What's on in the Vendee: July events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

July 2008

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 13 July	La Légende Richelieu Exhibition on the life of the powerful Cardinal, who was once bishop of the Vendée town of Luçon. Divided into five themes: man of war, man of the Church, man of State, the private figure, and the popularisation of Richelieu’s image. It will be illustrated by romantic engravings, 19th-century paintings, films, comic books and cartoon films	Historial, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne
Until late 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. Every night in July and August.	Talmont-St-Hilaire
Until...	Joël Robuchon, photographe Exhibition of images by the 19th-century photographer who depicted town and village life throughout the Vendee and neighbouring regions.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon.
Until early Sept	Sur les Pas d’Amandine New season of performances in the woodland hideout used by the Vendeans during the 18th-century Wars of the Vendee. Sun, 3.30pm & 5,30pm; Thurs 8.30pm. 7€, children 3.50€; family (2+2 or more) 18€.	Refuge de Grasla, St Denis-la-Chevasse
Until mid 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. daily 10am-7pm. 25€, children 14.50 €. Under-5s free.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel: 02 51 64 11 11).
Until early Sept	Cinéscénie Spectacular son-et-lumiere show, retelling the history of the Vendee. Most Fri & Sats 23€, children 15€. July 10.30pm.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
1 -10 July	Jardins de Chaligny A chance to visit this private garden surrounding a traditional Vendée logis. Formal layout, with lawns and square flower-filled beds, plus fruit trees, rose garden and vegetable plot. 2-6pm.	Logis de Chaligny, Sainte-Pexine
early July	Puces Islaises Flea market, with more than 100 dealers setting up shop around the picturesque village church.	Place de la Mairie, Ile-d’Olonne, near Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel: 02 51 95 47 48).
July- mid Sept	Equestrian displays Demonstrations are given at the town-centre National Stud establishment.	Haras National, Bd des Etats Unis, La Roche-sur-Yon
Most of July	Festival de Poupet Big names come to the annual open-air music festival in a picturesque site alongside the river Sèvre Nantaise. Admission prices vary	Poupet, near Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. Booking Mortagne tourist office (tel: 02 51 65 11 32).
4-6 July	Festival du Vent Kite-flying and kite-making; fireworks 8 July, 6.30pm. Events 10am-8pm; admission free.	Notre-Dame-de-Monts
early July	Fete des Fous Medieval-style festival, inspired by tales of the evil Gilles de Rais. Sat, 8.45pm, medieval music concert by Aux Couleurs du Moyen-Age, followed by procession to chateau ruins for a dance. Sun, carnival parade 11.30am; medieval entertainment, including bears, wolves, jousting and falconry, from 2pm.	Machecoul (Loire Atlantique), near Challans.
early July- late Aug	Villages animées Wonderful displays of animated model villages and landscapes 4€, children under 12 free.	Maison de l’Art, Beaulieu-sour-la-Roche
12 July	Retraite aux flambeaux Torchlit procession and music	La Barre-de-Monts, near St-Jean-de-Monts
mid July	Summer sales Start of the sales in shops throughout the region.
13 July	Torchlight processions and dancing in celebration of Fête Nationale	Various venues, including Olonne-sur-Mer
13 July	Hugo Reyne and the Symphonie du Marais A concert of secular music from the time of Richelieu (17th century) opens the Chabotterie’s annual festival of baroque music.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon.
13 July- early Aug	Festival de musique baroque Annual festival of baroque music in the courtyard and garden ofthe Logis de la Chabotterie.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon.
14 July	FETE NATIONALE (Bastille Day, public holiday)
14 July	Fete des Vieux Métiers Colourful traditions and old crafts. Sat, meal, fireworks and dancing; Sun old crafts etc demonstrated in village centre 10-7; grand parade at 5pm.	Ile d’Olonne, nr Les Sables.
mid July	Puces Lignéronnaises July edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm. 1€.	St Christophe du Ligneron, near Challans
15-19 July	La Journée des dupes, ou Le Triomphe de Richelieu Four centuries after the young Richelieu was appointed bishop of Luçon, the Conseil General has commissioned a play (in French) from Jacques Rampal to give an impression of the character of this extraordinary man of Church and State.	The cloisters, Cathedral, Luçon
mid July-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.).	Fontenay-le-Comte
late July	Nocturnes Océanes Season of concerts of Romantic music in cathedral and Theatre Millandy. Includes a free open-air concert of operatic highlights in the Jardins Dumaine.	Luçon (tel: 02 51 36 93 60)
mid July	Les Mysteres de Gilles de Rais Son-et-lumière performed by costumed locals around the jagged ruin of a castle that once belonged to the notorious child-killer Gilles de Rais. 9pm (food available from 8pm). 15 euros, children under 12 6 euros.	Machecoul (44), near Challans (tel: 02 40 31 42 87)
17 July	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
18 July	Carnival Street parade, with music	Le Château d’Olonne, near Les Sables-d’Olonne
mid July- mid Aug	Festival Mer et Vie Music of all sorts – classical, rock, blues, gospel etc – performed in village squares and churches in the St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie area. 9pm. Admission free.	20 July St-Maixent-sur-Vie ; 24 July, Commequiers ; 25 July, Bretignolles ; 27 July, Givrand ; 30 July, Le Fenouiller. (tel : 02 51 54 70 70).
19 July	Raid Kite-Surf The daring kite-surfers race across the piece of sea that separates La Tranche and the Ile de Ré.	La Tranche to the Ile de Ré

20 July	Fête du Lin Annual linen festival in a village that used to be known for flax-growing. Events include a fashion parade.	St Paul-Mont-Penit, nr Aizenay
20 July	Fête du Lotus Annual festival around the beautiful lakes of flowering lotuses.	Parc Floral et Tropical, St-Cyr-du-Talmondais
20-27 July	Festival champs et cultures du monde: l’Irlande A festival of Irish culture and farming traditions	Maison de la Vie Rurale, near Pouzauges

late July	Château en Fête Medieval fun and games around the ruins of Apremont’s Renaissance castle, and a period-themed meal in the evening.	Apremont, near St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
21-27 July	Festival de Terre-Neuve Classical plays performed in the open air in front of the lovely Chateau de Terre-Neuve.	Château de Terre-Neuve, Fontenay-le-Comte (tel : 02 51 36 93 60)
23 July	Musiques à La Chabotterie: Ballet de la prosperité et des armes de France A revival of a ballet commissioned by Richelieu in 1641.	Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice le Verdon
24 July	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun. 9am-7pm. Admission free.	Challans
26 July	Arbadétorne Concert by a popular Vendée/French-Canadian group.	Le Petit Moulin, Châteauneuf, near Challans.
July	Peintres dans la nuit Evening art market in the picturesque setting of the church square. From 9pm.	Vouvant
27 July	Fete de la Caille The annual quail festival by the shore of the lake, with afternoon entertainment and an evening meal based around Maché’s famous little birds.	Rue du Moulin-a-Eau, Maché, near Aizenay
31 July- 1 Aug	Les Soirées d’Apremont Two evenings of jazz, bossa-nova and Latin-American dances in front of the ruined château.	Apremont

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated calendar of events.
To view it, click here
A quarterly publication called Musique-Danse lists many concerts of all kinds in the Vendée. You can find the latest version by following a link from here

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