ANGELA BIRD'S
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The |
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October
2009
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 |
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. |
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Until 18 Oct |
Benjamin Rabier, illustrateur
Vendéen Exhibition devoted to an artist born in La
Roche-sur-Yon who enjoyed great success in the 1930s with his comic-strip
characters such as Gédéon, the duck. Rabier was also the creator of the
ultra-famous “Vache-qui-rit” (“Laughing Cow”) cheese logo. Tues-Sun 10-7.
Admission to museum 8 euros, children free. |
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Until 30 Nov |
Migration time
Ornithologists gather at strategic points to witness the countless
birds migrating south in great flocks for the winter. Members of the LPO
(Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) count the numbers at the Pointe de
L’Aiguillon. Last year they
clocked 600,000 of more than 70 species. |
Pointe de l’Aiguillon, Aiguillon-sur-Mer. |
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Until 6 Dec |
“2 ou 3 choses que je sais du sel” Exhibition
about what it takes to become a salt-maker, or “saunier”. Fifteen of the
salt-makers from the Bay of Bourgneuf, nearby, were filmed over three years,
and the exhibition includes a lot of interviews with them and scenes of their
activity. |
Ecomusee du Daviaud, La Barre de Monts, nr St Jean de Monts |
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3, 4 Oct |
Festival de la Glisse A
weekend on the water, with competitions for such wind- and wave-driven sports
as windsurfing, surfing, kite-surfing, wave-ski etc. |
Plage des Demoiselles, St Hilaire de Riez, nr St Gilles Croix de
Vie. |
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4 Oct |
Fête de la Citrouille Grand
pumpkin festival and competition
Record-holder is one weighing 553kg.
10.30am-7pm. Admission
3.50€ |
Le
Potager Extraordinaire, La Mothe-Achard, nr Les Sables. |
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11 Oct |
Fête de la Chataîgne Walks
and autumn tastings, on the theme of chestnuts.. |
Maison
de la Vie Rurale, |
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11 Oct |
Fête des Vendanges Annual
wine fair, with brocante fair attached. 7am-6pm. Admission free. |
Pissotte, near Fontenay le Comte |
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13-19 Oct |
Chrono des Nations Annual
cycle-fest, with timed trials over routes from 17km to 48km race around the
hills and dales of Les Herbiers. Sunday is the main day, with five timed
trials, near the railway station, starting 11.30am. |
Les Herbiers |
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15 Oct |
Faramondo Opera
by Handel, in three acts, with Max-Emmanuel Cencis, Philippe Jaroussky, and
Sophie Karthäuser. 8.30pm. |
Eglise Ste-Anne, St-Hilaire-de-Riez, near St Gilles-Croix de Vie |
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16 Oct |
Archives Départementales: Portes
Ouvertes An open day at the county archive office gives a
chance to see the workings of this office. Guided tours (90 mins) indicate
how useful a resource it could be - either for genealogists or for those
seeking the history of their house or village. Tours start 10.30am, 2pm and 2.30pm. Admission free, but prior
reservation recommended as numbers are limited. |
Archives Départementales, 14 Rue Haxo, |
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16 Oct- |
Cinq siècles de chasse en
Vendée Large exhibition on the history and
variety of hunting practised in the area over the centuries. It looks at deer-hunting
on horseback, with dogs; at shooting (particularly wildfowling); and has a
very interesting short film on falconry, with a member of the Puy du Fou
falconry team demonstrating the techniques of hunting rabbits etc with the
birds. (All in French, of course.) |
Logis de la Chabotterie, St-Sulpice-le-Verdon,
near Rocheservière (tel : 02 51 42 81 00) |
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17, 18 Oct |
Fourchettes en Fête Two
days devoted to Challans’ local food specialities, such as Challans duck, Le
Garnachoix cheese and so on. Sat: Challans restaurants will be highlighting
local specialities in their menus;
Sun, Marché de producteurs will be held at the Ferme de la Terrière,
with stalls selling quail, oysters, cheeses etc.. |
Sat, various restaurants ; Sun Ferme de la Terrière, |
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18 Oct |
Marche à la Chataîgne A
day of rambling, circuits from 9km to 35km. Longer routes (entrance fee 5
euros) start 8am-9.30pm; the 9km walkers (3 euros) start between 10am and
2pm. Under-12s may take part free.
Plenty of chestnut-flour crepes and chestnuts to warm up with afterwards. |
Breuil-Barret, near La Roche-sur-Yon |
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24 Oct |
Cancer Support Vendée: Autumn Fair |
Claranne’s Pantry, |
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25 Oct |
Foire
aux Marrons Annual chestnut festival, also with
mushroom displays and antiques fair – expect delicious smells of grilled
chestnuts to waft over the proceedings. 9am-7pm. |
La Caillère-St-Hilaire
(tel: 02 51 51 59 93). |
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25 Oct |
Vente aux
enchères Annual auction sale of
works by some of the artists in the Vouvant area. |
Vouvant, near Fontenay-le-Comte |
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