ANGELA BIRD'S
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The |
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April 2012
WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE
(entries in red
indicate new additions)
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PLEASE
NOTE This website
is really just a supplement to Angela Bird’s guidebook, The
Vendée (left), which gives full details |
The listings on this site are supplied in good faith, gathered by the author
from various Vendée sources. However it is always wise to check details with organisers or tourist
offices before making a special journey. |
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Until 1 Apr 2012 |
Printemps du Livre Annual
book festival, with talks, displays, and local authors signing their works. |
Theatre de Thalie, Montaigu |
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1 Apr 2012 |
Galopades
Tranchaises Running
event, with 8km, 13km and 26km circuits for various age groups. Mass start
10am, on the beach |
La Tranche-sur-Mer |
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1
Apr 2012 |
Vide-greniers Table-top
“car-boot sale” in the local sports hall. |
Maché, near Aizenay |
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2 Apr 2012 |
La Sarthe Pays de Loire cycle race Starts
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (finishes 6 Apr, Sablé-sur-Sarthe). |
Starts St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie |
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3-9 Apr 2012 |
Mondial des Minimes 40th
edition of this annual junior international football competition, held over
Ester weekend, with young teams from 12 nations including England, Ivory
Coast, the US, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Portugal, Uruguay and
France. This time there will
also be an exhibition on the main site from 7-9 Apr. |
Montaigu Mouilleron-le-Captif, La Tranche, Treize-Septiers,
St-Fulgent, La Tranche, St-Hilaire-de-Loulay. |
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4 Apr 2012 |
Tango
y Noche, hommage a Piazzolla Tango
Express, from Buenos Aires, perform the dance for which Argentina is best
known. Part of the prestigious “Spectacles de Vendée” season. 8.30pm. |
Les Salorges, Noirmoutier town |
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6 Apr 2012 |
“Coulisses” The Compagnie
SacéKripa presents a circus entertainment, with acrobats and jugglers. |
Auditorium St-Michel, |
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7 Apr-7 May 2012 |
Festival
“Kid’s Folies” Lots
of fun events for children, with a Jean Miro and generally Surrealist theme
running through this year’s edition. |
St-Jean-de-Monts |
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8 April |
EASTER
SUNDAY 2012 |
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8
April 2012 |
Courses
de Trotteurs sur la plage Trotting races on the beach at low
tide, a sporting event that was revived in 2012 after the last one took place
in 1920. About 16 jockeys take part. 1-3.30pm. |
Les Sables-d’Olonne |
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9 April |
LUNDI DE PAQUES (Easter
Monday) |
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9 Apr- |
Le Grand
Parc. New season for the hugely enjoyable “historical theme
park”. High points include the storming of the “donjon médiéval”, the “Vikings”, and a
fabulous falconry show. Among other dazzling entertainments are
chariot-racing, and faithful recreations of medieval, 18th- and 19th-century
villages. Apr,
May open stated days only, 10am-7pm; from 1-30 June Tues &
Thurs-Sun 10am-7pm 27€, children
19 €. Under-5s free. |
Puy
du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers |
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13 Apr 2012 |
Fireside concert In the small house that is the birthplace of Georges
Clemenceau, an hour-long musical recital. 6.30pm. Admission free (booking advisable) |
Maison natale de Georges Clemenceau, Rue Clemenceau, Mouilleron-en-Pareds
(tel: 02 51 00 38 72) |
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15 Apr 2012 |
Carnaval de Cholet (daytime) Reputed to be one of the finest
carnivals in France, with a daytime procession attracting thousands of
visitors to the town. |
Cholet, Maine et Loire |
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15 Apr 2012 |
Bach
organ concertos and cantatas by Handel and Telemann Recital by
Hugo Reyne, flute & oboe; Matthieu Heim, baritone; with Olivier Houette,
organ. Includes Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 4. 3.30pm. Admission 16€. |
Parish church, Chavagnes-en-Paillers (tel: 02
51 42 30 24). |
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21 Apr 2012 |
Carnival de Cholet (evening) 20,000 lightbulbs illuminate the night-time parade. |
Cholet, Maine et Loire |
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21 Apr 2012 |
20,000
Lieues sous les Mers The
Compagnie Sydney Bernard present an entertainment based on the well-known
work by Jules Verne. It’s played under canvas, and is part of the prestigious
“Spectacles de Vendée” season. 8.30pm. |
The Citadel, nr Port-Joinville, Ile d’Yeu (tel :
02 51 36 93 60) |
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23 Apr 2012 |
Macbeth Live relay from
Covent Garden of Verdi’s opera (in original language, with French subtitles).
8.30pm.
Admission 12 euros. |
Cinema Camera 5,21 Avenue de Villebois, Montaigu (tel : 02 51
46 46 15). |
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24-28 Apr 2012 |
7e
Festival Art et Science The
theme for this year’s festival is the Plant World. |
Noirmoutier island |
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25 Apr 2012 |
“Murmures
des Murs” A
family show featuring Aurélia Thierrée, devised by her mother Geraldine
Chaplin-Thierrée (daughter of Charles Chaplin). 6.30pm. |
Les Atlantes, Les Sables-d’Olonne |
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25 & 26 April 2012 |
Tartuffe Molière’s 17th-century
comedy with a cast including Claude Brasseur and Patrick Chesnais. Part of
the prestigious “Spectacles de Vendée” season. 8.30pm. |
25 Apr, La Clef des Champs, St-Laurent-sur-Sèvre |
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27 Apr 2012 |
“BachCage” Piano recital by
Luxembourgeois musician Francesco Tristano, featuring works by J-S Bach and
John Cage. |
Auditorium St-Michel, |
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28 Apr 2012 |
Tri-Yann
in concert Performance
by France’s best-known celtic
group, on a 40th-cenniversary tour. 8.30pm. 37€ to 40€ |
Grande Salle, Espace Rene Cassin, Fontenay-le-Conte (tickets from La
Roche-sur-Yon tourist office or Mediastore) |
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