What's on in the Vendee: August events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

August 2010

WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE

(entries in red indicate new additions)

For the vide-greniers, I have drawn on the useful list in the
excellent Courrier Vendéen newspaper.

	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 rganisers or tourist offices before making a special journey.

Until mid Aug	Musiques à La Chabotterie Annual festival of baroque music in the courtyard and garden of the Logis de la Chabotterie.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon. (tel : 02 51 43 31 01).
Until mid Aug	Les Ricochets Festival of street theatre, mostly in the open air, in different corners of Fontenay.	Various venues, Fontenay-le-Comte
Until late Aug	Les Nocturnes du Château Medieval entertainment around the ruins of St Mesmin castle.	Chateau de St Mesmin, La Ville, near Pouzauges
Until mid Aug	Festival Mer et Vie Music of all types – classical, rock, blues, gospel etc – performed in village squares and churches in the St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie area. 9pm. Admission free.	Information Syndicat Mixte Mer et Vie (tel : 02 51 54 70 70).
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 late Aug	La Déferlante 2009 A summer packed with street-theatre and concerts of all sorts, in the main holiday resorts all along the coast, from St Brévin to La Tranche.	Various venues; check website for details
Until mid SeptSept	Cinéscénie Spectacular son-et-lumiere show, retelling the history of the Vendee. June 10.30pm. 24€, children 15€	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, near Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
Until late 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 18^th- and 19^th-century villages. Daily 10am-7pm 26€-29€, children 16 €. Under-5s free. Mon-Thurs evgs in Aug, parc remains open for “Les Orgues du Feu”, a spectacle at 10pm with lights and classical music animating the lake and fountains. Inc in day-ticket price.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).

early Aug	Lancel Classic Races for classic yachts, with about 50 taking part.	Noirmoutier
early Aug	Festival de Sainte-Hermine Concerts, dancing and “living history” reconstructions around the ancient castle of Ste Hermine. 12.30pm-10.30pm. Admission free.	Château, Sainte-Hermine (tel: 02 51 27 37 37)
early Aug	Fête de la Vache Annual festival to do with everything about the cow, from milk production to an ox-roast.	Falleron, near Challans
Early Aug	Brocante fair Open-air antiques fair in the streets of this picturesque village.	Sallertaine, near Challans
early Aug	Puces Olonnaises 150 stands for this large brocante fair.	Olonne-sur-Mer
early Aug	Fête des Battages Grand harvest-home event and agricultural fun and games.	Aire de Loisirs de la Coulée Verte, St-Andre-Treize-Voies, near Montaigu
1 Aug 2010	Les Médiévales A great day of medieval entertainment around the ruined castle, including jousting, archery, children’s games and a medieval market. 10am till firework display at night. 4€, under-12s free.	Commequiers, nr Challans
During Aug	Nuits de Légende Evening shows at the château of the notorious Gilles de Rais. A cracking start, with fire-jugglers, medieval musicians and a shadow-player. However the last hour drags somewhat, as t is taken up with the same wordy play about Gilles de Rais and Joan of Arc that daytime visitors will already have seen. 10pm (arrive in good time) till midnight. 7€, students & children 5€, under-6 free; family 21€	Chateau de Barbe-Bleu, Tiffauges
early Aug	Festival de Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile Season of plays, acted out against the backdrop of the historic castle. Highlights include “Gravity”, a dance spectacular, on 13 Aug; and “La Flûte enchantée (The Magic Flute) on 15 Aug; 9.30pm. 18€, children 8€.	Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, Nourmoutier island (tel : 02 51 35 87 24). Booking opens 3 Aug
During Aug	L’Été des 4 Jeudis Four summer Thursdays of world music, presented in the open-air. 9pm. Admission free.	Angles., near La Tranche-sur-Mer (tel : 02 51 97 56 39)
5 Aug 2010	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
Early Aug	Festival de Theatre de Noirmoutier. Annual drama festival, with plays (in French) being presented in various venues on the island.	Noirmoutier island
13-15 Aug 2010	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 into Noirmoutier town port in the evenings, and a host of musical and other entertainment around the event.	Bois de la Chaise and Noirmoutier town, Noirmoutier

8 Aug 2010	Puces Lignéronnaises August edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm. 1€.	St-Christophe-du-Ligneron, nr Challans.
9 Aug	Puces Islaises Flea market and car-boot sale, with dealers setting up shop around the picturesque village church. 7am-6pm.	Place de la Mairie, Ile-d’Olonne, near Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel : 02 51 95 47 48).
early Aug	30e Animation Artisanale A fun day of old crafts throughout the village, watching the skills of former times, from lacemaking to shoeing horses. 10am-7pm. 4€, children free; parking free.	Aubigny, near La Roche-sur-Yon
early Aug	21e Foire aux Pinceaux: Peintres dans la Rue Artists spend the day painting scenes of the village and submit them at 5pm for judging and prize-giving. Evening meal from 7pm, with enterainment and dancing. From 9am.	L’Aiguillon-sur-Vie, nr Coëx
early 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 from 7.30pm). 15 euros, students 12 euros, children 8 euros.	Château de Pierre-Levée, (near Olonne golf course), Olonne-sur-Mer (tel : 02 51 23 71 54).
11, 12 Aug (dates to be confirmed)	Opera: Sancho Panza Comic opera, with music by 18th-century composer Philidor, performed by the Simphonie du Marais under the direction of Hugo Reyne.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon. (tel : 02 51 43 31 01).
14 Aug 2010	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 Aug	Feu d’Artifice Grand firework display in the castle courtyard.	Apremont, near Challans
14 Aug	Festival Pyrotechnique International International firework competition, set off over the Plage de l’Océan beach. 10.30pm. Admission free.	St-Brévin-les-Pins, near Pornic
15 Aug	FETE DE L’ASSOMPTION (Feast of the Assumption), public holiday
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	Fête du Pain The village bread-oven will be fired up for baking. There will also be a craft market, and exhibition of old agricultural machinery. From 2pm. Admission free.	St-Père-en-Retz, (Loire-Atlantique), near Pornic, at the Conservatoire des Vieux Métiers.
15, 16 Aug	Fête des Pêcheurs The annual chance for the public to see the centre of the mysterious Lac de Grand Lieu. Fishermen sell their fish (at 9am), demonstrate fishing with seene nets (9-11am) and run boat trips into the watery interior. 15 Aug, evening market from 6pm; firework show later.	Passay, near La Chevroliere
19 Aug 2010	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
late Aug	Festival Danses et Musiques du Monde Annual festival of world music, with colourful teams performing traditional music and dance on the open-air stage. Line-up this year includes Benin, Ireland, China, Venezuela and Khazakstan. 9.30pm. 14€, children 7€.	Cugand, near Clisson (tel: 02 51 36 93 60). Booking opens 21 July.
late Aug	Fête de l’Agriculture Major annual event, always held at a different location, in which the Vendée’s farmers show off their activities. This edition focuses on renewable energy, plus a combine-harvester race, a ploughing competition, as well as a mini-farm for children. Sat sand Sun are the main public days. Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-7pm.	tba
29 Aug 2010	Vide-greniers Car-boot sale	Paimboeuf, 44
late Aug	“Fàete de la sou”/Fête du Sel Games, concerts and food market around the theme of sea-salt – still produced in the area. Visits of a working salt marsh, traditional games, food, dance and music. From 10am, admission free.	Centre socioculturel du Talmondais, 292 Rue du Chai, La Guittière, near Talmont-St-Hilaire.

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated calendar of events on its site www.vendee.fr, under “Agenda”.

A free quarterly publication called Musique-Danse lists many concerts of all kinds in the Vendee. You can find it in Mairies and tourist offices.

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