You might not know the name, but the Vendée is one of France’s most popular regions for camping holidays. The Vendee, on the west coast south of the Loire River, is one of France’s sunniest regions and blessed with miles of sandy beaches, so it’s not hard to spot the attraction for families. There are lots of holiday resort towns to visit such as St Jean de Monts and Les Sables d'Olonnes and it's an area that's easy to reach from the ferry ports at Roscoff, St Malo, Caen and Cherbourg.

Things to do in the Vendée

The salt marshes

The salt marshes of Noirmoutier are a truly unique wonder. From the 5th century, the Benedictine monks transformed the wet marshes of the island into salt marshes.
Each year, over 100 workers extract the white gold from the sea water, with ancestral traditional processes and gestures. This salt, 100% natural, is harvested by hand.
Historial de la Vendee

The Historial de la Vendee is a museum illustrating the history of this region. You'll find it in Lucs-sur-Boulogne, In addition to its impressive nature space, the museum retraces the Vendee timeline from prehistoric times to the present day. A fun and educational activity for the whole family.
Visiter les terres riches

If the Vendée is famous for its beaches, its land is full of beautiful landscapes: its cultural heritage contains religious and historical treasures, with the opportunity to visit abbeys, churches or castles in preserved natural areas.

Culture and Activities

Food

The Vendee is full of culinary specialties both sweet and savoury. Many gourmet traditions are the pride of the locals and the delight of our taste buds. Aperitifs, hearty dishes and comforting desserts… No doubt, you'll love it.

Must-See Places

The Vendee Corniche, the Ile d'Yeu, the Passage du Gois, the Green Venice, Apremont, the Abbey of Nieul-sur-Autise, the Marais Breton, La Route du Sel, the Château de Noirmoutier, Sables d'Olonne, Puy du Fou, the Mont des Alouettes...

Sports

With its many beaches, lakes and rivers, the Vendee coast obviously lends itself to watersports: wakeboarding, stand up paddle, surfing, canoeing, windsurfing... Cycling is also available and a pleasure in this region. The more adventurous amongst you can try bungee jumping!

Outdoor Activities

The Velodyssey

Discover the Vendée by bike, using the Vélodyssée. It's a circuit of cycle paths reserved just for bicycles that extend over 210km along the coast. Did you also know that these paths actually stretch from Brittany to the Basque Coast?

Boat Hire

Discover the Vendée coast by boat, embark on an excursion from Barre-de-Monts, to Sables d'Olonne, La Tranche sur mer.

Watersports

The Vendée coast is a great place to enjoy all kinds of watersports. You can explore the shoreline by kayak or pedal boat, try something exciting like wakeboarding or kite surfing, or take it easy with a relaxing paddleboard yoga session.

Must-See

Puy du Fou

For a day full of action, it's happening at Puy du Fou! The amusement park is one of the most famous in France and approx a one hour drive from our Le Bois Dormant campsite. The theme is the Middle Ages and spectacular shows tell the story. Don't miss the famous night show, the Cinéscénie. Lights, music, special effects...
The Vendée Corniche

The Vendée Corniche is a beautiful stretch of coastline between Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. Known for its dramatic cliffs, rocky coves, and scenic walking paths, it’s a great spot for a family stroll or bike ride with sea views all the way. It’s one of the most peaceful and picturesque parts of the Vendée coast.
Sables d’Olonne

Les Sables-d’Olonne is one of the Vendée’s most popular seaside towns, known for its long sandy beach, lively promenade, and family-friendly atmosphere. There are plenty of things to do here from building sandcastles and swimming in the calm waters to enjoying watersports, boat trips, or just wandering the local markets and harbour. The town is also famous as the starting point of the Vendée Globe round-the-world sailing race.

The forerunner

La Trouspinette

Vendéen Ham

Les sardines de Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

Sardines from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

Le Tourtisseau

Potatoes from Noirmoutier

Day Trips

The Noirmoutier Peninsula

The Noirmoutier Peninsula is a lovely place to explore on the Vendée coast, known for its natural beauty. You can get there by a bridge or by the famous Passage du Gois, a road that appears only at low tide! Once on the island, there are plenty of things to do, from relaxing on sandy beaches and cycling through salt marshes to exploring the harbour town of Noirmoutier-en-l’Île. It’s also a great spot to try fresh seafood or go shellfish gathering at low tide.

Sallertaine

Sallertaine is authentic French village in the Vendée, known for its arts and crafts. Once a small island in the marshes, it’s now a great place to explore on foot or by bike. The village is full of local artists and craftsmen, you’ll find pottery, leatherwork, jewellery, and more in the little ateliers dotted around the old streets. There’s also a lovely church with views over the marshes, and during summer, you can enjoy night markets, music, and family-friendly activities. Sallertaine is a great stop for a peaceful day out with a creative twist.

L’île d’Yeu

L’île d’Yeu is one of the Vendée’s hidden gems. A small island just off the coast, you can reach it by ferry from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie or Fromentine, and once you're there, it feels like a world apart. The island is perfect for exploring by bike, with quiet lanes leading to rocky cliffs, sandy coves, and peaceful pine forests. There are plenty of things to do on L’île d’Yeu: visit the old castle ruins, enjoy fresh seafood in the harbour, or relax on one of the island’s lovely beaches. It’s the perfect day trip for families looking to unwind and discover somewhere special.

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Le Bois Dormant

Vendée
-
Saint-Jean-de-Monts
- 3km from the beaches
- Superb aquatic area
- Free kids clubs
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7.7/10 - 382 reviews
Le Bois Masson

Vendée
-
Saint-Jean-de-Monts
- 3km from the beaches
- Heated pool
- Wellness area
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