Holidays in Vendée

Skipper Samantha Davies

Maud Vinatier — 2012-05-03T08:45:00Z

Skipper Samantha Davies was in St Gilles last week-end. She came to show her new sailing boat, Savéol.
The boat will compete for the next 'Vendée Globe'. She finished 4th last time, in 2008. Back then, it took 84 days, a new record, for the winner, Michel Desjoyeaux, to sail round the world.

Vendée Globe always leaves from les Sables d'Olonne, in November, and the rules are rather strict:
the skipper is alone
he/she is not allowed any help
no stop, no port of call are authorized.

Many 'vendéens' will be behind Sam in November!

See online : http://www.vendee-tourism.co.uk/up-...

LES ANIMAUX DE LA FERME

lucie — 2012-04-20T13:10:14Z

Opening times:
From 7th/04 to 29th/04: everyday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm
From 30th/04 to 30th/06: Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
Closed on 5th and 6th/05.
From 1st/07 to 9th/09: everyday from 10:00am to 7:00pm.

From tiny chicks to powerful shire horses, all reared on the premises are presented in their natural habitat.
During July and August, as well as seeing the animals, you can enjoy a nature walk through a wild and tranquil woodland landscape, and adults and children alike will love the discovery game “Wild Animals and Nature” which you can play on the way.
A welcoming snack bar serves a variety of meals, including home-made products from the “Demeure de La Pierre” (Stone Cottage).

Vendée Tourist Sites Club Partner
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Admission:
Adult: 7 €
Child: 5,50 €

Contact:
LES ANIMAUX DE LA FERME
Demeure de la Pierre
85440 AVRILLE
tél. +33 (0)2 51 22 39 50
www.lesanimauxdelaferme.com

TOUR ET MAISON DE MELUSINE

Cdt Vendée — 2012-04-20T09:08:56Z

Opening times:
TOUR MÉLUSINE:
All year - closed on Wednesdays during low season.

MAISON DE MÉLUSINE :
From 1st/07 to 13th/07: afternoon.
From 14th/07 to 31st/08: all day.
June & September: only week-ends.

Legend has it that it was built in a single night by the fairy Mélusine using three apronfuls of stone and a mouthful of water. Inside the tower are two vaulted halls and there is a splendid panoramic view from the top.
The House of Mélusine museum Discover the story behind this mysterious creature and the terrible secret which haunts her. If you walk slowly and keep very quiet, you may perhaps, through a gap in the walls, catch a glimpse of something quite extraordinary!

Vendée Tourist Sites Club Partner
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Admission:
TOUR MÉLUSINE
Adult: 2 € - Child: 1 €

MAISON DE MÉLUSINE
Adult: 2 € - Child: 1 €

Contact:
Tour et Maison de Mélusine
Place du Bail - 85120 VOUVANT
Office de Pôle du Pays de Fontenay le Comte :
tél. +33 (0)2 51 69 44 99
fax +33 (0)2 51 50 00 90
Antenne de Vouvant :
tél. +33 (0)2 51 00 86 80
fax +33 (0)2 51 87 47 92

LES SALINES

Samuel — 2012-04-18T10:24:52Z

Opening times:
Les Salines by boat: from 1st/04 to 30th/09, visit on prior booking at 02 51 21 01 19.
'Le Jardin des Salines' and salt store are open during school holidays.

Just hop on board and set sail on an extraordinary two hour journey into the heart of the Olonne marshes. There, between the sea, the land and the sky, you'll glide gently into the Jardin des Salines and meet the salters at work; you'll discover the secret paths of smugglers of old, fitness and adventure trails, the ancient “pays du sel” (salt country), and a rich variety of bird-life.
In the salt-store, you'll find an array of marsh produce on display and for sale.

Vendée Tourist Sites Club Partner
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Admission:
Adult: 18 €
Child: 6 €

Contact:
LES SALINES
120 route de l'Aubraie
85100 LES SABLES D'OLONNE
tél. +33 (0)2 51 21 01 19
fax +33 (0)2 51 21 60 79
www.lessalines.fr

MINI-VILLE "VILLAGE MINIATURE"

Samuel — 2012-04-17T09:13:40Z

Opening times:
April, May and September: daily from 2:00pm to 7:00pm.
June: daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
July and August: daily from 10:00am to 7:30pm.
All Saints Holidays: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
November 1st: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Each requiring between 200 and 300 hours to create, using materials such as stone, tiles, slates, thatch etc. collected from the areas represented, the mini-houses bear witness to the rich and varied heritage of French country architecture. A visit to Mini- Ville is an informative and entertaining way to discover the typical dwellings of rural France.
There is a children's play area, as well as a patio area where visitors can relax.

Vendée Tourist Sites Club Partner
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Admission:
Adult: 6 €
Child (3-12 years old): 3 €

Contact:
Mini-Ville
“Village Miniature”
Route de Noirmoutier
85740 L'ÉPINE
tel. +33 (0)6 81 21 69 88
www.mini-ville.com

23rd of March, a taste of summer

Maud Vinatier — 2012-04-04T09:00:07Z

We're enjoying fine summer weather at the moment, terraces are crowded, T-shirts and skirts are out again, and smiles are back on our faces...And last Sunday, with friends, we tried to ignore our watches and take our time, the usual 15 mns quickly absorbed lunch became a long lazy, 'sun-worshipper' meal. And for all occasions, we always have a good local wine. We've recently come upon domaine St Nicolas in Brem; they produce an excellent quality organic wine. Wine-tasting and visit to the wine warehouse is a bonus on your shopping trip.

After lunch, the children had their first bath of the year, quite exceptional for March; la Vendée benefits from long sandy beaches, activities are endless.... miles and miles where you can run, walk the dog, play in the waves, build sandcastles, laugh, admire a starfish, have a nap, take off your shoes, eat, watch the boats, walk with your lover, relax, listen to the silence, sunbathe, meet friends, talk about the future, choose nice pebbles, dream, enjoy the sunset.....and you, what would you do?

www.domainesaintnicolas.com

Also in Brem, La maison du terroir specializes in products 'made in la Vendée'.

See online : http://www.vendee-tourism.co.uk/up-...

William Christie - Les Arts Florissants

lucie — 2012-03-26T13:11:16Z

The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants

The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants is one of the most renowned and respected early music groups in Europe and around the world. Dedicated to the performance of Baroque music on original instruments, the ensemble was founded in 1979 by the Franco-American harpsichordist and conductor William Christie, and takes its name from a short opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

Check our THEMATIC FILES.

Puy du Fou, you will love its craziness...

Maud Vinatier — 2012-03-20T08:39:45Z

As far as I can remember, (I was 5 when it started), Puy du Fou has always been part of my environment and was often part of family conversations; everybody in la Vendée knows someone who was or is involved in Puy du Fou. It might have sounded like a crazy idea when it all started: create an amusement park in the middle of nowhere. Created in 1977, the night-time show, la Cinéscenie, relies mostly on volunteers. I used to go nearly every year, and each time, I found it even more impressive. I can recall clearly a show done under pouring rain and the public, using black dustbin bags as protection... yes it does rain in France too!

The show tells the story of la Vendée around an old castle. The fireworks and laser technology make it really come alive each time.

In 1989, Le Grand Parc, opened its door...I can't give you an exhaustive list of all attractions, they are too many, I can only tell you that you can easily spend 2 days there. You can eat, sleep and get lots, lots of fun there. Nowadays, I take my own chilren there; we try to go every summer, children love it each time and can't get enough of the eagles, the knights, the boat coming out of the water, the lions...

Today, Puy du Fou is: 3,000 volunteers, 1,200 actors, 8,000 costumes....an enomous success!

This week-end, 17th of March, le Puy du Fou has been awarded in Los Angeles the 'Thea classic award', the most prestigious award for a theme park and an incredible recognition on the eve of its 35th aniversary. By the way, Fou doesn't mean 'crazy' but 'beech'...Puy du Fou or Beech Hill, but you'd be crazy not to visit it.

HISTORIAL DE LA VENDEE

vendee — 2012-03-07T10:30:44Z

Opening times::
All year round (except on Mondays).
From 1st/04 to 30th/09: from 10:00am to 7:00pm.
From 1st/10 to 31st/03: from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

You will meet early Neolithic hunters and interact with the great humanists of the Renaissance. Our original museum displays are designed to educate as well as entertain, and the Children's Museum, the only one of its kind in France, brings history to life, making the past more accessible to young people.
- Retrospective exhibition about Vendée artist Charles Milcendeau (1872-1919), from 7th April to 8th July.
- July-August: children's activities and guided tours.

Vendée Tourist Sites Club Partner
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Admission:
Adult: 8 €
Unemployed (18-25 years old) and disabled persons: 5 €
Free under 18 years old.

Contact:
HISTORIAL DE LA VENDEE
Allée Paul Bazin
85170 LES LUCS SUR BOULOGNE
tel. +33 (0)2 51 47 61 61
fax +33 (0)2 51 47 61 64
www.vendee.fr

Gallery of painters...

Maud Vinatier — 2012-02-10T09:21:01Z

In la Vendée, and even a few minutes from home, I recently came accross the work of great painters.

One of my favourite walk from the house is to the Musée Charles Milcendeau, (1872-1919), a nice and quiet spot. Milcendeau loved Spain and we can still see some of this influence in his house, especially on the doors and on the bedrooms' walls, inspired by mudéjar art. Gardeners heve recently found out that some fruit trees in the orchards are more than a hundred-year old. Milcendeau painted what surrounded him, that is to say the 'marais' and portraiture, mostly farmers, and everyday scenes, like a meal around the fireplace, a card game...

Just across the road, still in Soullans lives Alain Coupas. I recently met this 57 year-old painter, a real character! Coupas has travelled the world and brougt back from his travels huge canvases. His abstract work mostly achieved using resin, bought in th US, is just amazing, some of it looks like landscapes seen from the sky. He works in a huge barn, 'in the middle of nowhere', whose windows have fantastic views across the surrounding fields, like in the musée Micendeau.

To give you an idea of his work, look at his website www.coupas.fr

In St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, I came across the work of COPO. This young woman now works from home; she set up her studio in an old school and exhibits some of her paintings in the Revzin gallery, also in St Gilles.

See: www.copo-peintre.f