Endless beaches of soft sand and lapping waves, fringed by pine trees and undulating dunes – perfect!
Camping in the Vendee
144 campsites in France, Vendée for Swimming Pool
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Camping Le Bois Verdon is located on the well-known West French seaside resort of Saint-Jean-de-Monts. Typical of the area Saint-Jean-de-Monts is known for its extensive forests, and the campsite is situated on the edge of these. Less than ten minutes from the campsite, you can reach the centre of Saint-Jean-de-Monts, where there are several bars, restaurants, and shops. The coast has plenty of water sports activities to get involved in while staying here. On-site, there are 33 pitches of which are for touring and having electric hook-up points available. There are also several colourful rental accommodation options. On-site facilities include a semi covered pool for those who wish to relax back at the campsite, and there are plenty of activities to keep the children occupied, too, with a playground, trampoline and table tennis.
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.
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.
Set in a seaside location, just 900 m. from the beach, this family run campsite is one of two halves. Chalets and mobile homes are the main feature here, with just 20 small touring pitches. These pitches are on firm and well drained grass and are accessed via tarmac roads. All have electricity connections (6/10A, both French and Europlugs) and water. They are unsuitable for units over six metres because of problems with access. There is some road noise.
Camping L'Etruyère is a charming campsite in the French Vendeé and offers a peaceful lakeside setting for relaxation and adventure. On-site, there are 16 spacious touring tents with 10Amp electric hook-up points, and thanks to the many trees on the campsite grounds, there are plenty of shady spots to choose from.
A pleasant, traditionally laid out site with just 199 pitches, separated by hedges, on flat or gently sloping ground, Bois Soleil has a large number of mobile homes and chalets, leaving just 32 pitches for tourers and tents. All have electricity (6A) and water points and most are grouped in a pleasant corner with views out over the marshes and bird reserve to distant villages. There is an excellent swimming pool complex with water slides plus an attractive indoor pool with hammam, while the nearby forest and marais provide fine opportunities for walkers and nature lovers.
This site is located in a quiet village a short drive from the Vendée’s famous sandy beaches. This is a mature site with 39 grassy and well shaded pitches all with 10A electricity. A number of mobile homes and ecolodges are available to rent, with meal packages for hikers. Leisure amenities include an attractive pool with a separate children’s pool and water slide. There is a bar and snack bar, with many other restaurants in nearby St. Gilles. For anglers, the site’s well stocked fishing pond is sure to prove popular. Various activities are organised in peak season, including a children’s club (5 to 12 years), occasional dance evenings and live concerts.
This is a busy, family run campsite that is very popular with British holidaymakers and is used by a number of tour operators who occupy 150 of the 544 pitches. However, there are still 300 touring pitches, all with electricity (10A), water tap and drain; there are also 32 mobile homes for hire. The site is on both sides of the main road, linked by a tunnel. Most of the larger pitches are on the far side, so owners of high units would need to ask for a pitch on the main part of the site. There are outstanding leisure facilities.
This is an attractive, family run holiday site with indoor and outdoor pool complexes and 382 pitches, most of which are fully serviced. Over half are taken by mobile homes and chalets, leaving 183 good sized, hedged pitches with 10A electricity hook-ups (2 pins) for touring units. Grassy and level, these are served by tarmac roads. A good family holiday location, there are lots of activities and entertainment in July and August. The indoor pool is open all season, the L-shaped outdoor pool complex has a menhirs theme and attractive flower beds.
If you are looking for sun, beach and relaxation, then the Vendee on the French West Coast is the place for you. Camping Les Mizottes is located on the edge of Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm. The 75 touring pitches vary from 80 to 150 m² and are on grassy ground, half-shaded to shaded, equipped with a 6amp electric hook-up point. The site also has several Safari tents, Lodges and Mobile homes to rent. The closest beach is less than 5 kilometres away, you can easily visit on foot or by cycle. There are both indoor and outdoor pools including a children’s pool. However, Bermuda shorts are forbidden and wearing a wristband is mandatory. The playgrounds are for children from 3 to 12 years and include multi-activity swings, spring toys and sandboxes. For child safety and tranquillity of the parents, the 3 playgrounds are distributed around the site. There is a good range of shops in the village.
This is a delightful little site, a real find for those wishing to enjoy the beaches and lifestyle of this stretch of coastline without the razzmatazz of some of the neighbouring sites. It is family run and everywhere there is attention to detail: flower tubs beside the road as you drive in, whitewashed stones for the pitch numbers, engraved designs on the washbasin mirrors, even plugs for the dishwashing sinks! There are 46 touring pitches, all with electricity available (10A), and a further 69 with mobile homes and chalets, all but five available for rent.
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
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.
A family run site, le Rouge Gorge has 93 grassy touring pitches, plus some units for rent (2-8 people) and privately owned caravans and chalets. Slightly sloping and undulating pitches are on grass in a garden-like setting and a small wildlife pond (fenced) is in the centre of the site.
Originally a simple ‘camping à la ferme’, this site has been developed by a Dutch organisation into an extensive, very well equipped and well-maintained campsite. Located around two attractive fishing lakes, the 164 pitches, most available for touring, are spacious and attractively laid out with plenty of grass, hedges and trees, some young, some mature. All have electricity (6/10A), and a few are very large. There are 38 mobile homes to rent. An old barn has been converted into a large restaurant offering an extensive French menu, including a ‘menu du jour’. Also here are a small bar, a shop selling necessary provisions and the reception area.
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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
Read MoreCAMPING 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.