5 reasons to visit the Vendée :

- Sea and activities – the Vendée :
bound by the waves. The coastline boasts an attractive natural landscape and 18 top-quality seaside resorts, each with its own authentic character. Favourite seaside towns include Saint Jean de Monts, the fishing port of Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, the smart resort of Les Sables d’Olonne and the popular La Tranche sur Mer. The Noirmoutier island: a lively island marked by the white of its salt marshes.

- Family fun, a paradise for children:
The Vendée is indeed an ideal choice for young families. However, holidaymakers will also find plenty of other entertainment for children of all ages, from playparks to aquaparks, from maize mazes to sword-fighting, from country cycle trails to tree-top zip-wires. In between, there are farms to visit, castles to storm, and fabulous history-themed days at the Grand Parc of the Puy du Fou to enjoy.

- Culture and heritage, the Vendée a land of history and tradition:
The Vendée has a cultural heritage influenced by those of its adjoining provinces of Poitou, Anjou and Brittany. Its cathedrals, castles and abbeys have seen the passage of great figures of history: Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II of England; Richard the Lionheart, son of Eleanor and Henry, who built Talmont castle and endowed many abbeys and priories; the evil Gilles de Rais, inspiration for the legendary “Bluebeard”, who owned castles at Tiffauges and Pouzauges; and Cardinal Richelieu, powerful minister of French king Louis XIII.

- The Vendée, accommodation making the grade:
Thousands of top-grade campsites, comfortable holiday cottages, friendly chambres d’hôtes (bed-&-breakfasts) and stately château-hotels provide accommodation to suit every taste and pocket. And with amusement parks, golf courses, cultural sites and excellent restaurants, there is no lack of sport, excursions and entertainment for all ages.

- The Vendée, a natural world:
The Vendée’s famous curves of golden sands are backed by rolling dunes. Inland rise the wooded hills known as the “bocage” – often crowned with majestic windmills. In between lies the open, chequerboard landscape of the coastal marshes, rich in bird-life – particularly at migration times – while elsewhere otters and dragonflies thrive in the willow-fringed canals of the picturesque “Venise Verte” region.