What's on in the Vendee: July events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

July 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 28 July	Les Soldes / Sales! This is the official period for which French shops are authorised to hold sales. Make the most of it!	Throughout France
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.
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 July-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
1 July-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
8-30 July	Festival de Poupet Big names come to the annual open-air music festival in a picturesque site alongside the river Sèvre Nantaise. This year’s performers include Lenny Kravitz, Hugues Aufray, and Abba Mania. Admission prices vary	Poupet, near Mortagne-sur-Sèvre. Booking Mortagne tourist office (tel: 02 51 65 11 32).
5 July	Vide-grenier (car-boot sale) in centre of this picturesque village.	Vouvant
6 July-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
8 July-26 Aug	Les Nocturnes du Château Medieval entertainment around the ruins of St Mesmin castle.	Chateau de St Mesmin, La Ville, near Pouzauges
9 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues: St-Jean-de-Monts, Place de l’Eglise; Jard-sur-Mer, 8am-6pm, 140 stands, Place des Ormeaux;
9 July	Gipsy Trio A concert of jazz music	Nieul-sur-l’Autise, near Fontenay
10 July-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.
11-14 July	Festival à tout vent Major kite festival, with night kite-flying and fireworks on the last evening.	Notre-Dame-de-Monts, nr St-Jean-de-Monts
12 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Brétignolles-sur-Mer, with 60 stands, 9am-7pm; Angles, from 8am-6pm; Notre-Dame-de-Riez
12 July	Bourse aux Collectionneurs Collectors’ fair, with 100 exhibitors.	Salle de la Conserverie, St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
13 July	Torchlight processions and dancing in celebration of Fête Nationale	Various venues, including Olonne-sur-Mer
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.
14 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: St-Vincent-sur-Jard, 9am-7pm, Route de Longeville; Nieul-sur-l’Autise, Centre duVignaud
14 July	Brocante de La Tranche Large annual brocante and car-boot sale, with 150+ stalls and thousands of visitors.	Parking de la Grière. La Tranche-sur-Mer
14 July	5e Grand Brocante Large brocante fair.	Stade du Bossad, Chasnais
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
15-19 July	Nocturnes Océanes Season of concerts of Romantic music in the open air. 15, 16 July, Rigoletto, 9.30pm, 18 euros; 17 July, Grand concert in the Jardin Dumaine, 5pm, free; 18 July, 8.30pm, Banquet a l’Italienne Wander round the Jardin Dumaine, sampling Italian dishes on the way. Admission free, charge for food. 19 July, La Tosca, 9.30pm. 18 euros	Luçon (tel: 02 51 36 93 60)
16 July	Autrefois . . . Challans Wonderful old-time fair days throughout this pleasant market town, with traditional activities and a good deal of family fun.	Challans
16 July	New Orleans Jazz Quartet Concert of Jazz music	St Hilaire des Loges, near Fontenay
18 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Barbâtre, Noirmoutier island, with 50 professional stands;
18 July	Salon Multicollections Large collectors’ fair, with 40 exhibitors.	Salle Audubon, Bd Arago, Les Sables-d’Olonne
18, 19 July	21eme Festival de Peinture Artists are invited to set up their easels for the weekend, and produce a work of art that will be judged on Sunday. (All entries go on show on Sun from 3pm in the gardens of the Mairie.)	Magné, near Maillezais
18, 19 July	Salon du Livre Vendéen A book fair specialising in publications on the Vendee, its history and its traditions, in the atmospheric setting of a recreated hideout of the 18th-century Vendée wars. Entertainment around the same theme.	Refuge de Grasla, Les Brouzils, nr St Denis la Chevasse
19 July	Puces Lignéronnaises July edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm. 1€.	St Christophe du Ligneron, near Challans
19 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Châteauneuf, near Challans,8am-6pm; Angles, from 8am-6pm; L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, Place du Port, 8am-7pm Damvix Les Sables d’Olonne, Ile Pénotte district; Soullans, Place de Gaulle
late July	Journée Luçonnaise du Cheval, du Chien et du Chat An action-packed day, with events for riding and driving horses; dog show and obedience displays; and sales of horses, dogs and cats as well as of rare breeds of poultry.	Hippodrome (race track),Base des guiffettes, near Luçon.
20 & 27 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. 10.30pm. 5€, children free.	Prieuré de Grammont, St Prouant, nr Chantonnay (tel : 02 51 47 66 18).

20-29 July	Festival de Terre-Neuve French plays performed in the open air in front of the lovely Chateau de Terre-Neuve. Le Point sur Robert, one-man show with Fabrice Luchini, 20& 21 July, 9.30pm La Jument du Roi, play by Jean Canolle, 23 July, 9.30pm. Carte Blanche à Jean-Laurent Cochet, Celebrated French actor J-L Cochet reminisces about his days at the Comédie Française, 26 Juy (27 July if wet), 9.30pm. Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon, Vaudevillian play with Michel Galabru heading the cast, 28 July, 9.30pm. Jules et Marcel, Philippe Caubère and Michel Galabru play Marcel Pagnol and Jules Raimu, 29 July, 9.30pm. All 14€, children 7€.	Château de Terre-Neuve, Fontenay-le-Comte (tel : 02 51 36 93 60)
21 July- 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).
22 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: La Faute-sur-Mer, Avenue de la Plage, 8am-8pm.
22-23 July	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
22-25 July	Les Mysteres de Gilles de Rais Lively medieval-style entertainment and son-et-lumiere type show 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)
23 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: St-Jean-de-Monts, Place de l’Eglise, professionals, from 8am; Angles, from 8am-6pm; Notre-Dame-de-Riez
23 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
24 July	Cinésites: open-air screening on the banks of the Sevre Niortaise river of a feature-length cartoon film called L’Ile de Black Mor, about an orphan boy who sets out to find buried treasure of the pirate Black Mor. 10.30pm.	The Port, Marans (17),near Luçon
25 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Ste-Radegonde-des-Noyers, Champ de Foire; St-Hilaire-de-Riez, Place Vivi Burgaud
25 July	Broc à Brem Annual brocante fair, Place de la Poste	Brem-sur-Mer
25 July	Foire à la Brocante Large brocante fair in town centre. Place de la Republique	Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile
26 July	Fête de la Bouse Annual cow-pat festival in the marshland village of Triaize, with cow-pat throwing, cooking over cow-pat fires and other delights. Also a brocante fair.	Triaize, near La Tranche-sur-Mer
26 July	Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues including: Le Château-d’Olonne, Aire des Vallées; Longeville-sur-Mer; La Jonchere, village centre; Port Bourgenay, near Talmont, boat jumble and car-boot sale.
25 July	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
26 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
30 July	Visite Nocturne Costumed guides lead visitors around the ruins of Les Essarts once-grand chateau.	Les Essarts, near La Roche-sur-Yon

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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