What's on in the Vendee: August events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

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.

	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 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€. Discussions with the artistes before each concert, 6.15pm. Pre-concert meals at the Michelin-starred Thierry Drapeau restaurant at La Chabotterie, 7pm; or take a picnic to enjoy in the grounds..	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon. (tel : 02 51 43 31 01).
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
Until 26 Aug	Les Nocturnes du Château Medieval entertainment around the ruins of St Mesmin castle.	Chateau de St Mesmin, La Ville, near Pouzauges
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.
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 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. The website is not very easy to navigate, so ideally you need to get the festival brochure to help you find them all. (I came across one hundreds of miles away in La Rochelle, so keep your eyes open in tourist offices and tourist attractions). They offer a boat trip from Nantes to St Nazaire, but personally I think it’s more fun to do it by car to your own time schedule.	Nantes, Rezé. St-Nazaire, Paimboeuf, Le Pellerin, and other places.
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
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
Until12 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 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.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel: 02 51 64 11 11).
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
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

early Aug	Lancel Classic Races for classic yachts, with about 50 taking part.	Noirmoutier
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)
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
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	Fête du Melon Annual melon festival in the south Vendée, with car-boot sale.	Chaillé-les-Marais, near La Tranche-sur-Mer
2 Aug	Brocante fair Open-air antiques fair in the streets of this picturesque village.	Sallertaine, near Challans
2 Aug	Puces Olonnaises 150 stands for this large brocante fair.	Olonne-sur-Mer
2 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, town centre; Chaillé-les-Marais, Sports complex; Mareuil-sur-Lay; St-Julien-des-Landes; Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Place de l’Eglise Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits; Sion-sur-l’Ocean, Pl Gaston Pateau
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
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€.	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)
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
7 Aug	Les Musiciens du Paradis Concert in an ancient church.	Foussais-Payré near Fontenay
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
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).
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)
9 Aug	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).
9 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Angles, Clos de la Chenillé; Longeville sur Mer, Stade du Prieuré; La Tranche-sur-Mer; Parking de la Grière
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
11 Aug	Diva Opera This British chamber-opera company performs Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, directed by Bryan Evans.	Vouvant, near Fontenay.
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).
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).
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
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
14 Aug	Vide-grenier Large brocante and car-boot sale. Until 7pm.	Avrillé, near Luçon
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 Aug	Feu d’Artifice Grand firework display in the castle courtyard.	Apremont, near Challans
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
15 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Angles, Clos de la Chenillé; Longeville sur Mer, town centre; St-Hilaire-de-Riez; Place Vivi Burgaud; Jard-sur-Mer, Place des Ormeaux; Luçon, Ave Wilson; St-Jean-de-Monts, Place de l’Eglise
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). Booking opens 21 July.
22 Aug	Foire à la Brocante Large brocante fair in the town centre.	Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile
23 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Le Perrier, Nr St-Jean-de-Monts;
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, St Prouant, nr Chantonnay (tel : 02 51 47 66 18).
29 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: L’Herbaudière, Noirmoutier island, car park behind Cooperative Maritime
30 Aug	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Les Sables-d’Olonne, Place Audubon;

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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