Great villas, cottages and gites in The Vendee...

Discover the Atlantic Coast with gites, holiday villas and holiday cottages in Vendee! Holidays to Vendée take you to a delightful region in the Western Loire, where verdant countryside rolls down to meet the Atlantic. Craggy cliffs, smooth dunes and pine forests stand watch over a string of beaches perfect for safe paddling. Visit lively resorts and sleepy fishing villages, in a landscape that's bathed in more hours of sunshine than anywhere in France outside Provence! A gite in Vendee lets you enjoy Little Nice, as Les Sables d'Olonne is sometimes known, with its vibrant promenade and long, clean ribbon of lovely sand.

Take a holiday villa in Vendee and discover the two pretty islands that mark the Vendée's coastal limits. Ile de Noirmoutier sits to the north and Ile de Ré to the south. Both are linked by bridges to the mainland and the entire area is swathed in fascinating salt marshes. La Rochelle's shaded arcades, serene parks and ancient harbour make a great day out. If you can tear yourself away from the coast, a holiday in Vendee's interior rewards you with tranquil farmland and the lush marshes of Marais Poitevin, teeming with wildlife. A holiday cottage in Vendee is a great choice for families. You'll find good family entertainment at Futuroscope in Poitiers. Surrounded by a hundred-year-old forest, Puy du Fou is a unique place to visit for an unforgettable day out with friends or family. Spectacular shows and authentic villages take you back through the centuries for an experience you'll never forget. Why not take a tour around our Vendee gites, holiday villas and holiday cottages? Your ideal self catering holiday in The Vendee starts here!

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When in Vendee...

Gastronomy

Traditionally, the area is known for its seafood, fruit and vegetables, especially mushrooms. Specialities include mouclade (mussel stew) and fish in beurre blanc. Cheese selections include Chabichou and Pyramide varieties from Le Puy du Fou, wines may come from Anjou and Saumur, and for dessert try a Cremet d'Anjou topped with fresh fruit.

Places of Interest

Admire the beautiful village of Vouvray and the art and history of Foutenay-le-Comte. Visit Bluebeard's castle at Tiffauges or the abbey at Nieul-sur-l'Autise. Explore the Ile díYeu with its crumbling château, nature trails on Ile de Noirmoutier and the Marais Poitevin marshes; enjoy a day out at the Puy du Fou theme park, or splash in the water park at Oceanile.

Sports and Leisure

Take a boat excursion around La Rochelle or the islands. Walk, canoe or fish (licence required) in the Marais Poitevin. Learn surfing, windsurfing and sailing at schools in Les Sables d'Olonne, Go horse riding from Aizenay or La Roche-sur-Yon, hire bikes or watch a local horse race. Treat yourself to a hot air balloon trip or a thalassotherapy treatment. There are also many tennis courts and several golf courses in the area.

Weather

The Atlantic beaches and countryside of the Vendée enjoy a micro climate with more hours of sunshine anywhere in France outside Provence.

Average Temperatures °C:
Apr 18°
May 16°
Jun 22°
Jul 25°
Aug 25°
Sep 22°

Getting there

Take an overnight Brittany Ferries crossing to Caen or St Malo followed by a leisurely 4-5 hour drive to your Vendée cottage or villa.

If you prefer a shorter crossing, travel from Dover to Calais with P&O or Folkestone to Calais with Eurotunnel followed by a 7 hour drive.

Flying to your Vendée villa is easy with low cost flights to Nantes, La Rochelle or Poitiers from a range of UK airports.