ANGELA BIRD'S
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The |
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December
2009
WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE
(entries in red
indicate new additions)
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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 |
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. |
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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 of
Bourgneuf, 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 |
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Until 24 Dec |
Marché de Noël de Cholet Christmas
“village” market at weekends in the centre of this town, just to the
north-east of the Vendée. 160 people
take part in a 45-minute Nativity tableau. The town’s illuminations draw the
crowds. Fri 6.30; Sat, Sun 5.30pm and
6.30pm. |
Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) ; information from Cholet
tourist office (02 41 49 80 00). |
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Until |
Cinq siècles de chasse en Vendée Large
exhibition on the history and variety of hunting practised in the area over
the centuries. It looks at deer-hunting on horseback, with dogs; at shooting
(particularly wildfowling); and has a very interesting short film on
falconry, with a member of the Puy du Fou falconry team demonstrating the
techniques of hunting rabbits etc with the birds. (All in French, of course.) |
Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon, near Rocheservière
(tel : 02 51 42 81 00) |
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Early Dec |
Telethon Local clubs do odd jobs to raise money for
charity. |
Throughout the Vendée |
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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, |
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4-6 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. 125 stalls.
(Sunday afternoon is the most crowded time, so best to avoid that). Fri
4-9pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-7pm. Admission free |
Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, near Aizenay |
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early Dec |
Foire aux
Voleurs |
Les Sables-d’Olonne |
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7 Dec- |
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. |
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Dec- |
Crèches animées:
La Féérie des Santons 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 |
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5, 6 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas
market. 10am-7pm. |
Place
Leclerc, Luçon |
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5, 6 Dec |
Noël à l’Orientale. Middle-eastern tents shelter the
craft stalls of the annual Christmas fair, held among the atmospheric
ruins of Maillezais Abbey – beautifully illuminated for the occasion. A
second craft “village” sets out traditonal Christmas trees amid snow. Sat 2-8.30pmpm ; Sun 11am-8.30pm.
Admission free. |
Abbaye St Pierre, Maillezais, near Fontenay-le-Comte (tel :
02 51 87 22 80). |
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5-22 Dec |
Le Mystère de Noël
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 18 euros,
children under 12, 10.50 euros, under-5s free. |
Puy-du-Fou,
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5, 6 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Traditional wooden chalets inside the grounds of the medieval castle,
selling Christmas gifts and goodies. Regular 10-minute concerts on bells,
puppet shows, barrel organ, pony-rides and ice-sculpture. Sat 2-8.30pm; Sun 2-8.30pm. Admission free. |
Tiffauges (tel: 02 51 65 77 65) |
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6 Dec |
Nouvel an du
Muscadet Annual event at which Muscadet producers bring their latest vintage to
show off and offer tastings under the medieval market hall of Clisson. |
Clisson (Loire-Atlantique) |
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11 Dec |
Organ Concert Andy Emler plays modern compositions on the church’s
newly-restored organ. 9pm. |
Eglise de La Chaume, |
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12, 13 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Traditional wooden chalets inside the grounds of the medieval castle,
selling Christmas gifts and goodies. Regular 10-minute concerts on bells,
puppet shows, barrel organ, pony-rides and ice-sculpture. Sat 2-8.30pm; Sun 2-8.30pm. Admission free. |
Tiffauges (tel: 02 51 65 77 65) |
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12, 13 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market, in the village hall behind the Mairie. |
Sallertaine, near Challans |
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12, 13 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market, with a “living Christmas crib” out of doors. |
La Barre-de-Monts/Fromentine,
near Challans |
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12, 13 Dec |
Noël à La Chabotterie
Christmas food and craft market in and around the historic country
mansion. This year under a Provençal theme, with olive trees and cypresses to
set the mood. 40 stalls; Provençal story-telling; donkey-rides; ice-sculpture
Sat 2-8pm; Sun
10am-7pm. Admission free. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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13 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market, in ancient castle. 10am-6pm |
Chateau de la Grève, St
Martin des Noyers, nr Chantonnay. |
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13 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market, in the lovely old market hall. 10am-7pm. |
Sainte-Hermine |
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13 Dec |
Concert by Alternance and
HappyDaze, organised by La Ligue Contre le
Cancer in aid of sufferers from this disease. 4pm. 5 euros, children free.
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Église Notre Dame, Challans |
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18 Dec |
Bizet était une femme
A whacky classical recital by Cathy Heiting & Jonathan
Soucasse, in the form of a grand and slightly hysterical diva presenting a
programme of operatic arias. 8.30pm.
Admission free; tickets from Notre-Dame-de-Monts tourist office. |
Cinéma les Yoles, |
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18-21 Dec |
Noël d’Autrefois A Christmas
market themed on days gone by; “living crib” on 20 Dec. |
Challans |
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18-22 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market in the large main square. Place Napoléon, and the modern square in fromt of the market hall. |
La Roche-sur-Yon |
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19, 20 Dec |
Noël à La Chabotterie
Christmas food and craft market in and around the historic country
mansion. This year under a Provençal theme, with olive trees and cypresses to
set the mood. 40 stalls; Provençal story-telling; donkey-rides; ice-sculpture
Sat 2-8pm; Sun
10am-7pm. Admission free. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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19, 20 Dec |
Noël à la Chabotterie:
Simphonie du Marais Hugo Reyne’s famous
baroque ensemble give short concerts of Christmas music by Delalande. 8 euros,
children 6 euros. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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19, 20 Dec |
Marché de Noël Christmas
market, in the old market square. 10am-6pm. |
Montaigu |
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19-21 Dec |
“Noël du
Monde” Christmas market with an international theme, in the middle of historic
Fontenay. Place de la Bascule. |
Fontenay-le-Comte |
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19-24 Dec |
Marché de Noël Christmas
market along the quayside of the river Vie. Quai des Greniers |
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie |
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20 Dec |
Marché de
Noël Christmas market, in charming old village. Place Robert Lepinay. 10am-6pm. |
Sigournais, near Chantonnay |
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25 Dec |
CHRISTMAS DAY (public holiday) |
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