What's on in the Vendee: June events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

June 2009

WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE

(entries in red indicate new additions)
For the vide-greniers, I have drawn on a 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.

6, 7 June			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.			Throughout France
Until 7 June			L’envers du décor: collections inédites Exhibition of items that have been stored out of visitors’ sight since the opening of the Historial in 2006.			Historial de la Vendée, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne
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 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 June 2009			LUNDI DE PENTECOTE Whit Monday : public holiday
6 June-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.
6 June			Foot’Océane Vast competition, with 5,000 children of 6 to 8 years old playing matches at low tide along the resort’s 2km of sand.			St-Jean-de-Monts
6 June-12 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).
14 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
11,12 June	Daisy Daisy – An evening of Old Time Music Hall songs, CANCELLED DUE TO INJURY new dates 25.25 September 2009			Théâtre Belle Epine, La Chataigneraie;
13-21 June	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)
14 June		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		Vide-grenier (car-boot sale), in the Salle des Sports.			Tiffauges
21 June		Les Dimanches du Jardin Second day (the first was 7 June) of talks and tours in the walled garden of La Chabotterie. Honeys and jams, music, and demonstrations of vegetable carving and flower-arranging. From 2pm Normal admission charges apply.			Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon (tel 02 51 42 81 00)
21 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)
21 June		Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues: St-Jean de Monts (Pl de l’Eglise) from 8am; Péault, with motorcycle exhibition; St-Gervais, near Challans, with 300 stands.
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
24 June-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
27 June		Concert by Quatuor Ausonia English songs and instrumental pieces from the 17th century by Byrd, Purcell and others, performed by Jeffrey Thompson, tenor; Mira Glodeanu, violin; James Munro, violin, Frederick Haas, director and harpsichord. 9pm.			Prieuré de Grammont, St-Prouant, near Chantonnay (tel: 02 51 64 00 90).
27, 28 June		Weekend préhistoire A weekend of events associated with paleolithic times, such as throwing a sling-shot and other such skills. 10-6. Museum admission 8€, children free.			Historial de laVendée, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne
27, 28 June		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
28 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).
28 June		Vide-greniers (car boot sales) at many venues: Apremont, with 200 stands; Angles, from 8am; Moutiers-sur-le-Lay
28 June		Une Journée d’Eté au Haras Theatrical equestrian displays and guided tours of La Roche’s wonderful stud farm in the town centre.			Le Haras, Bd des Etats Unis, 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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