Vendée is a favourite destination of foreign tourists simply for its many unique attractions. Countless tourists have attested to the splendor and majesty of the place. It boasts of a mild climate perfect for strolling Vendée’s thoroughfares and establishments.

The most crowded resorts of the Vendée, by the way, are the St. Jean de Monts, the Les Sables d’Ollone, and the La Tranche-sur-Mer.

The Marais Poitevin, on the other hand, is a marshland that is known for playing host to the Vendée wildlife. Worth visiting also are the Vendée inland attractions that include the forests surrounding the village of Mervent, the charming countryside of Bocage, and the theme park located at the Puy du Fou. Aside from these tourist attractions, the Vendée also offers an array of museums, abbeys, and of course, churches.

For the lovers of nature, there are the thousands of marked footpaths, bicycle routes, and the Vendée marshes home to birds of different species. For the daring, one could take a go at the nude beach found south of La Faute sur Mer on the Pointe d’ Arcay. To fill your vacation days with more fun and excitement, the Vendée offers a wide selection of interesting activities you and your loved ones are sure to enjoy and never forget—from the A to Z of the alphabet of fun-filled activities.

Ballooning – A favorite recreational activity of the locals, ballooning is now also fast becoming a must in every foreigner’s to-do list while in the Vendée. Known in French as a “montgolfière,” after the surnames of the brothers, Montgolfier, who developed this means of transport in the eighteenth century, a hot-air balloon ride over the beautiful landscape of the Vendée in the early hours of the morning or at sunset is the perfect beginning to a romantic getaway.

One has the option to take the ninety-minute flight over Les Herbiers, which departs from somewhere near the Puy-du-Fou, with the help of the Vendée’s hot-air balloon pilot, Damien Merceron, among others.

Boating – The best place to go boating in the Vendée is on the waters of the “Green Venice” area or the Marais Poitevin, which is found southeast of the Vendée.

Boats and paddles are available for rent in the villages surrounding the part where the waterways could be accessed.

When in Challans, one could visit the offices of La Route du Sel, which could be reached via its telephone, 02-51-68-27-84, for canoe outings around the canals of the Marais Breton.

Windsurfing on Apremont Lake is quite interesting too. What more! Further down, on the lake’s dam, is another paradise lovely for canoeing and boating.

Casinos – Although there aren’t too many in the Vendée, one still has the choice to do some gambling sometime during one’s vacation to the Vendée. This region’s casinos are found only at La Faute-sur-Mer, St-Jean-de-Monts, Les Sables d’Olonne, and St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.

So, for those interested, bring your passports with you and enjoy the night away with roulettes and the whole gambling package.

Cycling – The Vendée has many bicycle routes ready for exploring any time of the day. Mind you, though, that the most ideal time for a cycling day out is during the summer. Therefore, if cycling around verdant countryside is your idea of a vacation, visit the Vendée on the summer months.

Fishing – For a foreigner to enjoy this activity, a holiday fishing permit needs to be secured from the Vendée tourist information office. This should take care of fifteen consecutive days of fishing on all public waters in the Vendée, from first of June to the thirtieth of September.

Your baits are available in the markets of the Vendée, which surprisingly also offer fishing tackles.

Golf – Tagged as the “tres golfique” for its five 18-hole courses, the Vendée golf courses offer not only a day of golfing but also a day spent with family and friends with a full stomach after a sumptuous meal in one of the classy restaurants inside the golf course.

Horse Racing – Many towns in the Vendée offer this interesting pastime. Race meetings are mostly informal events consisting of a varied program of flat and steeplechase races and trotting. What makes horse racing in the Vendée even more interesting is the betting, the Tote-style one.

Running – This is the perfect activity for a fitness enthusiast. The Vendée is a wonderful place to do running, from the long stretch of beaches to the forest trails of the Vendée.

One could also opt to join any of the races that the Vendée has all year round. Mostly, runs are organized for a cause or two. What a way to spend your vacation, eh?

Shopping – What every tourist looks forward to in any vacation. There is that thrill to just go and pamper one’s self with the latest styles in clothes and shoes. Of course, one shouldn’t forget to bring home a souvenir or two for those waiting for you.

Bargains are mostly found in the beer and wine department. However, if one is lucky, she should experience sales in the clothes as well as the shoes departments. Wouldn’t that be nice?

The Vendée supermarkets accordingly are the best place to look for bargained children’s clothes. For the teenage markets, on the other hand, the popular shops to go to are the Quaterback and Planet Jean.

For the addict factory-shoppers, there are always the clothes havens around Cholet and Les Herbiers. You’ll be in heaven once you find the great buys in these bargain stalls.

Surfing – This activity is not for the light-hearted. Popular among the young around the globe particularly in the countries found in the Pacific and considered as a sports among sports enthusiasts, surfing is slowly catching up in the beaches of the Vendée.

There are areas in the Vendée that have become surf “spots,” and surf shops are a plenty around the beach areas in the Vendée. All you need then is the courage to try this sport.

Walking – The activity you shouldn’t miss doing. The Vendée is a magical place to go strolling. There are the verdant countryside and the city thoroughfares, beautiful any time of the day.

One should, however, make sure that she is following the routes marked specifically for walks.