ANGELA
BIRD'S
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August
2009
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.
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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 in its 176
pages of hundreds of interesting and off-beat tourist sites throughout the
region. |
The listings on this However it is always |
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Until 12 Aug |
Musiques à La Chabotterie Annual
festival of baroque music in the courtyard and garden of the Logis de la
Chabotterie. Festival director Hugo Reyne, whose “Simphonie du Marais
ensemble plays Rameau on 24 July and Lully on 11 & 12 Aug Start times
vary, but mostly 9pm. 18€, children 8€. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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Until 28 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. Mon-Fri,
at 10pm. 7€, children 3€; under-7s free. |
Talmont-St-Hilaire |
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Until 26 Aug |
Les Nocturnes du Château Medieval
entertainment around the ruins of St Mesmin castle. |
Chateau de St Mesmin, La Ville, near Pouzauges |
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Until 18 Oct |
Benjamin Rabier, illustrateur
Vendéen Exhibition devoted to an artist born in La Roche-sur-Yon
who enjoyed great success in the 1930s with his comic-strip characters such
as Gédéon, the duck. Rabier was also the creator of the ultra-famous
“Vache-qui-rit” (“Laughing Cow”) cheese logo. Tues-Sun 10-7 (July &
Aug, daily 10-7). Admission to museum 8 euros, children free. |
Historial de la Vendée, Les Lucs sur Boulogne. |
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Until |
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). |
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Until mid Aug |
Les Ricochets Festival
of street theatre. Wed & Fri evenings. Admission free. |
Town centre, Fontenay-le-Comte. |
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Until 23 Aug |
Estuaire
2009 A biennial
festival of events and installations along a 50km stretch of the Loire estuary,
on both sides of the river, between Nantes and St-Nazaire. The are events and
exhibitions in the two cities, and a string of wacky installations to be
discovered in obscure corners of the countryside between the two. |
Nantes, Rezé. St-Nazaire,
Paimboeuf, Le Pellerin, and other places. |
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Until 31 Aug |
“Les Compagnons Batisseurs” Daytime
entertainment for visitors to the ruined abbey, showing how medieval builders
constructed such a vast edifice. Sun-Thurs, twice-daily. |
Abbaye St-Pierre, Maillezais, near Fontenay-le-Comte |
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Until 31 Aug |
“La Nuit des Batisseurs” Night-time
entertainment based on the building of the abbey. Tues, 10pm.. |
Abbaye St-Pierre, Maillezais, near Fontenay-le-Comte |
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Until12 Sept |
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). |
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Until 26 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. 1-30 June Tues & Thurs-Sun
10am-7pm 26€-29€, children 16 €.
Under-5s free.
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Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers |
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1 Aug |
Nocturnes Médiévales Medieval-style
crafts, food and entertainment around the picturesque castle keep in the
centre of the village. 7pm-midnight. |
Bazoges-en-Pareds, nr Chantonnay |
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1, 2 Aug |
Fête du Melon Lots
of luscious melons to sample and buy at this annual weekend in the heart of
the Vendee’s melon country. Also car-boot fair, music, human “baby-foot”
game. |
Chaillé-les-Marais |
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early Aug |
Lancel Classic Races
for classic yachts, with about 50 taking part. |
Noirmoutier |
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early Aug |
Théâtroscope 200
costumed locals act out the history of their town around the ancient castle
of Ste Hermine – particularly the time of Louis XV, and later of the Second
Empire. 9.30pm. 12 euros (10 euros in advance). |
Château, Sainte-Hermine
(tel: 02 51 27 37 37) |
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early 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 |
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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) |
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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 |
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early Aug |
Fête du Melon Annual melon festival in the south Vendée, with
car-boot sale. |
Chaillé-les-Marais, near La Tranche-sur-Mer |
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2 Aug |
Brocante fair Open-air
antiques fair in the streets of this picturesque village.
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Sallertaine, near Challans |
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2 Aug |
Puces Olonnaises 150
stands for this large brocante fair. |
Olonne-sur-Mer |
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2 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, town
centre; |
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4 Aug |
Cinésite: Open-air screening of a feature film, Le
Roi Danse (2000), about the life of the young future “Sun King” Louis
XIV, and his relationships with dramatist Molière and composer Lully. 10pm. |
Historial de
la Vendée, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne |
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6-17 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€.
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Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, Nourmoutier island
(tel : 02 51 35 87 24). Booking opens 3 Aug |
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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) |
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6 Aug |
Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful
old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional
activities and a good deal of family fun. |
Challans |
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7 Aug |
Les Musiciens du Paradis Concert in
an ancient church. |
Foussais-Payré near Fontenay |
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7-9 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 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 |
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6, 7 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). |
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7 Aug |
Les Soirées d’Apremont Concert
by Scottish pop singer Amy Macdonald. 9.30pm;
14 euros. |
Chateau d’Apremont, Apremont (tel : 02 51 36 93 60) |
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9 Aug |
Puces Lignéronnaises August
edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm.
1€. |
St-Christophe-du-Ligneron, nr
Challans. |
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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). |
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9 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: Angles, Clos de
la Chenillé; |
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10, 12, 14, 16 Aug |
Maillezais, Lumiere du Marais Music
and firework spectacular retracing the 1,000 years of the history of the
abbey. 10.30pm. 14euros. |
Maillezais |
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11 Aug |
Diva Opera This
British chamber-opera company performs Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte,
directed by Bryan Evans. |
Vouvant, near Fontenay. |
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11 Aug |
Concert: Clarinette et cordes Music
for clarinet and strongs by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Brahms. 9pm. |
Prieuré de Grammont, St-Prouant, near Chantonnay
(tel: 02 51 64 00 90). |
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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). |
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12, 13 Aug |
La Fête du Miel en Folie Events centred around
the production of honey, wuth beekepers on hand to demonstrate their skills. 10.30am-7pm. |
La Folie de Finfarine, Poiroux, near Avrillé |
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13 Aug |
Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful
old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional
activities and a good deal of family fun. |
Challans |
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14 Aug |
Vide-grenier Large
brocante and car-boot sale. Until 7pm. |
Avrillé, near Luçon |
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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 |
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14 Aug |
Feu d’Artifice Grand
firework display in the castle courtyard. |
Apremont, near Challans |
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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 |
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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 |
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15 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: Angles, Clos de
la Chenillé; |
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20-23 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). |
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22 Aug |
Foire à la Brocante Large
brocante fair in the town centre. |
Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile |
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23 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: Le
Perrier, Nr St-Jean-de-Monts; |
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24 & 31 July |
Les Veillées du Prieuré The Jachet de Mantoue ensemble give promenade concerts of
Gregorian chant among the buildings of this small rural abbey – which are
candlelit for the occasion. 9.30pm. 5€,
children free. |
Prieuré de Grammont, |
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29 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: L’Herbaudière,
Noirmoutier island, car park behind Cooperative Maritime |
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30 Aug |
Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many
venues including: Les
Sables-d’Olonne, Place Audubon; |
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