedicated to serenity and a relaxing escape
from it all since 1989. In the last two years the centre has been renovated to provide even more comfort. In 2014
guests will be able to enjoy aquacycling sessions, an outdoor Jacuzzi and new “hydro sensory” equipment.
Some treatments can be appreciated with someone else (baths, massage, wraps…) in the brand new spa.
Vendée golfing
The must-play 18-hole courses
Golf de la Domangère [Nesmy]
With the highest slope in France and an exceptional
diversity of plays, the charming Domangère
course is a must-play venue for golfers searching
for new challenges.
Golf des Fontenelles [L’Aiguillon sur Vie]
Esteemed for its training facilities, this course with
a clear “bocage” character provides a series of
pleasant water obstacles, marine pines and oaks
along 6 km.
Golf des Olonnes [Olonne sur Mer]
Located 3 km from Les Sables d’Olonne, Golf
des Olonnes enjoys an outstanding location with
a panoramic view. It stretches over a naturally
undulating site with beautiful water courses.
Sea mud that is unique in France
Fresh, natural and non-recycled, this sea mud is a concentration
of trace elements applied at 45°C according to medical
prescriptions. It is particularly recommended in rheumatology and
comes from nearby Baie de Bourgneuf, which is known for the
quality of its water.
“Well-being” or “Health” courses of treatment
The centre features different courses of treatment including “Bulle
de Bien Être”, “Maman-bébé & Co”, “Oxygène” with five halfdays of Nordic walking, “Spéciale” and “Réponse diabétique”…
Focus on the “Réponse diabétique” course of treatment
It is possible to learn to deal and live with diabetes, provided that
professional support is given. The team at the thalasso centre helps
diabetics find a balance and curtail complications arising from their
illness thanks to a holistic approach. The treatment is available on a
full board basis with special menus for diabetics along with specific
medical supervision. Guests are monitored by the centre’s doctor: a
check-up on arrival helps tailor treatment to the degree of diabetes.
A consultation at the end of the treatment results in a report that
makes it possible to consider the treatment’s beneficial action over
the long term. The centre also offers extensive dietary monitoring:
individual consultations with a nutritionist, workshops to learn the
glycaemic index of foods and visits to a supermarket to learn how to
make better choices when grocery shopping. After the treatment, the
nutritionist provides free, personalised supervision via e-mail.
Golf de Port Bourgenay [Talmont Saint Hilaire]
By the sea and at the edge of a national forest
overlooking the marina, Port-Bourgenay offers a
happy succession of bocage and pinewoods and
practically makes up two different courses! The
course also features the first 18-hole Pitch & Putt
course in France.
Golf de Saint Jean de Monts
In the purest Scottish tradition, this course has a lot of variety and can be played all year long thanks to its sandy
sub-soil. There are nine holes in pinewoods and links on the return with splendid view of the ocean and Ile d’Yeu.
The starting point at hole 4 and the green at hole 13 have just been redone with imported English lawns.
The 9-hole course of Les Alouettes aux Herbiers
Located in the heart of Mont des Alouettes a few minutes
from Puy du Fou, this nine-hole course will appeal thanks to
the many undulating scenes offering a breath-taking view
of Les Herbiers. Give in to this course with synthetic greens
combining nature and innovation.
9-hole course, FFG approved (9 holes: 1,564 m – Pitch &
Putt: 594 m) – open all year
Golf des Alouettes – La Charillière – Les Herbiers
Thalasso Spa Thermes Marins – 12 avenue des Pays de Monts – Saint Jean de Monts
46
47
Press Officer: Fabienne Couton-Lainé
+ 33 (0)2 51 47 88 23 + 33 (0)6 30 64 63 03
f.couton-laine@vendee-expansion.fr

The Vendée

Transcription

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