What's on in the Vendee: August events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

July 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.
Until early Aug	Festival Mer et Vie Music of all sorts – classical, rock, blues, gospel etc – performed in village squares and churches in the St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie area. 9pm. Admission free.	1 Aug, Notre-Dame-de-Riez ; 3 Aug, La Chaize Giraud ; 6 Aug, Stp0Gilles-Croix-de-Vie ; 10 Aug, Coex. (tel : 02 51 54 70 70).
Until early Aug	Festival de musique baroque Annual festival of baroque music in the courtyard and garden ofthe Logis de la Chabotterie.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon.
Until mid Aug	Les Ricochets Festival of street theatre. Wed & Fri evenings. Admission free. (Last week of July and first week of Aug, also free concerts by young Korean musicians, daily, free.).	Town centre, Fontenay-le-Comte.
Until 31 Aug	Les Nuits de Richard Coeur de Lion Wonderful opportunity to wander round the ruined fortress at night, with information panels (in English), sound effects and amazing lighting techniques. Every night in July and August.	Talmont-St-Hilaire
Until early Sept	Sur les Pas d’Amandine New season of performances in the woodland hideout used by the Vendeans during the 18th-century Wars of the Vendee. Sun, 3.30pm & 5,30pm; Thurs 8.30pm. 7€, children 3.50€; family (2+2 or more) 18€.	Refuge de Grasla, St Denis-la-Chevasse
Until 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 the much-hyped chariot-racing, and faithful recreations of 18th- and 19th-century villages. Daily 10am-7pm. 25€, children 14.50 €. Under-5s free.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel: 02 51 64 11 11).
Until early Sept	Cinéscénie Spectacular son-et-lumiere show, retelling the history of the Vendee. Most Fri & Sats 23€, children 15€ August 10pm.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
Until mid Sept	Equestrian displays Demonstrations are given at the town-centre National Stud establishment. Daily:	Haras National, Bd des Etats Unis, La Roche-sur-Yon
1 Aug	Les Soirées d’Apremont Second of two evenings of jazz, bossa-nova and Latin-American dances in front of the ruined château.	Apremont
1-3 Aug	Lancel Classic Races for classic yachts, with about 50 taking part.	Noirmoutier
2, 3 Aug	Les Médiévales Weekend of events around the ruins of the ancient castle, with juggling, jousting and costumed players. Grand storming of the castle on Saturday night.	Commequiers, near Challans
early Aug	Brocante fair Open-air antiques fair in the streets of this picturesque village.	Sallertaine, near Challans
early Aug	Festival de Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile Season of plays, acted out against the backdrop of the historic castle. 9.30pm. 18€, children 8€.	Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, Nourmoutier island (tel: 02 51 35 87 24).
7 & 8 Aug	Nieul – Village de lumière An evening of entertainment in this picturesqaue village.	Nieul-sur-l’Autise, near Fontenay-le-Comte
7 Aug	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
7, 8, 11-13 Aug	Cette nuit Pierre-Levée Enjoyable son-et-lumière production, with 200 locals acting out the history of the Olonnes area against the backdrop of the pretty little Château de Pierre Levée. 1.300pm (food available earlier). 15 euros, children 8 euros.	Château de Pierre-Levée, (near Olonne golf course), Olonne-sur-Mer (tel: 02 51 23 71 54).
10 Aug	Fête du Lotus Annual festival around the beautiful lakes of flowering lotuses.	Parc Floral et Tropical, St-Cyr-du-Talmondais
early Aug	Puces Olonnaises Flea market. 6am-6pm.	Olonne-sur-Mer (tel: 02 51 95 31 83).
Mid Aug	Puces Islaises Flea market, with more than 100 dealers setting up shop around the picturesque village church.	Place de la Mairie, Ile-d’Olonne, near Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel : 02 51 95 47 48).
Mid Aug	Puces Lignéronnaises August edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm. 1€.	St-Christophe-du-Ligneron, nr Challans.
12, 13 Aug	Le Ballet des Arts The Simphonie du Marais, under director Hugo Reyne, play music by Lully.	La Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon
14 Aug	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
14 Aug	Nuit de la Mogette The annual festival devoted to the white haricot bean of the Vendée. Old-time agricultural methods, music, and a beanfeast.	Le Poiré-sur-Vie, near Aizenay
14-16 Aug	Régates du Bois de la Chaise 130 sleek wooden sailing boats compete in a series of races off the coast of Noirmoutier. Parade of boats on Sun into Noirmoutier town port.	Bois de la Chaise and Noirmoutier town, Noirmoutier
mid Aug	Scénographie de Pierre-Levée Enjoyable son-et-lumiere production, with 200 locals acting out the history of the Olonnes area against the backdrop of the pretty little Chateau de Pierre Levée. 1.300pm (food available earlier). 15 euros, children 8 euros.	Chateau de Pierre-Levée, (near Olonne golf course), Olonne-sur-Mer (tel: 02 51 23 71 54).
15 Aug	Fete du Lac Fun and games in, around and on the lake, with a grand firework finale over the water after dark.	Rue du Moulin-a-Eau, Maché, near Aizenay
15 Aug	Fete du Folklore et du Sanglier An afternoon of music and dance, plus evening meal of roast wild boar with accompanying entertainment. From 2.30pm; meal from 7pm.	St-Avaugourd-des-Landes, near La Mothe-Achard
15 Aug	FETE DE L’ASSOMPTION (Feast of the Assumption), public holiday
14 Aug	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
16-22 Aug	Championnat International de Fireball Around 60 two-man racing dinghies compete for a week off the coast.	Notre-Dame-de-Monts
21-24 Aug	Festival de Cugand Annual festival of world music, with colourful teams performing traditional music and dance on the open-air stage.	Cugand, near Clisson (tel: 02 51 36 93 60).

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

JAN FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

| mail webmaster by returning to the bottom of the index page |