ANGELA BIRD'S
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July 2008
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 However it is always |
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Until
13 July |
La Légende Richelieu Exhibition on the life of the powerful Cardinal,
who was once bishop of the Vendée town of |
Historial, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne |
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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 |
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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, |
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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, |
Refuge de Grasla, St
Denis-la-Chevasse |
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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 |
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Until early Sept |
Cinéscénie Spectacular
son-et-lumiere show, retelling the history of the Vendee. Most
Fri & Sats 23€, children 15€. July |
Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers |
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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. |
Logis de Chaligny, Sainte-Pexine |
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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). |
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July- |
Equestrian displays Demonstrations
are given at the town-centre National Stud establishment. |
Haras National, Bd des Etats Unis, La Roche-sur-Yon |
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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. |
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4-6 July |
Festival du Vent Kite-flying and kite-making; fireworks 8
July, |
Notre-Dame-de-Monts |
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early July |
Fete des Fous Medieval-style
festival, inspired by tales of the evil Gilles de Rais. Sat, |
Machecoul ( |
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early July- |
Villages animées
Wonderful
displays of animated model villages and landscapes 4€,
children under 12 free. |
Maison de l’Art, Beaulieu-sour-la-Roche |
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12 July |
Retraite aux
flambeaux Torchlit procession and music |
La Barre-de-Monts, near St-Jean-de-Monts |
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mid July |
Summer sales Start
of the sales in shops throughout the region. |
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13 July |
Torchlight processions and dancing in celebration of Fête Nationale |
Various venues, including Olonne-sur-Mer |
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13 July |
Hugo Reyne and the Symphonie
du Marais A concert of secular
music from the time of |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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13 July- |
Festival de musique
baroque Annual festival of baroque music in the
courtyard and garden ofthe Logis de la Chabotterie. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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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 |
Ile d’Olonne,
nr Les Sables. |
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mid July |
Puces Lignéronnaises July
edition of the Vendée’s largest open-air flea-market. 9am-7pm.
1€. |
St Christophe du
Ligneron,
near Challans |
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15-19 July |
La Journée des dupes, ou Le
Triomphe de |
The
cloisters, Cathedral, Luçon |
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mid July-mid Aug |
Les Ricochets Festival
of street theatre. Wed & Fri evenings. Admission free. |
Fontenay-le-Comte |
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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 |
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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. |
Machecoul (44), near Challans (tel: 02 40
31 42 87) |
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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 |
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18 July |
Carnival Street parade, with music |
Le Château d’Olonne, near
Les Sables-d’Olonne |
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mid July- |
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). |
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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 |
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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 |
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20 July |
Fête du Lotus Annual
festival around the beautiful lakes of flowering lotuses. |
Parc Floral et Tropical, St-Cyr-du-Talmondais |
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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 |
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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 |
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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) |
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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 |
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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 |
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26 July |
Arbadétorne Concert
by a popular Vendée/French-Canadian group. |
Le Petit Moulin, Châteauneuf, near Challans. |
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July |
Peintres dans la nuit Evening
art market in the picturesque setting of the church square. From |
Vouvant |
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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 |
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31 July- |
Les Soirées d’Apremont Two evenings of jazz, bossa-nova and Latin-American dances in
front of the ruined château. |
Apremont |
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