Vendée Tourist Attractions

The Vendée region of France is famous for its fantastic beaches and there is a wide variety of beaches to suit all tastes - for sunbathing, surfing and rock pooling. The coast is drive from your holiday home and the first beach you will come across is La Faute sur Mer - with its wide sand dunes and miles of pale sand.

Further along the coast you will find La Tranche sur Mer - this is a lively beach resort, with entertainment on the beaches during the summer ranging from surf schools and bouncy castles to football competitions for the children. There is also lots of evening entertainment in the centre of town - including the circus, fair grounds and music events.

The coastline is famous for its seafood and at low tide you can see the oyster beds and mussel poles at Talmont Sainte Hilaire and La Tranche. Fresh fish and seafood is served in many of the local restaurants and we are happy to recommend somewhere for an evening meal.

During July and August the whole coastline comes alive and the beaches are a multi-coloured tapestry of parasols and beach towels. The weather is also usually very good in May, June and September, so if you'd like more space to wander and play, then come to the Vendée out of high season.

The beaches of St Vincent and Jard sur Mer have great rock pools - ideal for finding crabs and small fish at low tide.

All of the beaches are safe for children and many have life guards on duty during the summer months. La Terrière and Les Conches are famous for their large waves and are great for surfing and body boarding.

Port Bourgenay has a pretty harbour area and the nearby beach of Talmont is great for wind & water sports - especially on the lagoon behind the beach.

The wide flat sandy beaches of Sables d'Olonne are a fantastic place to visit in summer and winter. There are organised surf schools and competitions in summer, and every other year the Vendée Globe Round the world yacht race starts here. The next race is due to start in November 2020.

Further up the coast you will come to the town of St Giles Croix de Vie and St Jean de Monts. Both have wide and long sandy beaches, and lots of restaurants and activities nearby.

Heading north you will reach Fromentine and the Ile Noirmoutier. Off-season, the beach at Fromentine is used for kart and kite surfing and the island of Noirmoutier makes for a great day out - exploring the many coves, wind mills and salt pans.