Guide to Vendée & Property for Sale in Department 85

The Vendée department is located in the Western Loire, alongside the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Coast in western France. It is situated south of Nantes and north of La Rochelle. The Vendée (department number 85) is just 2 to 5 hours away from the various ferry ports such as Cherbourg, Roscoff, Saint-Malo or Caen. Eurostar, with TGV connections via Lille to Nantes, provides an alternative route all the way to La Roche Sur Yon, the capital, and onto Les Sables d’Olonne, the most chic of the seaside resorts. Direct flights to Nantes and La Rochelle are now available from a wide variety of UK airports. The Vendée is a large department with over 540,000 inhabitants and is home to vast stretches of sandy beaches. It has a microclimate, ensuring 2,500 hours of sunshine with summer temperatures in the high 70s and over.

Seaside Retreats and Coastal Resorts

The main seaside resorts are Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Les Sables-d’Olonne, and la Tranche-Sur-Mer, richly endowed with a wide variety of desirable coastal properties. The golden sands of the beaches and bays, together with the vitality of the ocean, favour relaxation and watersports of all kinds.

Extreme Sports and Thrilling Events

Against an incomparable backdrop of plains, forests and seascape, the more extreme sports such as jet skiing, parascending, free-fall, ballooning, hang gliding, and even bungee jumping are regularly practised. Experience the thrill of the launch of the Vendee Globe, the round-the-world yacht race from the Sables d’Olonne or the Bois de la Chaise Regatta from the island of Noirmoutier accessed by the unique 4km submerged roadway (le Passage du Gois).

Cycling Paradise

Vendéens are passionate about the Tour de France, and its thrilling route has influenced many delightful coastal and inland purpose-built cycle tracks. These cycle tracks bypass coastal villages full of linen-white cottages and stone hamlets. The Vendée is equally a golfer's haven with eighteen European standard courses of repute. Don’t miss the fragile beauty of the Marais Breton Vendéen carved and preserved by man and the sea, nor the unique lifestyle of the canal-side villagers in the Marais Poitevin (la Venise Verte), a magical wilderness of tree-lined, duck-weeded waterways.

Historical Treasures of Vendée

The Vendée celebrates its incredible historical heritage in myriad forms, and amongst those not to be missed, there is the prehistoric centre Le Cairn at Saint Hilaire la Foret presenting its neolithic site. The colourful Middle Ages are commemorated by châteaux such as Gilles de Rais at Tiffauges, whilst the symmetry and luxury of the Renaissance impress those who visit Chateau d’Apremont and many more. Le Parc du Puy du Fou spans the centuries for old and young and where the Cinescenie, Puy du Fou, uses the greatest sound and light show in Europe to tell the history of the Vendée.

Savoury and Sweet Traditions

Inland Vendée, where living is easy and where the stone cottages and stone barns are in abundance, a simple and wholesome cuisine is preserved. Once you have tasted the Mogettes beans topped with butter, accompanied by local ham, beef, or lamb, you will yearn to know more about the Bocage country. Brioche vendéenne is another cause for pride. Sweet and richly flavoured with brandy and/or orange water, this treat of bread is savoured in large quantities; Prefou, a piece of garlic-rubbed dough eaten hot with butter as an aperitif, is superbly washed down by excellent summer aperitifs such as the gold medal winner Cote de Grand-Lieu, a Muscadet-sur-Lie. The finesse of the Gros-Plant or Gamay should also be compared to the fascination of the Vendée Fiefs, first produced by monks of the Middle Ages. See also the Musée du Vignoble in Le Pallet for a superb presentation on every aspect of Muscadet wine.

A Toast to the Beauty of Vendée

Picture the mellow stone houses of the old streets of Fontenay, the gorgeous riverside village of Vouvant, the medieval walls and the meandering river Mere and the ruins of Blue Beard’s castle, and raise your glass of Muscadet to the Vendée and its many treasures.

Key Information about the Vendée

• Main City/Prefecture: La Roche-sur-Yon
• Nearest Airport: Nantes Atlantique Airport
• Population: Around 700,000 (as of the latest census)
• Area: 6,720 sq. kilometres and 2,594 sq. miles
• Landmark: Puy du Fou, an award-winning historical theme park with spectacular reenactments and performances.
• Number of Tourists/Year: Approx. 5 million, attracted by its beaches, islands and family-friendly attractions.

If you are looking for a property in Vendée, please get in touch to discuss your search criteria.