Description
Book SynopsisThis new title from Bradt is the only English-language guide to focus on Pays de la Loire: The Vendée and surrounding area including Pornic, La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Nantes, an increasingly popular part of France. Written by award-winning travel writer Murray Stewart and Angela Bird, who for almost 50 years has owned a home in the region, it offers comprehensive coverage of this beguiling area, with details on everything from family holidays to walks, cycling, local cuisine and history. Thanks to the authors' long history with the area, the guide also reveals the quirks and themes which give the Vendée its own distinct character, as well as straying just beyond the area's boundaries to incorporate La Rochelle and Nantes, both entry points for those arriving by air and both offering urban distractions for the occasional rainy day. The Vendée offers all the benefits of a well-established destination, both with French and British visitors, with easy access times from the UK by ferry adding to its appeal. Popular with campers and self-caterers, its sunny climate and 140km of sandy beaches, combined with tree-lined canals and open marshland, make for a diverse outdoor playground. Bradt's The Vendée and surrounding area includes information on suggested walks and cycleways and also summarises the best places for bird-watching. The region has no true cities, or even large towns, but the guide includes details of the many local museums which provide easily accessible insight into the bloody history of an area which has, at times, been central to the evolution of modern-day France.
Trade Review"Provides comprehensive coverage of this popular destination." France magazine
Table of ContentsIntroduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMAT ION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Fauna and flora of the Vendée region, History, Architecture, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture, Sport Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights and itineraries, Tourist Information, Maps, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Senior travellers, Travellers with disabilities, Ethnic minority travellers, Gay and lesbian travellers, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays (Jours Fériés), Shopping, Sightseeing and entertainment, Sports and other activities, Media and communications, Buying property PART TWO THE VENDEE Chapter 3 Northwest Vendée and the Islands Bouin, Beauvoir-sur-Mer, Île de Noirmoutier, La Barre-de-Monts and Fromentine, Bois-de-Céné, La Garnache, Challans, Sallertaine, Notre-Dame-de-Monts, St-Jean-de-Monts, Soullans, Commequiers, St-Hilaire-de-Riez, St-Gilles-Croixde-Vie, Île d'Yeu Chapter 4 L es Sables-d'Olonne, La Roche-sur-Yon and the Bas-Bocage La Roche-sur-Yon, Nesmy, Chaillé-sous-les-Ormeaux, Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits, Le Poiré-sur-Vie, Aizenay, St-Étienne-du-Bois, Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, La Mothe-Achard, Apremont, Coëx, St-Révérend, Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Brem-sur-Mer, Olonne-sur-Mer, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Les Sables (La Chaume), Jard-sur-Mer, Talmont-St-Hilaire, Avrillé Chapter 5 Southern Vendée: The Marais Poitevin The southern coast, Inland: Luçon and the dry marshes, La Venise Verte: 'Green Venice', The Marais Poitevin beyond the Vendée Chapter 6 Fontenay-le-Comte, Pouzauges and the Haut-Bocage St-Michel-Mont-Mercure, Pouzauges, St-Prouant, Mouilleron-en-Pareds, Bazoges-en-Pareds, Chantonnay, La Châtaigneraie, Vouvant, Mervent, Faymoreau, Fontenay-le-Comte, Nieul-sur-l'Autise Chapter 7 L es Herbiers, Clisson and the Vendée Wars Clisson (Loire-Atlantique), Tiffauges, Mortagnesur-Sèvre, St-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, Montaigu, Rocheservière, La Gaubretière, Mallièvre, Les Brouzils, Chavagnes-en-Paillers, Les Herbiers, Les Épesses, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne, Les Essarts, Mouchamps PART THREE NORT H AND SOUTH OF THE VENDÉE Chapter 8 L a Rochelle and the Île de Ré La Rochelle, Île de Ré Chapter 9 Nantes, Pays de Retz and the Loire Estuary Nantes, The Pays de Retz, Northwards across the estuary, From the ocean back to Nantes: the Loire's south bank Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Further Information Index
