What's on in the Vendee: April events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

April 2008
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.

Until18 May

Chassé le Naturel Exhibition of modern art from the FRAC (regional art collection), on the theme of nature.

1. Ecomusée du Daviaud, La Barre-de-Monts.

2. Ecomuéee Milcendeau-Jean Yole, Soullans.

3 Apr

El amor brujo Manuel de Falla’s music. Part of Spectacles de Vendée. 8.30pm. 14€, under-26s 6€.

Pavillion de l’Aunis, La Tranche-sur-Mer (tel : 02 51 36 93 60 ; or online).

3-5 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).
4 Apr	La Resurrezione de Haendel Le Parlement de Musique, directed by Martin Gester, perform Handel’s Resurrection. Part of Spectacles de Vendée. 8.30pm. 14€, under-26s 6€.	Eglise St-Benoit, Aizenay, near La Roche-sur-Yon (tel: 02 51 36 93 60; or online).
5 Apr	Isabelle Boulay This French singer is well-known to viewers of Starmania TV show. Part of Spectacles de Vendée. 8.30pm. 14€, under-26s 6€.	La Conserverie, St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (tel : 02 51 36 93 60 ; or online).
5-13 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
12-27 Apr	Festival “Kid’s Folies” Lots of fun events for children, plus an exhibition in the Palais des Congres showing children the world of 16th-century Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo, known for his portraits made up of painted vegetables.	St-Jean-de-Monts
13 Apr	Bach La Simphonie du Marais, under director Hugo Reyne, give a concert of music by Bach. 3.30pm	Parish church, Chavagnes-en-Paillers (tel: 02 51 42 30 24).
15-21 Apr	Reef Vendée Pro WQS 6* An event in the World Surfing Championship calendar.	Brétignolles-sur-Mer
17 Apr- 21 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).
20 Apr	Orchard Pig Company Open Day and Market A chance to buy pork pies, British bangers, bacon, gammon joints and other pork products at this farm, specialising in outdoor-reared traditional breeds. Snacks on sale in barn. 11am-4.30pm. Approx 20km NE of La Chataigneraie.	La Touchotiere, Chanteloup (Deux-Sèvres) tel : 05 49 72 67 10.
25 Apr- 13 July	La Légende Richelieu Exhibition on the life of the powerful Cardinal, who was once bishop of the Vendée town of Luçon. Divided into five themes: man of war, man of the Church, man of State, the private figure, and the popularisation of Richelieu’s image. It will be illustrated by romantic engravings, 19th-century paintings, films, comic books and cartoon films	Historial, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne
27 Apr	Les Printanières A day of music and entertainment, on the theme of “ecological gardening” to launch the new season of events at the Maison de la Vie Rurale. Admission free.	Maison de la Vie Rurale, near Pouzauges

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

2008

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