ANGELA
BIRD'S
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The |
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May 2012
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 |
However it is always wise to check details with organisers or tourist
offices before making a special journey. |
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Until 7 May 2012 |
Festival
“Kid’s Folies” Lots
of fun events for children, with a Jean Miro and generally Surrealist theme
running through this year’s edition. |
St-Jean-de-Monts |
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Until 30 Sept 2012 |
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
chariot-racing, and faithful recreations of medieval, 18th- and 19th-century
villages. Apr,
May open stated days only, 10am-7pm; from 1-30 June Tues &
Thurs-Sun 10am-7pm 27€, children
19 €. Under-5s free. |
Puy
du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers |
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1 May |
FETE DU TRAVAIL
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1 May 2011 |
Vide-Greniers Car-boot
sales. Usually
about 10am-6pm. |
La Caillière ; Mareuil-sur-lay-Dissais ;
Nalliers ; all Vendée. Clion-sur-Mer,
near Pornic, (Loire-Atlantique) |
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5 May 2012 |
Fête de la Bonnotte The famous early potato of Noirmoutier has
its day. Lifted in the early morning, it will be the subject of meals and
tastings throughout the day. |
Cooperative agricole de Noirmoutier, Le Petit Chessé, nr
Noirmoutier town, Noirmoutier island. |
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8 May |
ARMISTICE 1945 |
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8 May 2012 |
Youn
Sun Nah Quartet Recital
by a Korean singer and musicians, exploring different styles of jazz. |
Les Atlantes, Les Sables d’Olonne (Réservations Office de Tourisme
des Sables d'Olonne 02 51 96 85 78) |
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8 May 2011 |
Vide-greniers Car-boot
sales, Usually
10am-6pm. |
Landevieille; Montaigu; Notre-Dame de Monts; all vendée. |
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9-13 May 2012 |
Fete de la Nature
Guided visits of the Polder de
Sebastopol, the dyke near the Noirmoutier side of the causeway that keeps the
sea from invading the island, to learn about its flora and fauna; several
observation points set up for those wishing to observe birds. |
Polder de Sebastopol, near
Passage du Gois (causeway), Noirmoutier island |
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10-12 May 2012 |
Festival Nouvelle Chanson Pop, rock and
folk songs from six talented young artists, two each evening. Times vary. 17€, children 9€. |
Les Atlantes, Les Sables d’Olonne (Réservations Office de
Tourisme des Sables d'Olonne 02 51 96 85 78) |
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11, 12 May 2012 |
Folle
Nuit A whole
afternoon and evening of concerts devoted to the music of Beethoven. Fri 8pm; Sat
3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm. Admission 12 euros per concert. |
Centre des Salorges, Noirmoutier town (tel : 02 51 39 01 22). |
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16 May 2012 |
Cosi
fan tutte Live relay from Covent Garden of Mozart’s enjoyable
opera. In original language, with French subtitles. 8.30pm. Admission 12 euros. |
Cinema Camera 5,21 Avenue de Villebois, Montaigu (tel : 02 51
46 46 15). |
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16-20 May 2012 |
La Déferlante de Printemps Annual spring edition of this festival
of street theatre, with performances given in several Vendée seaside resorts.
Admission
free. |
La Tranche sur Mer, |
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17 May 2012 |
ASCENSION DAY (public holiday) |
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17-19 May 2012 |
Quatre Jours en Chantonnay.
Four-day walking festival, with non-competitive events for walkers of all
standards, and even Friday night-time rambles. |
Various
venues, Chantonnay area. |
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18, 19 May 2012 |
Festival La 7e
Vague Brétignolles’ now-traditional
Ascension-weekend event offers an eclectic range of music for all ages,
performed in the rural countryside. Starts 6pm. |
Le
Peuple, 2km NE of
Brétignolles-sur-Mer (booking & info Bretignolles tourist office; Tél.
02 51 90 12 78) |
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18-20 May 2012 |
Vendée
Va’a Marathon
boat race, with 6-man crews paddling Polynesian-style canoes on a 100km
course from Les Sables to the Ile d’Yeu, to St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, and back. |
Start & finish Les
Sables d’Olonne |
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18-27 May 2012 |
Saint-Jazz-sur-Vie Annual jazz
festival, with music at La Conserverie, in church, and in the streets |
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie |
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19 May 2012 |
100km
de Vendée/Marathon de Vendée This
day of extreme running races also includes a « relay marathon ». From 7am;
prize-giving 2.45pm (marathons) and 6pm (100km race). Meal and dancing from
7.30pm. |
Chavagnes-en-Paillers |
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19 May 2012 |
Nuit
des Musées Special evening events at many
museums throughout Europe.
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Throughout the Vendée |
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12, 13 May 2012 |
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 |
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15 May 2011 |
Vide-greniers/Brocante Car-boot
& brocante fairs, Usually 10am-6pm. |
Fontenay-le-Comte ; Breuil-Barret ; Le
Château d’Olonne ; all Vendée. |
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26-28 May 2012 |
La
Biennale Procession of
paper-flower-decorated floats made by people from six different districts of
the town. Even-numbered years,
at Whitsuntide. |
Fontenay le Comte |
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27 May 2012 |
Fete
des Fleurs Grand Whitsun event on the island of Yeu,
held in even-numbered years. Procession starts 2pm Parking de la Chapelle,
and visits most corners of the island, ending on the waterfront at
Port-Joinville at 10.30pm. with music and dancing. |
Ile d’Yeu |
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27 May 2012 |
Semi-marathon des Olonnes More than 1,000 athletes compete over a 21km course,
much of it along the seafront from Les Sables to Le Chateau d’Olonne. Starts 5pm,
Parc de la Rudelière; finish, Avenue Rhin et Danube; Les Sables-d’Olonne. |
Les Sables-d’Olonne
area. |
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28 May 2012 |
LUNDI DE PENTECOTE 2011 Whit Monday (public holiday) |
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