The Vendée preserved
The sea and the beaches
The Vendée coast is well-known for its exceptional luminosity. Creeks and long sandy beaches invite you to relax in the sunshine. Breathe in the iodized air along the whole 250 km of coast, 140 km of which is the fine sandy beach that borders Vendée as it meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Vendée, 86% of the coastline is protected
In partnership with coastal communes, the department of Vendée has instituted a tourist area enhancement programme known as the Contrat Environnement Littoral (Coastal Environment Contract). This programme is aimed at protecting the environment for the sake of everyone’s well-being and quality of life. It entails:
- development of both reception facilities and activities on the beaches,
- acquisition of wild areas of land,
- development of the seaside areas.
The Vendée preserved
The Department of Vendée protects almost a hundred sensitive natural sites, over more than 2,000 hectares. Whether marshland, ponds or rivers, woods or forests, seaside resorts or parks, all these remarkable sites come together to form the ecological heritage of Vendée, and are open freely to the public.
These sensitive natural spaces, which have been enhanced and developed in favour of sporting activities (canoe, rambling, horse-riding, etc.), the observation of flora and fauna (such as at the Cité des Oiseaux at Landes-Génusson, at the St Denis-du-Payré nature reserve or at the Ile d’Olonne observatory) or simply for reasons of environmental protection.
