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.

An extended season

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.

Everything you could want   

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.

So much to explore

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 are all within easy reach too, offering even more to see and do. See the links below.

A gastronomic delight

Of course, once you've finished your day's exploring or sunbathing, there's still a lot more to do... sampling the local restaurants and wines! Galettes, a kind of savoury pancake, are a French speciality and there's a wide choice of seafood - including some fantastic Moules Frites.

Angela Bird - The Vendée

Angela Bird - Angela Bird Has written a great book called The Vendée which has lots of great information and is well worth a look.  She also has a website, www.the-vendee.co.uk

Sit back, relax and enjoy

www.vendee-tourisme.com
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