Holidaying in Vendee in August

[Sharon]

Hi, this is my first visit to this website. We are staying at Port Bourgenay for a week in August but intend to get to France via the tunnel, taking 4 days to get there and probably 3 coming home, so i shall be looking for ideas of places to stay and things to do en route. I am really looking forward to reading about all your experiences.

[Jenny]

Hi Sharon and welcome to our forum.

I used to have a penfriend in Vendee and visited the area several times as a teenager. I can't remember many details that would be useful for you though. Perhaps our resident French friend Marcus can help?

[Marcus]

As far as i know, it's realy close from Talmont St Hilaire. I've been there once, and it was realy enjoying... especialy during summer times.

What to do before and after ? It realy depends on your taste. As you said you'll take the shuttle (the tunnel) you'll get Paris. There, if you've never been, there's also pretty thing to see especialy because there isn't so much French in Paris in August (Parisian usualy takes its vacations in August, unfortunately ).
There, your way shoul be to take train directly to Sables d'Olonnes (and there, bus ? ) that is very close to your destination.

If you have times, and wanted to visit cities with history, you can see Paris (of course) but also La Rochelle that is not so far from Les Sables (and was very reknown in history as one of the last pro-English city of France), or have a look in Brittania. Enjoying places such Noirmoutier nearly Island, or the tiny inner sea of Morbihan.
You may also enjoy visiting on of these entertainment parks (each one take at least one full day) :
- Le puit du fou : near Cholet, a park reknown in the country. Deals with history, middle age and gaulish-roman period.
- Le futuroscope : near Poitier; dedicated to cinema and visual effects. I've been once and been realy impressed by their technics.

I hope you found there clues to make your trip...
Friendly,
The resident French friend Marcus
_________________
Semper Fidelem

[Sharon]

Thanks for that there are some great tips there, i am planning to go to the library to investigate further, i must admit la rochelle was somewhere that had stood out to me when i was briefly looking earlier, so i will certainly look at that with more detail.

[Jenny]

You have brought back memories for me Marcus. I have been to many of the places you mention. Ile de Noirmoutier - is that were the sea eats the road some of the time? I have a photo of myself and a friend standing next to that road!! Le Puit du Fou - is that the huge castle where they do a show? She also took me there and I remember I could wear earphones to have the translation in English!