Things to See & Do

There are many activities in the area and suitable for all ages groups.

The most popular theme park being the Grande Parc Puy du Fou (set in thousands of acres of parkland).   Immerse yourself in the spectacle of the gladiatorial arena – complete with chariots, lions, Christians, and a Caesar.  Watch in awe the amazing falconry in the magical medieval chateau.  Where Vikings battle and musketeers display their swordsmanship, and wonder at some of the most ingenious special effects ever seen.  Or watch the evening performance of the Cinescenie – where over 3,000 locals put on a show complete with firework display never to be forgotten and all just 20 minutes drive away.


Or another must see – Futurescope – near Poitiers .  With its 7 great Imax cinema screens -  a virtual reality Internet park.  It has an all around cinema where the pictures actually extend beneath you.

For smaller members of the family – visit Parc Pierre Brun in the Mervant forest.  Or try go horse riding or maybe Karting – (there are 11 circuits in the Vendee).

If however, you are house hunting – at La Baudonniere we can offer you advice and/or the opportunity to store your furniture in one of our many secure outbuildings.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The Marais in the south of the Vendée is a large area of wetlands, home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Boat trips can be taken from Coulon and Maillezais. There are many châteaux in the region, but the two most important are the Château de la Guignardiere, a fine example of Renaissance architecture, and Château Tiffauges, built between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries and home to the infamous Bluebeard. Les Sables d'Olonne is a popular resort with plenty of shops, night-life and even a casino. Pornic is also worth a visit: a fashionable resort with a marina but retaining its old streets and working harbour.
 

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

There are a number of adventure parks in the Vendée. The Parc de Pierre Brun can be found in the forest of Mervent and has a range of bouncy castles, bumper boats and trampolines. The Indian Forest at Montiers les Mauxfaits has an elevated obstacle course, maxi-bungee and paint-balling.
If you like your theme parks a little less physical, the Puy du Fou is one with a difference and makes a great family day out. It re-enacts the history of the Vendée using actors, horse-men, falconers and stuntmen and is truly spectacular. The beautifully kept Palmyre Zoo is also worth a visit, housing some 1600 animals including rhinos and polar bears. For water slides and pools, visit the Atlantic Toboggan at Les Becs.
 

MUSEUMS, GALLERIES and CULTURE

Fontenay le Comte, birthplace of Rabelais, is home to the Vendée Museum and the Château de Terre Neuve with its collection of 18th and 19th century clothing. Eleanor of Aquitaine's Abbey in Neuil-sur-l'Autise has beautifully preserved cloisters and a multi-media museum.
 

WINE TASTING

Wine has been grown in the Vendée since Roman times. The wine from the vineyards of the Brem Fiefs is distinguished by its taste of apples. At Beaulieu sous la Roche the Cave de l'Atrie produces good vin de pays in red, white and rose whilst the wine from Mercier Frères is said to be served at Buckingham Palace. Their whites and red are sold in 10 litre boxes at a very reasonable price.
 

WALKING

The Vendée has over 600km of marked paths, including two long distance Grande Randonnees (GR8 and GR364). The paths cover a variety of scenery and many are suitable for buggies. Whether you want cliff-tops, forests or country lanes, you will not be disappointed

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Many of the Vendée's minor roads have little traffic and are suitable for cycling but there are also hundreds of kilometres of cycle tracks including very attractive terrain in the Forest of Mervent. Windsurfing and body boarding are very popular on the coast, with one of the best areas for surfing being between La Tranche and Longeville. If you fancy trying something different, there are several go-kart centres at Chalans, La Roche-sur-Yonne and St. Reverend. At Apremont Lake you can hire dinghies, pedalos, canoes and rowing boats.
 

FOOD AND DRINK

The Vendée is famous for its seafood; everything from Dover sole, sea bream, bass and sardines to oysters, mussels, cockles, whelks, razor clams and crabs. A plateau de fruits de mer is a real treat, with all sorts of shell fish piled high and costing a fraction of what you would pay in the UK. The regional dish mouclade is well worth trying - a mixture of mussels, white wine, eggs and crème fraiche. The inland waters provide eels, pike and zander for the more adventurous.