holidays in the vendee

sparkling sea

The Vendée offers five 18- hole golf courses, museums of every kind, 380km of cycle paths, prehistoric monuments and wildlife galore. How does one region fit it all in?

If you like the idea of miles of golden sand, sloping into sparkling sea - and let's face it, who wouldn't - then the Vendée is the place for you. It's about the size of Devon or Cumbria, but with much more sunshine and a passion for watersports. The beaches here are truly stunning and will ruin you for any other beaches as you'll forever be comparing them and finding others are 'just not quite up to the Vendée standard'.

click here to read an article on the Vendee as published in the Daily Mail

places to visit in the vendée

Here are just some of the amazing places to visit during your siblu holiday in the Vendée.

the puy du fou

If you only go to one place whilst you're in the Vendée, I'll put my neck on the line and suggest it should be The Puy du Fou.

It is a 'historical theme park', a 600 seat roman stadium, where you can watch medieval gladiator and Viking shows. Throughout the day there are performances of falconry, jousting, magic and music. It's a fantastic day out for children, young and old, and you'll find it hard to tear them away from the shows.

The Puy de Fou parc also encompasses a medieval village that is well worth exploring, and to top it off it is near the town of Cholet, which gave its name to the French Womble - Madame Cholet. If you do want to go to the 'son et lumiere' event, Just make sure you book tickets in advance, as every show gets sold out in the summer.

ile d'yeu

The small warm island of L'Ile d'Yeu simply exudes charm from its whitewashed villages and welcoming beaches. Bikes are the best way to explore and if you resist the temptation to stop, swim, dive or take photos you could cover the whole island in an afternoon! If you want to admire some of the man- made sights, there is the Grand Phare lighthouse or the ruins of Vieux Chateau fortress.

futuroscope

Futuroscope, just outside the Vendée near Poitiers, is one of the most popular theme parks in France. It has giant Imax cinema screens (7 storeys high), an all around cinema where pictures extend underneath you, a virtual reality Internet park and more. Your children will love it. Where else could they get an adrenaline rush by experiencing the sensation of skydiving or slip into a virtual astrononaut's suit to explore space - all in perfect safety!

les sables d'olonne

The long beach, bustling seafront and chic shops of Les Sables d'Olonne have earned it the name 'mini Nice'. Though the beach is the main centre of activity you should also take some time to visit the food markets. The central market hall is open seven mornings a week in summer and there's a fish market on the quay that serves up the day's catch from 3.30pm. There is also a motor museum, which will keep everyone entertained.