Our region

The Vendée and
everything that surrounds it

Vendée
140 kilometers of beaches
The Islands Noirmoutier and Yeu
Beaches at 10 kilometers

Come and discover our beautiful department: The Vendée

Vendée welcomes nearly five million tourists each year, making it the top tourist department on the Atlantic coast and the second in France.

The Atlantic coast is the most popular with the tourists. The Vendée has 250 km of coastline, including 140 km of beaches, and the highest sunshine rate on the Atlantic coast. Cities such as Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Les Sables-d’Olonne, and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie are renowned for their tourist appeal. Similarly, the islands of Noirmoutier and Yeu can see their populations multiply during the summer. Inland, rural tourism has developed thanks to the appearance of bed and breakfasts.
The department has two major attractions: the Puy du Fou and the Vendée Globe, which regularly attract media attention. It is also worth noting that the Tour de France regularly passes through the department.
Vendée is a rural department where agriculture plays an important role. My husband produces red label poultry (e.g., Chickens and Challans ducks).

There are numerous restaurants. The main specialties of Vendée are: the “mogette” bean and its famous Vendée ham, the “bonnotte” (a type of potato from Noirmoutier), the “brioche” and “gâche Vendéenne” (types of sweet bread), “préfou” (garlic bread), “trouspinette” (a Vendée aperitif), and ofcourse seafood.

Vendée has several major fishing ports, the first being Les Sables-d’Olonne, which ranks 6th among French fishing ports. Another important port, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, is the largest sardine fishing port in France. Similarly, the tradition of fishing is deeply rooted on the island of Yeu. Let us not forget the growing role of fish farming and oyster farming (Vendée-Atlantic oysters from Noirmoutier to Bouin).

On the Atlantic side: Vendée-Atlantic oysters, “moules de bouchot” from L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, and sardines from Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.

You can also enjoy these delicious local products at our markets.

Saint-Jean-de-Monts
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Passage du Gois
Les Sables-d’Olonne
l’Ile d’Yeu