What's on in the Vendee: June events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

June 2010

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 13 June 2010	Soldats du feu: les Sapeurs-Pompiers de la Vendée (1813-2009) Exhibition on almost a century of the Vendée’s fire service, whose members are revered by all. Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (from 1 Apr until 7pm). Admission 8€ (includes all of museum), children free.				Historial de la Vendée, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne.
5 June 2010	Le Jardin en musique Concert Hugo Reyne, director and flute; Jeffrey Thompson, tenor. 6pm.				Logis de la Chabotterie, St Sulpice le Verdon (tel : 02 51 43 31 01).
5, 6 June 2010	Rendez-vous aux Jardins Annual weekend of garden-visiting, with some private gardens open, and some public ones staging special events. You can search for gardens by département or by region on this government website. A rare treat in the Vendée this year includes the garden of William Christie, at Thiré, near Ste-Hermine.				Throughout France
5, 6 June 2010	Fête du Nautisme Seaside resorts and river- and canalside villages offer the chance to try watersports such as sailing, sand-yachting, diving, surfing, sea-angling, whale-boat racing, rowing, canoeing and wave-ski.				Throughout the Vendée. Brochures from tourist offices (tel: 08 20 82 01 54)
Early June	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
Until late 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).
early June-mid 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).
8 June 2010	Les Oiseaux Concert of music by Handel and Vivaldi, performed by the Simphonie du Marais, under the direction of Hugo Reyne, flute; Stephanie Revidat, soprano. 8,30pm. Admission 10€.				Les Salorges, Noirmoutier town (tel : 02 51 39 01 22).
mid June		Les Foulées du Gois The annual running race across the causeway linking Noirmoutier island to the mainland. International athletes take part, the cream of them competing in in the “Course des As”, leaving the island when the water is already over the road and finishing with it around their knees. First race starts 3.45pm; “Course des As” (top international runners) starts 9pm.				Beauvoir-sur-Mer near Challans
12-20 June 2010		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). The 2010 theme will be “Simenon et la Vendée”				Various venues, Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel : 02 51 95 94 12)
20 June 2010			Journée du Patrimoine de Pays / Journée des Moulins Some of the county’s smaller heritage sites have special events throughout the day. It is also French national Mills Day, so many wind- and watermills are open to the public.	Throughout the Vendée. (tel: 02 41 18 50 70)
20 June 2010			Musiques pour la chambre du Roy Concert, with Hugo Reyne, flute; Emmanuelle Guigues, viola da gamba; Marc Woff, theorbo. 6.30pm.	Les Sables d’Olonne
late June			Fête d’ou Lumas Annual snail festival, and car-boot sale (from 7.30am), walks, street entertgainment (from 11am). More than 32,000 of the molluscs will be on the menu from 7pm!	Ste-Flaive-des Loups, nr La Mothe-Achard (tel: 02 51 31 95 40)
late June			Estivales de la Rivière A season of storytelling, music and other events on the Sèvre Nantaise river. 9pm. Admission free	Maison de la Riviere, St-Georges-de-Montaigu, nr Montaigu (tel : 02 51 46 44 67
late June-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. At nightfall. 7€, children 3€; under-7s free.	Talmont-St-Hilaire
lateJune-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
26, 27 June 2010			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
late June			Puces Islaises Flea market, with more than 160 dealers setting up shop around the picturesque village church. 7am-6pm	Place de la Mairie, Ile-d’Olonne, near Les Sables-d’Olonne (tel: 02 51 95 47 48).

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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