Endless beaches of soft sand and lapping waves, fringed by pine trees and undulating dunes – perfect!
Vendee Campsites | Camping in Vendee | Alan Rogers
144 campsites in France, Vendée for Swimming Pool
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Set amongst grapevines and fir trees, Camping l’Océan is only 600 metres from a beautiful sandy beach, while the village centre is also within walking distance. A warm welcome awaits you at the modern reception area which is well stocked with local information. Of the 532 pitches, 140 are for touring, all with 10A electric connections (Europlug) reasonably close, of a good size, separated by bushes (and in some cases vines) and with some mature trees providing shade. They are located in two main sections and you are largely unaware of the many mobile homes and tents, mostly for hire, on either side.
Domaine de l’Oiseliere is ideal for camping and campervan holidays and jsut 35 minutes from the Grand Parc du Puy du Fou. This is a small site with just 45 large pitches to choose from, 30 of which are for touring and are 200m2 and separated by hedges. There is a choice of full sun or shaded pitches with cover provided by oak trees. For families travelling in a caravan, large plots enable you to extend your awning easily. The site is a pedestrian zone; vehicles can drive to and from the pitches upon arrival and before departure. Otherwise, campers must use the adjacent parking area.
On the edge of a pine forest and just a short walk across the dunes from a fine sandy beach, this could be an ideal spot for a seaside holiday. Les Cyprès is a very French campsite with good basic facilities and a pleasant modern pool complex. The 300 pitches are in an arc curving out towards the sea in both directions from reception; the 141 touring pitches of varying shapes and sizes occupy the southern end of the arc. All have access to electricity (10A) and water, though long leads are required in places and some are more suitable for tents because of the trees.
A site that lives up to its name, Camping Sandaya La Grande Côte, is extensive with 800 pitches, of which 293 are numbered touring pitches in rows spread over undulating dunes with sparse grass under pine, all with 10A electricity and over 287 chalets and mobile homes to rent.
Plage de Riez is a family campsite in the heart of a 600-hectare National Forest, with direct access to a glorious sandy beach. It is a modern site and is very busy during July and August. The heated pool area is ideal for everyone, whether you want a refreshing dip, a drink on the adjacent terrace or just a chance to relax in the endless sunshine. The site has 465 pitches of which 270 are for tourers, including seven for motorhomes. Mobile homes and bungalow tents occupy some 180 pitches, some for hire. Each pitch has electricity (6A), is of average size and marked by low hedges.
Camping Europa is near Saint Gilles Croix de Vie and is a large, real family-friendly site. Around the playgrounds there’s plenty to do for children of all ages, including a trampoline, a miniature wooden train and a climbing frame with nets and acrobatic course. An outdoor pool area with two heated pools with a water play area, four waterslides and a blissful bubbling Jacuzzi bench and an indoor pool, paddling pool and water play area plus a well-equipped games room. In high season the staff organise sports tournaments, zumba classes and aqua gym for the grownups, crafts, games and dancing for the children. The activities don’t stop at sundown as evenings tend to be packed with live music, themed meals, quizzes and other family-friendly fun. The site has 200 pitches of which 45 are for touring units and there are 97 mobile homes and safari tents available to hire. The rest are privately owned.
Le Bel Air is a well established site close to the Vendée’s largest resort, Les Sables-d’Olonne. It is now very much dedicated to mobile homes and chalets, and for 2019 they have introduced mobile homes with private Jacuzzi's. Of its 286 pitches, just 46 are for touring – 40 on grass mostly with electricity (16A), water and drainage and a further six on concrete for motorhomes. This is a very well equipped site with the focal point being a new and impressive pool complex including a large covered pool and separate outdoor pool.
Camping Les P’tites Maisons dans la Prairie is a charming, family-friendly campsite with a unique Wild West theme. Located in the Vendée region, it offers a peaceful countryside setting while remaining within easy reach of the Atlantic coast and local attractions. The site provides a mix of traditional camping pitches, chalets, mobile homes, and themed accommodation, making it ideal for families and groups.
This family site is located close to the village of Barbâtre, on the west coast of the island of Noirmoutier. The site has direct access to a fine sandy beach. There are around 400 pitches, of which around 200 are available for touring units (the rest are occupied by an imaginative range of chalets, mobile homes and fully equipped tents, including teepees, many of which are for rent). Touring pitches are mostly equipped with 16A electricity. On-site amenities include two swimming pools and a paddling pool. A wide sunbathing area surrounds these. A children’s beach club is organised in peak season and evening entertainment is also on offer.
In the heart of the Vendée, with more than 250 kilometres of coastline and many beautiful beaches, you will find Camping Le Cabestan. In the middle of a beautiful cycling area, this is a wonderful place for an active or just a relaxing holiday. On the campsite, you will find a relatively large swimming pool with a sliding roof and nice sunbeds
Camping Le Grand Jardin is a peaceful retreat, just a short bike ride from the Atlantic coast. The campsite offers direct access to scenic cycle paths winding through the Breton wetlands. On-site, there are 19 touring pitches with electric hook-up points available. Most pitches are delimited by mature hedging, giving privacy to each pitch. Tall trees provide ample shade during the summer months.
Domaine de Beaulieu has an open, airy feel in a semi-rural setting on the edge of the village of Givrand, a short drive from an excellent sandy beach and the fishing port and resort of Saint Gilles. The 127 touring pitches all with electricity (10A, Europlug) and water nearby, are pleasantly laid out and separated by hedges or bushes; most have shade from mature trees, others are more open. A little stream in an unfenced cutting runs through the site. There are around 180 mobile homes, most to rent, and tour operators occupy 90 pitches. Early and late in the season, the campsite is quiet, whereas in July and August there is a lively and wide-ranging entertainment programme for all ages, including teenagers.
Camping du Jard is a well maintained site between La Rochelle and Les Sables-d’Olonne. First impressions are good with a friendly welcome from M. Marton and his staff. The 150 touring pitches, all with 10A electricity (Europlug) and 60 also with water and drainage, are level and grassy; many are hedged by bushes and a large variety of trees provide shade in places. A small number of pitches are used by tour operators and 50 accommodation units are available to rent. An impressive pool complex has a heated outdoor pool with toboggan and paddling pool, plus an indoor pool with jacuzzi. The site is 700 m. from a sandy beach with many shops and restaurants nearby.
This is a family run site on the edge of the small town of Avrillé, on the road between La Rochelle and Noirmoutiers, yet only a short drive from some of the delightful beaches of the southern Vendée. It is a simple, traditional and well established site with 130 pitches (73 touring pitches), most with a mixture of sun and shade, but some very shaded. The fact that the snack bar is not licensed might appeal to those who prefer a simple life! Organised events include a weekly outdoor disco, accompanied by moules-frites.
This eight-hectare site should appeal to families with children of all ages. It is very lively in high season but appears to be well managed, with a full programme of activities (it can therefore be noisy, sometimes late at night). The site is only 1 km. from the excellent beach. There are 450 flat, grass and sand pitches, 121 are for touring units with the remainder occupied by tour operators and mobile homes to rent. All touring pitches have 10A electricity (French sockets, long leads may be required) Some are separated by high hedges, others are more open with low bushes between them. There is a good aquatic area – the flume takes you past rocks before plunging into the pool.
La Mouette Cendrée is a green site surrounded by mature trees and farmland but conveniently close to a main road and supermarket. It is ideally situated on the Atlantic Coast for the beach and close to pretty seaside villages. The owners aim to create a peaceful, friendly atmosphere at this small, simple site. The 101 grassy, flat pitches are 70/110 sq.m. and are separated by a mixture of tall and low hedges with 10A electricity available throughout.
This is an excellent little site which provides 80 grass pitches for touring units, some individual with tall hedges, others more open but there is shade in most areas. All have 6A electricity. There are 13 mobile homes to rent in one corner of the site. Behind the reception building is a small well fenced swimming pool (16m x 7m), a covered terrace and a bar with takeaways. Here regular welcome events are held for new arrivals (wine tasting, local farm products, etc). The local Super U hypermarket is just 500 m. level walk from the site.
In the sloping landscape of the Vendée, less than ten kilometres south of La Roche-sur-Yon, you will find camping Campilô. The campsite is new, and it shows: on a well-maintained terrain, there are over forty touring pitches beautifully laid out in the natural surroundings. Tall trees provide shade for each pitch next to a large fishing lake. The covered outdoor swimming pool with a water playground is the place to be for children, while nature lovers can enjoy a quiet evening stroll around the lake.The covered, heated swimming pool is a great asset. The transparent roof allows the sun to heat the pool. The water playground is next to the swimming pool, between thatched parasols and sun loungers. Here children can run through the fountains and enjoy themselves.
Camping La Prairieis located in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, France. It is situated just 800 meters from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean and is accessible by foot through woodlands and dunes within fifteen minutes. The site has 34 touring pitches with a 6-amp hook-up point, 46 seasonal pitches, and 40 mobile homes or chalets available to hire. Pitches are delimited by hedges, providing a lot of peace and privacy. A tree on each pitch offers some shade.
The name gives a clue to its location! This well-run site is on the edge of a pine forest and just a 600 m. walk to the sea. The 255 pitches are mainly occupied by mobile homes, with 90 for rent and 50 owned by a small British tour operator, but there are 52 mainly level touring pitches in groups and divided by hedges. Forty have 10A electricity, water and drainage whilst a few are tucked away among the trees and are ideal for smaller tents. Quiet in low season, the site comes to life in July and August with activities arranged for all the family.
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Vendée
It’s not only the fine beaches that make this holiday region so appealing – quaint fishing harbours, historic ports and charming towns all create a great holiday atmosphere.
This small but perfectly located region is all about the beach. All 200 km of it. That may sound a little over-simplified, but it is undoubtedly a magnet for lovers of sun, sea and sand. Visitors flock to the region to enjoy the exceptionally mild climate with an enviable sunshine record and famously balmy micro-climate (apparently, there are more sunshine hours here than on the French Rivera); it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular tourist areas of France. The Vendée has a wealth of sleepy fishing harbours, historic ports and charming towns that all create a great holiday experience. Popular resorts in the Vendée include Les Sablesd’Olonne, La Tranche-sur-Mer, and St Jean-de-Monts.
The Vendée was the centre of the counterrevolutionary movement between 1793 and 1799, and a ‘son et lumière’ held at Le Puy-du-Fou tells the whole story. Les Sables-d’Olonne is its main resort, renowned for its excellent sandy beach. The area between the Vendée and Charente, the Marais Poitevin, is one of the most unusual in France – a vast tract of marshland with a thousand or more tree-lined canals and slow-moving streams.
Vendée Blogs
Spotlight on the Vendee
Rob Fearn | 2 Apr 2021 | Read time: 7m 57s
There are four distinct regions to the Vendée département: the Bocage, a rolling, wooded area of low hills; the Plaine with its open countryside and rich arable land, golden with wheat and sunflowers in summer; and two marshy areas - the silent Marais Breton to the north, the lush, verdant slow-moving waters of the Marais Poitevin to the south
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CAMPING IN THE VENDEE
Camping in the Vendée
The Vendée is a hugely popular region for camping, partly because it’s an easy place to get to from the UK. Campsites in the Vendée are usually of high quality (competition encourages standards to be high) and many have been in business for decades, gradually improving services and facilities. Of course, as is often the rule of thumb, the closer the campsite to the beach, the smaller the pitches are likely to be. That is sometimes the price to pay for convenience. Moreover, campsites near the beach can be more expensive.
And campsites on the beach can be that much more lively in terms of evening entertainment and general hubbub. For this reason, some prefer to enjoy the day on the beach and then retreat to the more secluded campsites slightly inland. But each to their own!
PLACES OF INTEREST
Places of interest
L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer: Famous for its mussels and other shellfish; site of migrating birds between August and November.
Apremont: Pretty village with a Renaissance castle; Vendée’s largest lake with a sandy beach, watersports and boat hire.
Île-d’Yeu: One hour by boat from the coast, a major tourist destination with colourful shops, cafés and restaurants; art galleries and exhibitions; bicycles and cars for hire.
Jard-sur-Mer: Abbey of Lieu-Dieu (financed by Richard the Lionheart); seaside with attractive, colourful houses.
Le Puy-du-Fou: 15/16th-century castle; son-et-lumière production and historical theme park.
BEACHES OF THE VENDEE
Beaches of the Vendée
The Vendée is a great choice for children of all ages. The traditional accessory for every child visiting the Vendée is, without doubt, the bucket and spade - and with good reason. From St. Jean-de-Monts to La Tranche-sur-Mer the coast is virtually unbroken with fragrant pine forests leading down to gently shelving sandy beaches.
These are some of France’s finest beaches, with gently shelving golden sands that are reassuringly safe for toddlers as they paddle and splash in the water. Many beaches offer high season kids’ clubs with organised beach activities as well as watersports on offer like sailing, windsurfing, paddleboards and kayaks. It’s generally easy for teenagers and older children to enjoy a degree of independence in safety.
Île de Noirmoutier: The Le Gois causeway (and a modern bridge) connect this once detached island to the mainland. A handful of scattered villages and miles of often empty beach create a magical environment, very different from the mainstream resorts further south. The Plage des Dames, complete with a boardwalk, wooden pier, soft sand and backed by oak trees, mimosa, eucalyptus and fragrant pine trees is hard to beat.
Les Sables d’Olonne: This is a resort where the beaches are so good they named the town after them. It’s one of the major resorts of the Vendée and has a fine, curved seafront and sandy bay. The marina is always a popular haunt with plenty of flashy boats to gawp at, as well as the usual bustle of a working marina and, naturally, some really good restaurants where you can enjoy fantastically fresh seafood. The 15th century Château St Clair is also a popular excursion as is the zoo with its sanctuary for over forty endangered species.
St-Jean-de-Monts: Though quiet for much of the year, St Jean-de-Monts wakes up with a vengeance during the summer months. This is one of the best-known hotspots, with many excellent family campsites jostling for position along the Cote de Lumière. The vast 8 km long beach is a delight with fine sands and no currents to worry parents of young children. It’s frequented by kite surfers and sand yachts, as well as cyclists and horse riders enjoying the shady pines that fringe the shore.
St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie: As a change from some of the larger resorts, St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is an attractive fishing harbour spanning the river Vie. It is home to Beneteau, the world-leading sailing boat manufacturer and it is truly a town of boats, from the brightly painted fishing boats, the little ferries that ply back and forth to the Ile d’Yeu, to the host of small dinghies and sailing boats that bob up and down in the blue waters and whose white sails are sprinkled across the seascape. It’s no surprise the region is known for the Vendée Globe yacht race, one of the most gruelling nautical challenges in the world.
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez: Not far from its larger neighbour, St Gilles, this pleasant town of small whitewashed houses adorned with jauntily painted shutters is also home to the Atlantic Toboggan waterpark on Merlin-Plage. Here a mind-boggling range of pools awaits, with waterslides, flumes, whirlpools and more. The 250-metre thrills of the twisting Boa and the Kamikaz are inevitable highlights.
The Route du Sel: An excursion with a difference is to follow the Route de Sel (or the Salt Route) through the Marais, inland flat expanses of land reclaimed from the sea. Take to the completely calm waters of the waterways that criss-cross the Sallertaine’s ancient salt marshes and find yourself at eye-level to the surrounding marshland with its windmills and wildlife. A wonderful time to do this is early morning when you might start paddling as the atmospheric morning mists begin to burn off, revealing the magically tranquil landscape around you.
CUISINE OF THE REGION
Cuisine of the region
Not known as a viticultural world-beater, the Vendée does have vineyards around Brem-sur-Mer and Mareuil-sur-Lay, producing light, refreshing wines perfect at the end of a long day in the sun. Excellent duck comes from Challans where the duck market was a key part of the local economy. Locally produced meat and poultry include Charolais beef, salt-marsh lamb and foie gras.
The Brioche de Vendée, the soft, slightly sweet bread served at breakfast is a family favourite. Best of all though is the huge variety of seafood available from the simple but highly prized oyster to the elaborate fish dishes that tempt every passer-by. Seafood includes sole sablaise, cooked with lemon, barbecued sardines from Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie, baked white tuna and mussels from the Baie de l’Aiguillon cooked in white wine.
Samphire: A herb that grows on the edges of the salt marshes.
Mogette: A signature dish of the region, Slow-cooked baby haricot beans, traditionally served with gammon.
Jambon de Vendee: Local raw-cured ham.