What's on in the Vendee: September events

ANGELA BIRD'S

The
Vendée

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.

	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. 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.

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)
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)
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.
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
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)
Until 15 Sept 2012Sept	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).

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	Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, nr Les Herbiers (tel : 02 51 64 11 11).
Until 30 Sept 2012	Edmond Bertreux Exhibition of works by an artist who was very much influenced by the work of 19^th-century marshland artist Charles Milcendeau.	Musée Milcendeau, Soullans, near Challans
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
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).
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
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. The public are welcomed on Sat and Sun afternoons, and will be able to ask questions of the experts gathered there.	Pointe de l’Aiguillon, Aiguillon-sur-Mer.
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

7-11 Sept 2012	Foire des Minées Annual commercial fair in the centre of town that is a shop window for local businesses.	Challans
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, St Sulpice le Verdon.
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
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)
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
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
mid Sept	Salon des Collectionneurs Annual collectors’ fair.	Fontenay le-Comte
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
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.
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)
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
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
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
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)
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)
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.

MORE EVENTS

The Vendée Tourist Board website has many events listed under
various categories, starting from this page

The Conseil-Général’s website also has a regularly updated
calendar of events on its site, under “Agenda”
(click on “Evenements suivants” for later events, or on the names
of the other months shown)

For Vendée vide-greniers (brocante fairs and car-boot sales),
I have made a selection from  this excellent specialised website.
If you wish to see those in another département, simply change the Vendee code (85) at the end of the link to that of your chosen département: i.e. 44 for Loire-Atlantique; 49 for Maine-et-Loire etc

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