What's on in the Vendee: April events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

April 2009
WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE

(entries in red indicate new additions)

PLEASE NOTE

This website is really just a supplement to Angela Bird’s guidebook, The Vendée (left), which gives full details
in its 176 pages of hundreds of interesting and off-beat tourist sites throughout the region.
What you see on the website consists of either extra topics not covered in the book (Calendar, Restaurants, Travel routes, Internet links etc), or updated information (new tourist attractions open – or old ones closed)
since the most recent edition of the book appeared.
For the complete picture, order The Vendée through bookshops in the UK and Ireland, or from Amazon ; it is also on sale in good bookshops throughout the Vendée.

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.

Until 7 June

L’envers du décor: collections inédites Exhibition of items that have been stored out of visitors’ sight since the opening of the Historial in 2006.

Historial de la Vendée, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne

early Apr	Festival Nouvelle Chanson This year’s performers include singer-songwriter Camille Bazbaz; Swedish singer Peter von Poehl; and young French singer Daphné Times vary. 17€, children 9€.	Auditorium St-Michel, 1 Ave d’Anjou, Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel : 02 51 96 85 78).
early Apr	Le Festival de l’Insolite A festival of wildlife films, exhibition on birdlife of Europe and Canada, and events for children and families.	Les Landes-Génusson, near Montaigu
mid Apr	Festival “Kid’s Folies” Lots of fun events for children.	St-Jean-de-Monts
4 Apr-3 May	Gaston Planet: plasticien Exhibition devoted to a Vendean artist, exponent of “art brut”. He rubbed mattress ticking onto seaweed-covered rocks, painted on cardboard boxes and on old doors, and created bizarre, colourful characters – many of which are on permanent display in the Musee de l’Abbaye Ste Croix, in Les Sables d’Olonne.	Ecomusee du Daviaud, La Barre de Monts, nr St Jean de Monts
6-30 Apr	Kid’s Folies The annual springtime festival devoted to children, with exhibitions, workshops, and entertainment – this year on the theme of “Water is Life”.	St Jean de Monts
12 April	EASTER SUNDAY 2009
13 April	LUNDI DE PAQUES (Easter Monday) (public holiday)
19 Apr	Bach La Simphonie du Marais, under director Hugo Reyne, give a concert of music by Bach. 3.30pm. 16 euros, children 12 euros.	Parish church, Chavagnes-en-Paillers (tel: 02 51 42 30 24).

mid Apr- mid Sept	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 26€, children 15 €. Under-5s free.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
25, 26 Apr	Festival des Jeux A weekend of games for all the family, both traditonal and modern.	La Tranche sur Mer
30 Apr-3 May	Championnat de France Féminin A leg of the national champiionship for lady golfers.	La Domangere GC, Nesmy, near La Roche sur Yon

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated calendar of events.
To view it, click here
A quarterly publication called Musique-Danse lists many concerts of all kinds in the Vendee. You can find the latest version by following a link from here

2009

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