What's on in the Vendee: May events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

May 2008
WHAT'S ON IN THE VENDEE

(entries in red indicate new additions)

	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.
Until18 May	Chassé le Naturel Exhibition of modern art from the FRAC (regional art collection), on the theme of nature.	1. Ecomusée du Daviaud, La Barre-de-Monts. 2. Ecomuéee Milcendeau-Jean Yole, Soullans.
17 Apr- 21 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 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 26€, children 15 €. Under-5s free.	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
1 May	FETE DU TRAVAIL / ASCENSION DAY (public holiday)
1 May	Semi marathon de Nesmy Half-marathon and relay races round the village of Nesmy. Those wishing to race should present a doctor’s certificate attesting to their fitness to run. From 8.30am.	Nesmy, near La Roche-sur-Yon (tel: 02 51 07 67 42).
1-4 May	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 (tel : 02 51 94 46 51)
1-4 May	Festival des Jeux Fun for children, with all sorts of games, traditional and modern.	La Tranche-sur-Mer
3 May	Les 100km de Chavagnes. Running races for all ages, including a North-Vendée marathon.	Chavagnes-en-Paillers, near La Roche-sur-Yon
4 May	Championnat de Vendée Cyclisme A day of cycle-racing.	St-Paul-Mont-Pénit, near Aizenay
early May	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).
Until 13 July	La Légende Richelieu Exhibition on the life of the powerful Cardinal, who was once bishop of the Vendée town of Luçon. Divided into five themes: man of war, man of the Church, man of State, the private figure, and the popularisation of Richelieu’s image. It will be illustrated by romantic engravings, 19th-century paintings, films, comic books and cartoon films	Historial, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne
May to...	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, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon.
8 May	ARMISTICE 1945 (public holiday)
8-11 May	Saint-Jazz-sur-Vie Annual three-day jazz festival, with concerts at La Conserverie and some street entertainment	Various venues, St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (tel: 02 51 55 03 66).
10 May	Fête de la Bonnotte Festival for Noirmoutier island’s ultra-special early potato. The tubers are lifted in the morning, there’s a family bike-ride int he afternoon, and an evening meal with grilled sardines – and bonnotte potatoes – accompanied by seashanties and folk-dancing.	Noirmoutier island
12 May	LUNDI DE PENTECOTE (Whit Monday, public holiday)
17, 18 May	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)
17 May	Nuit des Musées Special open days at many museums nationwide
Late May- late June	Printemps des Arts Well-known annual festival of baroque music, with concerts throughout the Pays de la Loire. Full programme to be arranged.
Late May	Fête des Roses Admire 950 varieties of rose, and try all sorts of rose-flavoured products. 10am-7pm. 2.90€, children under 13 free.	La Roseraie de Vendée, St-Révérend, near St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (tel : 02 51 55 24 03)
30 May- 1 June	Rendez-vous aux Jardins Annual weekend of garden-visiting, with some private gardens open, and some public ones staging special events. (The link, to a French government site, should be updated with the 2008 calendar soon)	Throughout France
30 May- 1 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

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated calendar of events.
To view it, click here
A quarterly publication called Musique-Danse lists many concerts of all kinds in the Vendee. You can find the latest version by following a link from here

2008

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