Janine McCullar
1. My Holiday in the Vendee
- Weather:
- 5
- Holiday:
- 5
- Accommodation:
- 4
- Food:
- 4
- Nightlife:
- 3
- Overall:
- 5
Weather
Perfect weather all week
Holiday
Wonderful.
We love it there, and have been going every year for the past 15 years.
Places Recommended
St. Gilles Croix de Ville
Normoutier
Planet Savage
Recommend Vendee to others
Yes
Neil & Helen
2. The Secrets of The Vendee
- Weather:
- 4
- Holiday:
- 4
- Accommodation:
- 4
- Food:
- 4
- Nightlife:
- 2
- Overall:
- 4
Weather
Sunshine during the day. One thunder and lighting display, but no rain one evening. During the whole week I did not wear a jumper or a coat. Got caught in one very sharp shower mid morning.
Holiday
Excellent. This place is a treasure not to be missed.
Stayed at a very quiet secluded B & B just north of Fontenay le Comte (Maison Neuve Marsais Sainte Radegonde). Excellent hosts, great food and wine.
Perfect location for touring around.
Night life suited us--relax on the terrace after an evening meal with a glass of superb wine from the local Pissotte vineyard.
Places Recommended
ChateauTerre Neuve (F le C)
Bazoges en Pareds
Maillezais--Abbey St Pierre
Nieul sur L'Autise
Mervent Vouvant
Marais Poitevin
Pissotte Cave Vinyard
La Rochelle
Recommend Vendee to others
Yes
Shirley Jelliss
3. Fontaine village - in the Vendee
- Weather:
- 5
- Holiday:
- 5
- Accommodation:
- 5
- Food:
- 5
- Nightlife:
- 3
- Overall:
- 5
Weather
For 16 years we had a small house in the Vendee, in a village called Fontaine, near Angles.
We spent many happy holidays there, usually a week in March to open up the house, then two weeks during the summer, and another week in September to close the house for the winter.
During those years the weather was generally good, definitely warmer than in the UK, and we only once experienced freezing conditions. It rained sometimes of course, and there were the occasional thunderstorms. But never enough to spoil our visits to the area.
Holiday
We always enjoyed our trips to Fontaine and had very good neighbours who looked after the house and small garden during our absence.
No shops in the village, but Angles was 5 mins drive or 20 mins walk away. Nearest big towns were La Tranche-sur-Mer (long stretches of sandy beaches), Les Sables d'Olonne and La Roche-sur-Yon, about 30 mins drive away and a great shopping location.
Not much English spoken by local people, but if one tried to speak at least a little French they were very helpful and welcoming.
Fontaine and the surrounding area is on the edge of the Marais Poitevin and at St. Denis de Payre there is a wonderful wild life reserve where one can watch the coming and going of many birds through telescopes provided in the location.
Places Recommended
We weren't looking for nightlife, other than finding good restaurants and bars, but many English families holiday in the area and there are some good camping sites and we found one nightclub near Les Sables, though it was mostly for young people.
La Tranche offered activities for youngsters as well.
Superb fish restaurants in Les Sables, and plenty of good places to eat in La Tranche.
Visit La Rochelle, the Ile de Rey, Ile de Nourmoutier, Sea trips to various places.
Canal trips on the Venise Verte were good.
Also a visit to a 'Grande Spectacle' at the Puy de Fou, which was about 20 km from La Roche-sur-Yon, where we watched the sinking of a Viking ship, and ancient village with mud huts, a Roman Gladiator spectacle, complete with Christians and lions ! This was well worth a visit for adults and children alike. Plenty to see, plenty to eat and drink.
I would certainly recommend this area of France for good holidays.
Very busy in the summer, but spring and especially September after the children go back to school are ideal times to enjoy this part of France to the full.
Recommend Vendee to others
Yes
