What's on in the Vendee: July events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

June 2013

WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE

(entries in red indicate new additions)

For Vendée vide-greniers, I have made a selection from
this excellent specialised website.

	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 22 Sept 2013	Small Couture 6 - Le style Catimini : 1972-2012 Exhibition devoted to one of Cholet’s most successful modern textile companies, Catimini, which specialises in cool clothes for children. It’s also a look at childhood and how it has changed since the 1970s.	Musée du Textile, Rue du Dr Roux, Cholet
8 June-14 Sept 2013	Cinéscénie Spectacular night-time son-et-lumiere show, re-telling the history of the Vendee. Tickets are usually sold out well before the summer, but if you haven’t been able to get any, it’s worth turning up on the night in case people are selling off their spare ones alongside the box office. Usually Fri & Sat nights, from around 10.30pm. 25€, children 17€. For more information, and to book, click on banner below	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, near Les Herbiers (tel: 02 51 64 11 11).

Until 29 Sept 2013	Le Grand Parc The season continues for the hugely enjoyable “historical theme park”, recently voted the world’s best theme park! High points include the storming of the “donjon médiéval”, the “Vikings”, and a fabulous falconry show. New this year is the show featuring the Knights of the Round Table. Among other dazzling entertainments are chariot-racing, and faithful recreations of medieval, 18th- and 19th-century villages. June, daily 10-7 (closed 5 & 12 June). One-day pass: 31€, children 22 € (if booked in advance, 28€ & 19€); 2-day pass 46€, children 32€ (advance 41€ & 28€); 3-day pass 53€, children 38€ (advance 46€ & 33€). Under-5s free. On-site hotels available. For more information, and to book, click on banner above	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
1 June 2012	Les Folies du Chateau Evening of medieval-style events and eating around the castle and waterfront.	Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, Noirmoutier island
1, 2 June 2013	Printemps du Cheval A weekend of walks and other events around the horse.	Rocheservière area
8, 9 June 2013	Raid du Kite-surf Annual excursion from La Tranche to the Ile de Ré and back.	La Tranche sur Mer

15-23 June 2013	Festival Simenon All sorts of entertainment in connection with the creator of Inspector Maigret, including film-screenings, an exhibition of police cartoons and a parade of old cars. (Georges Simenon lived for a time in Les Sables; he created Inspector Maigret in 1932).	Various venues, Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel : 02 51 95 94 12)
16 June 2013	Fete des Lumas Annual snail-fest, with brocante fair, too. From 7.30am.	St Flaive-des-Loups, nr La Mothe-Achard.
21 June 2013	Fête de la Musique The annual day when music-making is everywhere, in streets, concert halls etc. The festival tends to run on for a few days, so expect many musical events during the week.	Throughout France
Around 23 June 2012	Feux de la St-Jean Bonfire and fireworks to celebrate the feast day of St John the Baptist.	Le Petit Moulin (windmill), Chateauneuf, near Challans
27-30 June 2013	Salsa Swim Festival An auditorium for dance shows, on the beach; food halls along the seafront; and a chance for anyone to have a crack at salsa dancing.	28 June -1 July 2012
27-30 June 2013	Concours Complet International de Menjopolis Major international combined-training event, with dressage tests on the first two days, cross-country riding on the third, and the final showjumping section on the last day.	Domaine de Menjolpolis, near Bazoges en Pareds
29, 30 June 2013	Raid Mélusine Annual sporting event, where teams of three competitors undertake seven different sections: mountain-bike; bike and run; canoe; archery; orienteering; abseiling; and shooting.	Vouvant and Forest of Mervent, near Fontenay-le-Comte
30 June 2013	Puces Islaises Flea market, with more than 160 dealers setting up shop around the picturesque village church. 7am-6pm	Ile-d’Olonne, near Les Sables d’Olonne
Late June late 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
29, 30 June 2013	Les Marinades A weekend of water-sporting activities, when the resort’s various sailing, surfing, canoeing and other clubs make themselves known to the public. Look out for the picturesque Olonnois sailing boats that should be on view out at sea.	Les Sables-d’Olonne
30 June 2013	Les Foulées du Gois The annual running race across the causeway linking Noirmoutier island to the mainland. Many international athletes are among 1,500 runners to take part. The cream of them compete in in the “Course des As”, leaving the island when the water is already over the road and finishing with it around their knees.	Beauvoir-sur-Mer, near Challans
30 June-13 Oct 2013	De Chaissac à Fabrice Hyber, parcours d'un amateur vendéen Exhibition of works from the 1930s to the present of iconic images from folk art to photography, paintings to modern media. It features works by Jules Lefranc, Gaston Chaissac, Robert Combas, Hervé di Rosa, Télémaque, Erro; Arroyo, Alain Bublex, Jacques Villéglé and Fabrice Hyber. Open Tues-Sun 10-7. 8 euros, children free; 18-25 y-o 5 euros.	Historial ade la Vendée, Les Lucs-sur-Bouogne

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated calendar of events on its site www.vendee.fr, under “Agenda”.

For brocante fairs and vide-greniers, check out this specialised website.
If you wish to see those in another département, simply change the Vendee code (85) at the end of the link to that of your chosen département: i.e. 44 for Loire-Atlantique; 49 for Maine-et-Loire etc.

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