The Vendee: What's on in December

ANGELA BIRD'S

    The
   Vendée

December 2009
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 6 Dec	“2 ou 3 choses que je sais du sel” Exhibition about what it takes to become a salt-maker, or “saunier”. Fifteen of the salt-makers from the Bay ofBourgneuf, nearby, were filmed over three years, and the exhibition includes a lot of interviews with them and scenes of their activity.	Ecomusee du Daviaud, La Barre de Monts, nr St Jean de Monts
During Dec	Noël au Haras Equestrian events and displays with a Christmas atmosphere in the handsome stud farm that lies in the centre of La Roche. A show on the theme of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” will be given (admission charge). Admission free, except to show.	Le Haras, Bd des Etats-Unis, La Roche-sur-Yon (tel : 02 51 37 48 48).
early Dec	Marché de Noël Beaulieu’s Christmas market is the most famous in the Vendee, full of craftspeople and Christmas cheer beneath the trees of the picturesque square. (Sunday afternoon is the most crowded time, so best to avoid that). Fri 4-9.30pm; Sat 10am-9.30pm; Sun 10am-7pm. Admission free	Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, near Aizenay
4 Dec-spring 2009	Pompiers vendéens : soldats du feu Exhibition about the men of the Vendée fire brigade – a highly esteemed profession who act as paramedics as well as fight fires.	Historial de la Vendee, Les Lucs sur Boulogne.
Dec- Feb	Creches animées Wonderful displays of animated nativity scenes in model-village settings and landscapes of all kinds. Daily 2-6.30pm. 5€, children 3€, under 10 free.	Maison de l’Art, Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche
early Dec	Foire de Noël. Christmas fair in the atmospheric stting of the ruined abbey of Maillezais. Sat 2-7pm ; Sun 10am-7pm. Admission free.	Abbaye St Pierre, Maillezais, near Fontenay-le-Comte (tel : 02 51 87 22 80).
early Dec	Marché de Noël Traditional wooden chalets inside the castle grounds, selling Christmas gifts and goodies. Regular 10-minute concerts on bells. 2-7pm. Admission free.	Tiffauges (tel: 02 51 65 77 65)
throughout Dec	Symphonie de Bethléem A beautiful 75-minute Christmas show in the indoor arena offers a colourful re-creation of Bethlehem on the eve of Christmas. A sort of “Nine Lessons & Carols” with some Puy du Fou exoticism! Days and times vary. Admission 17 euros, children 10 euros, under-5s free.	Puy-du-Fou, Les Epesses, ne Les Herbiers (tel: 02 51 64 11 11)

Early Dec	Telethon Local clubs do odd jobs to raise money for charity.	Throughout the Vendée
early Dec	Noël à La Chabotterie Christmas food and craft market in and around the historic country mansion. This year with a Provençal theme. Sat 2-7pm; Sun 10am-7pm. Admission free.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon (tel: 02 5142 81 00)
early Dec	Foire aux Voleurs	Les Sables-d’Olonne
25 Dec	CHRISTMAS DAY (public holiday)

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.

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

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