ANGELA BIRD'S
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The |
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September
2012
WHAT'S
ON IN THE VENDEE
(entries
in red indicate new additions)
For Vendée vide-greniers, I have made a
selection from
this excellent specialised
website.
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PLEASE
NOTE This website is 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. |
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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31 Aug-1 Sept 2012 |
Festival “Dans les Jardins de William Christie” Music in the gardens.
Soloists from Christie’s Jardin des Voix, accompanied by musicians from the
Juilliard School in New York, play 15-min extracts from Handel’s “Acis and
Galatea” at various points in this beautiful garden. Christie himself
conducts. From
5pm. Admission 8 euros. |
Le Jardin du Batiment, Rue du Batiment, Thiré,
near Ste-Hermine(tel : 02 51 3693 60) |
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31 Aug-2 Sept 2012 |
Fête
Littéraire Bilingue / Anglo-French Literary Festival A new
festival offering music, stories, legends, and a chance to meet writers.
Speakers include Orange Prize-winner Helen Dunmore and BBC presenter Roisin
McAuley. Full
programme can be dowloaded via above link. |
St-Clementin, near Nueil les
Aubiers (Deux-Sevres) |
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Until 9 Sept 2012 |
Drôles d’anim’eau Exhibition of strange metal sculptures of insects
and marine life, reflected on the walls of this giant water tower in the
marshes. |
Kulmino, Notre-Dame-de-Monts. |
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Until 9 Sept 2012 |
Les Pieds dans le Sable Exhibition in this ecological centre that looks at
the flora and fauna of the coastal forest and sand dunes. Take your shoes off
to tread the sandy floor while you visit. Sun-Fri 10-12.30 & 2-7.30, Sat 2-7.30pm. |
Maison de la Dune et de la Foret, Notre-Dame-de-Monts |
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Until 16 Sept 2012 |
“France” Exhibition
about the famous French liner, which was built 50 years ago in the shipyards
just across the Loire estuary from here, at St Nazaire. Learn about the
techniques of building and about life on board such a grand ship. Daily 2.30-7pm.
Admission included in museum visit: 4 euros, children under 12 free; family
(2 + 1 child 12-18) 8 euros. |
Musée de la Marine, Mindin, St-Brevinles-Pins
(44) |
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Until 15 Sept 2012 |
Cinéscénie Spectacular
night-time son-et-lumiere
show, re-telling the history of the Vendee. Usually Fri
& Sat nights, from 10pm. 25€, children 16€ For more information, click on banner below |
Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, near Les Herbiers (tel:
02 51 64 11 11). |
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Until 30 Sept 2012 |
Le
Grand Parc End of 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. For more information, click on banner above
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Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers |
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Until 30 Sept 2012 |
Edmond
Bertreux
Exhibition of works by an artist who was very much influenced by the
work of 19th-century marshland artist Charles Milcendeau. |
Musée Milcendeau, Soullans, near Challans |
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Until 30 Sept 2012 |
La
Mine s’electrise Exhibition set up with the Cité des Sciences in Paris, on
the electrification of the coal-mining industry at the Vendée’s mining
museum. |
Faymoreau, near
Fontenay-le-Comte |
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Until 30 Sept 2012 |
L’épopée
écrite du Titanic Documents (in French) related to the ill-fated Titanic and
her sinking a century ago. Thurs-Sat 3-6.30pm (from 1 Sept, Sat only, 3-6.30pm) |
Maison des Ecrivains de la Mer, St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
(near level crossing). |
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1-30 Sept 2012 |
Gardens
open A
couple of the Vendée’s most elegant private gardens, each classified “Jardin
Remarquable”, may be visited during the month of September. - Le Jardin du Batiment, at Thiré; daily 1-7pm;
admission free. - Le Jardin de Chaligny, near Ste-Pexine; daily 2-8pm;
admission 4 euros, children free. |
Near Sainte-Hermine |
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1 Sept -30 Nov |
Migration
time
Ornitholoigists 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 15 Sept |
Brocante Weekly
brocante fair in a square near the Hotel de Ville. Fridays 9am-6.30pm. |
Place et Jardin de la Liberté, Les Sables-d’Olonne |
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7-11 Sept 2012 |
Foire des Minées Annual
commercial fair in the centre of town that is a shop window for local
businesses. |
Challans |
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mid Sept |
Journées
de la Chasse Events
on a hunting theme, in the grounds of the Logis de la Chabotterie. From 2pm. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, |
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8 Sept 2012 |
“La Montacutaine” 12th
edition of this running event, with 10km and 5km routes through the old
town. Intending participants
must have written note from a doctor certifying their fitness. From 3pm. |
Montaigu |
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7-9 Sept 2012 |
Festival
Face et Si Series
of concerts by rising stars in the worlds of rock, jazz and comedy, given in
an open-air concert hall. |
Mouilleron-le-Captif, near La
Roche-sur-Yon (tel : 08 25 82 88 42) |
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14-16 Sept 2012 |
Fete
du Sport Sports
festival to celebrate the opening of the new Vendée sports stadium called
Vendéspace. |
Mouilleron-le-Captif, near La Roche-sur-Yon |
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mid Sept |
Festival
des Jardiniers A
day of tastings and advice on all things horticultural at this traditional farm
museum, with an emphasis on “forgotten” vegetables. From 2pm/. 6€, children
3€. |
Maison de la Vie Rurale. La Flocelliere, nr
Pouzauges |
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mid Sept |
Salon
des Collectionneurs Annual collectors’ fair. |
Fontenay le-Comte |
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15, 16 Sept 2012 |
Journées
du Patrimoine A
weekend of special openings and events at heritage sites all over the Vendée
– and throughout France.. Times vary;
information available from early Sept from Conseil General in La Roche, and
tourist offices. |
Throughout France |
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16 Sept 2012 (tbc) |
Concours
d’Artistes-Peintres Artists
set up around the grounds of La Chabotterie manor house, to try for the main
prize. |
Logis de la Chabotterie, St Sulpice le Verdon. |
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21-23 Sept 2012 |
Festival
Birdfair Guided
walks, talks, exhibitions and children’s entertainment on a birdwatching and
nature theme, organised by the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux. It is held on a former port on the
south bank of the Loire, between Nantes and St-Nazaire. Also a concert on
Saturday evening 7pm. Fri-Sun 10am-6pm. |
Tourist office, Paimboeuf (44) |
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22, 23 Sept 2012 |
Fete
de la Culture Another
festival to celebrate the opening of the new Vendée sports stadium called
Vendéspace. |
Mouilleron-le-Captif, near La Roche-sur-Yon |
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22, 23 Sept 2012 |
Caval’Océane Equestrian event on the sands at low
tide, with show jumping, pony rides, horse-ball, gymkhana events and a
stunt-riding show. On the beach. Admission free. |
St-Jean-de-Monts |
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22-29 Sept 2012 |
Guerres de
Vendée Exhibition
on the Wars of the Vendee, particularly on the events of Jan-May 1793. It is
timed to coincide with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the local
fighting. |
Relais St Jacques de Compostelle (tourist office), Palluau,
near Aizenay |
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23 Sept 2012 |
“Héroines
en Musique” Hugo
Reyne and the Simphonie du Marais, with Guillemette Laurence (mezzo soprano),
play music by Charpentier, Handel, Lully and others. 5pm. Admission 18 euros. |
Parish church, L’Herbergement, near Montaigu (tel: 02 51 42 19
39) |
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28 Sept 2012 |
“Musiques
et Chocolat” Hugo
Reyne and the Simphonie du Marais play music by Herberle, Krahmer, Mozart,
Scholl and others. 8.30pm.
Admission 15 euros. |
Theatre du Marais, Challans (tel: 02 51 93 19 75) |
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29, 30 Sept 2012 |
Raid
des Chaussées A
gruelling annual race on bike and on foot along, above and through the river
Sèvre Nantaise. |
Starts St-Laurent-sur-Sèvre; finishes Tiffauges. |
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The Vendée Tourist Board
website has many events listed under The Conseil-Général’s
website also has a regularly updated For Vendée vide-greniers (brocante fairs and
car-boot sales), |
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