The Region

The Vendée is a beautiful part of France and has everything you could want within easy reach - from gorgeous sandy beaches to rugged rock pools and historic buildings to futuristic attractions.

There are also a whole host of activities, markets and restaurants right on the doorstep. You'll easily find something to suit you!

The region nestles on the West coast of France and is known as the Côte de Lumière - the Coast of Light. There are over 80 miles of beaches and, set within some beautifully unspoilt countryside and pine forests, are a number of colourful fishing ports and lively market towns. It's the perfect place for a relaxing holiday. It is also the home to famous Vendée Globe round the world yacht race that sets off from Les Sables d’Olonne.

The Vendée bathes in over 2,500 hours of sunshine every year, meaning that spring and autumn breaks are attractive options - especially with the lower prices you can benefit from at these times.

Find out more about this beautiful area with these very helpful websites:

» www.vendee-tourisme.com - the official Vendée tourism site

» www.discovervendee.com - another helpful tourist site

» www.france4families.com Includes an interactive map for finding flights from UK to France

» www.poitou-charentes-vacances.com especially for La Rochelle and inland regions further south

And check out Vendée expert  Angela Bird's book and website below.

Local attractions

There's a huge choice of places to visit and things to do - whatever you fancy, from sailing to horse riding and cycling to surfing, you're sure to be able to find somewhere offering just what you're looking for.

There's a National Park - Marais Poitevin - with a network of waterways running through marshlands, known locally as 'Green Venice' and fascinating to punt around in a traditional flat-bottomed boat. There are river cruises and regular boat trips to the beautiful Ile d'Yeu, or you could visit the Ile de Noirmoutier - perhaps travelling on its low-tide causeway.

Futuroscope, Nantes and La Rochelle and the famous Puy du Fou theme park are all within easy reach too, offering even more to see and do.

» Find out more about local attractions and places to visit

Food and drink

Of course, once you've finished your day's exploring or sunbathing, there's still a lot more to do...

France is a gastronomic delight and sampling the local restaurants and wines is all part of the holiday experience. Galettes, a kind of savoury pancake, are a local speciality and there's a wide choice of seafood - including fantastic Moules Frites.

An expert's opinion - Angela Bird,  The Vendée

Author Angela Bird has written an informative book, all about the area, called, "The Vendée",  full of useful and interesting facts and well worth a look.

Her website www.the-vendee.co.uk has many helpful inks and details about the sights of the Vendée.