What's on in the Vendee: May events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

May 2009
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.

Until 3 May	Championnat de France Féminin A leg of the national champiionship for lady golfers.	La Domangere GC, Nesmy, near La Roche sur Yon
Until 3 May	Gaston Planet: plasticien Exhibition devoted to a Vendean artist, exponent of “art brut”. He rubbed mattress ticking onto seaweed-covered rocks, painted on cardboard boxes and on old doors, and created bizarre, colourful characters – many of which are on permanent display in the Musee de l’Abbaye Ste Croix, in Les Sables d’Olonne.	Ecomusee du Daviaud, La Barre de Monts, nr St Jean de Monts
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
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 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).
3 May	Vendée Vélo A fun cycling event, with various circuits from 17km to 75km.	Throughout the Vendée
8 May	ARMISTICE 1945 (public holiday)
9 May	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.	Noirmoutier, various venues.

early 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)
16 May	Nuit des Musées Special evening events 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.
21 May	JOUR DE L’ASCENSION Ascension Day – public holiday
21-24 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)
23 May	Les 100km de Vendée and Vendée Marathon. Running races for all ages, including a North-Vendée marathon.	Chavagnes-en-Paillers, near La Roche-sur-Yon
23 May	Remise des Prix Vendée Globe Thousands of people gather on the sands of Les Sables at low tide to see the winners of the 2008/2009 Vendee Globe – Michel Desjoyeaux, Armel Le Cleac’h and Marc Guillemont - receive their trophies. Expect to see all 30 skippers lined up on the podium alongside the winners, and a spectacular firework display to round off the evening..	Beach, Les Sables-d’Olonne
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, 31 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).
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
31 May	Fête Champêtre Open-air entertainment, including giant inflatables for adults and children, demonstrations by local sports clubs and dance schools, craft stalls, beer tent (with English and French beers, wine etc), food stalls - including Indian curry – and a hilarious human “baby foot” competition. Evening entertainment from a live band, 'Jamphonic', a group of French, English and American musicians living in the area.	Puyravault, near Luçon

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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