Welcome to Angela Bird's Vendee pages!

ANGELA BIRD'S VENDÉE PAGES

The author of the guidebook The Vendée tells you just about everything
you want to know about this sunny corner of western France!

VENDEE GUIDEBOOK – Publication postponed till end of 2010

I had intended to bring out a new, fully updated edition of my Vendee guidebook in good time for summer 2010.
However, I am sorry to report that it has taken far longer than I allowed for revisiting,
rewriting and re-editing, and it would be impossible to have copies ready for sale until late July at the earliest.
So, regretfully, I have to break the news to hopeful purchasers that it has
been decided to delay publication until December 2010 or January 2011.

The present, 2004 edition, should still be available.
If you already have a copy of this edition, you could visit the page of updates here, where I have listed
sites that I shall be removing from the new edition, as they have closed down. If you
would like one or two updated highlights for the area you will be visiting this summer, please email me
via the link at the bottom of this page to say where you are going, the ages of your party,
and any special interests, and I shall try to give you a few extra pointers.

WHERE IS
THE VENDEE?

Situation.
The Vendée's top 20 "must-sees".

Getting there:
Sea
Air

Nantes transport
Rail
Road
Routes from Channel ports - including
How to beat Nantes!

"Wish we'd had those instructions on
getting round Nantes last year!"

Triangle and gilet in the car: don’t forget them! (New law, from July 2008)

"Wish we'd had those instructions on
getting round Nantes last year!"

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Accommodation:
hotels
b&bs
self-catering houses
camping/caravanning
plus
Markets
Money
(including the Euro!)
Telephones
Cybercentres
Wines, includes
suggestions for places
to taste & to buy

"so-o-o-o-o much information!"

RESTAURANTS !
Some of our own favourite places to eat.
Updated 10.01.10

Ideas for hundreds of outings, from museums to mazes, castles to junk shops, plus indispensible tips on everything from cooking langoustines to getting an extra ride on a roundabout.

Click here to order
a copy from

_______________

WELCOME

THE VENDEE

THE VENDEE GUIDEBOOK!

If you think these pages are good - wait till you get your hands on a copy of the book (see left):

The Vendée

FOURTH EDITION TO BE PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER 2010,
WITH 100 PHOTOS AND 16 PAGES
OF COLOUR

Don’t just take my word for it; see what readers say, below !

"Our Bible!"
"Absolutely spot on!"
'Everyone on our campsite was clamouring to read it!'

ALREADY READ IT?

Why not write a review for Amazon?

TIPS FOR VENDEE HOME-OWNERS

Paying tax on rental income.
See a film - in English!
Kitchen design tips.
Keeping septic tanks sweet.
DIY shops.
Sharing information
Last updated
18.05.09

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PAPER
Look out for The French Paper, a new monthly publication that aims to bring news, comment and advice to anglophone readers on all aspects of living in France. Available from newsagents throughout France from early June 2009.

HEALTH PROBLEMS
Based on our own experiences, here are some hints from
Anne Bréchet and myself to guide
you through some emergency formalities.
Health and hospitals
Death formalities

CANCER SUPPORT
A Cancer Support Group for English-speakers in the Vendée

A France-wide forum for English-speaking cancer sufferers in France.

ACTIVITIES
Boating
Cycling
Fishing
Golf
Riding
Walking

Special features:
Jim Clement
on cycle routes
Rob Busby
on angling

...and the ultimate
yacht race -
The Vendée Globe
(Feb 2009 – the latest victors have arrived!)

BEACHES
From the Bay of Bourgneuf in the north to L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer in the south.

plus:
Francky Trichet's best "spots" for surfing.

"What did we love best? The unspoilt beaches, of course - and the surf!"

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Northern France:
What to do and see within 90 minutes of Calais

Click here for a website
full of useful information on Northern France,
or click here to order
a copy
from

CALENDAR
What will be going on when you get there?

Last updated 18.06.10

January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009

"Planned our whole holiday by it!"

HISTORY
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Richard the Lionheart
The Hundred Years War
Wars of Religion
The 18th-century Vendée Wars
Recent history

"...clear and concise..."

Recommended books on the Vendée Wars

English church services in the Vendée

The Congregations of
All Saints, Vendée
(May-Dec 2009)

Joie de Vie Christian Fellowship
(regular services in English)

HOLIDAY COTTAGES

A small selection
of delightful holiday properties to
rent in the Vendée...

...ranging from
a pretty country cottage
to a grand chateau

PAGES WITH
A THEME

Crafts, activities and other topics

Courses: learning on holiday

Artists and craftspeople

Church organs of the Vendée

Some churches and chapels
Animal hunt
Winter visits
Wind- and watermills
Weather to go out

NOT ENOUGH
SPACE
IN THE BOOK!

Some extra things that couldn't be fitted
into the new book...
... plus a few updates.

PICTURE
LIBRARY
If you're searching for images of the Vendée to illustrate an article, maybe I'll have what you're looking for...
Please mail your request to the address near the bottom of this page.

LINKS
Last updated
14.05.10

Local towns and villages
Useful Vendée links
Other French sites
Camping/caravanning

VENDÉE FORUM
Check out
In the Vendée
the lively English-language website
and forum devoted to the Vendée.

Vendée-phile Angela
is a freelance journalist, who has worked regularly for
The Illustrated London News, Orient-Express,
Country Living and
Côté Ouest magazines.

A Vendée homeowner
for some 40 years, she is the author of
the definitive guidebook to the Vendée.

Copies are available from

Hello, and thanks for dropping in!

I hope you'll find these pages a good starting-point
if you're planning a trip to the Vendée.
Let me know if there's any other aspect
you'd like to see covered.

Bienvenue.
You are Virtual Vendée Visitor
number

since 20 January 2005
when this counter was installed.

All information is given in good faith, but the author cannot be responsible for any errors or omissions. It is always wise to telephone ahead before making a special journey.

All material on this website © Angela Bird
unless otherwise indicated.
Reproduction forbidden without written permission.

Page created by: Angela Bird
Changes last made on: 18 June 2010

email: webmaster AT angelabird.plus.com

It would help me to pick out your message if you include
the word "Vendee" in the subject line.

In an attempt to foil the spammers,
I have to ask you to do a bit of DIY on the above email address...
Please copy and paste the above address into your normal email form,
and then manually change the letters AT to the usual @ sign.

*********

courriel: webmaster AT angelabird.plus.com

Veuillez copier l'adresse ci-dessus pour la coller dans votre logiciel courriel
et ensuite remplacer les lettres AT par le signe arobase.
Ceci pour tâcher d'éviter la vaste quantité de "spam" que je reçois actuellement...