The Vendée in books, films, celebrities...

The Vendée is illustrated by its history, but also by the characters who shaped it, and all the artistic works that it has inspired, here is a non-exhaustive anthology of the Vendée in art and through its great figures.

Films shot in Vendée or whose story takes place in Vendée

• César et Rosalie, by Claude Sautet in 1972, shot in Noirmoutier

• Lulu Femme Nue, by Solveig Anspach, shot on the coast and in La Roche-sur-Yon in 2012

• En Solitaire, by Christophe Offenstein, filmed in Les Sables and released in 2013

• Les vacances du Petit Nicolas, by Laurent Tirard, shot in Noirmoutier, in 2013

• Tempête, by Samuel Collardey, filmed in Les Sables d'Olonne and released in 2016

• Les fantômes d'Ismaël, by Arnaud Desplechin, shot in Beauvoir-sur-Mer and released in 2017

For more information, a practical link on Film France (in french)

Famous people from Vendée

The history of the Vendée is marked by famous figures, churchmen, politicians, royalty, here are some (there are many others!) Famous figures of the Vendée, to find through your walks or just to be in the know!

• Aliénor d'Aquitaine, who was indirectly very influential on the history of the Vendée, through his union with the Plantagenêt family… Visit the Abbey of Nieul-sur-l'Autise to find out more.

• Richard the Lionheart, son of Aliénor and Henry II king of England, who can be found in his castle in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire.

• Bishop of Luçon in the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu then left for the capital, to become the man we know through history and the escapades of the Musketeers.

• François de Charrette, a major player in the Vendée War, a terrible civil war in which the people clash around Republican and Royalist values.

• Georges Clémenceau, he was born in Vendée in Mouilleron, he motivated the troops during the First World War and spent happy days in Saint-Vincent-de-Jard, in his house which you can visit. His grave is in Mouchamps.

• Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, born in the same village as Clémenceau! It was during the Second World War that he distinguished himself with the organization of the troops for the landing of Provence. Visit his family home in Mouilleron.

• Paco Rabanne grew up in Les Sables, is that where he found inspiration?

• Philippe de Villiers, politician of Vendée origin, he is the creator of the Cinéscénie, the first show which then created the Puy du Fou park.

Aliénor d'Aquitaine, Cardinal de Richelieu, Georges Clémenceau and De Lattre de Tassigny