7 days in Vendée: Visit the Vendée Coast in 1 week

Wondering what to visit on the Vendée coast? How to fill a week's family vacation in the Vendée? What are the must-see maritime heritage sites ? Where to go for walks on the Côte de Lumière? We've put together a varied program for you to discover the Vendée coast in 7 days.

Opening photo: The Pleasures of the Vendée Coast - Photo credit © AdobeStock / Thierry RYO

Day 1 - A day at a seaside resort

The Vendée coastline has 250 kilometers of coastline, dotted with seaside resorts. They offer numerous services and a multitude of tourist, sports and leisure activities. In the surrounding area, you will find all kinds of amusement parks, treetop adventure parks, aquatic parks or even animal parks. In the evening, the coastal towns are very lively, with their bars and restaurants by the ocean, fairgrounds and Ferris wheels, not to mention the parties and dance evenings, to have fun until the end of the night! In short, it is impossible to get bored and there is something for all tastes and all ages. In Vendée, Saint-Jean-de-Monts is the most family-friendly, with its 6 supervised beaches.

Day 2 - A day at the beach

By the ocean, the most popular sites are the beaches! On the agenda: swimming and playing on the beach; canoeing, kayaking or pedal boating; surfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding; water skiing, towed buoys, wake-surfing… Whether you like wild and natural beaches or more urban and safe ones, close to seaside resorts, you will find what you are looking for on the Côte de Lumière. Whether you prefer fine sandy beaches along the dunes or pebble beaches, bordered by steep cliffs, there is something for everyone! The most typical is probably the Grande Côte beach at Fromentine, with its bunkers and beautiful view of the island of Noirmoutier.

Day 3 - Discovering the island of Yeu by bike

On the Île d'Yeu, soft mobility is favored to preserve its exceptional natural environment. The GR80 is a well-maintained, bicycle-friendly trail. It circles the island for nearly 30 kilometers. You'll enjoy exceptional panoramas of its rocky landscapes, the vast ocean, and pine forests. The local heritage is very interesting, including its castle, the Phare des Corbeaux , and its fishing ports.

Day 4 - A walk along the Corniche Vendéenne

The Corniche Vendéenne is a long walk along the ocean. The GR8 runs along the entire Vendée coastline. We recommend the section between Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. You'll walk along the old " Sentier des Douaniers," adjoining six beautiful beaches. Behind the sand dunes, you can branch off toward the Marais Salant de la Vie to extend your walk. Once in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, the restaurants at Port de la Vie offer seafood cuisine.

Day 5 - A hike in the Pays de Monts State Forest

The Pays de Monts National Forest is crisscrossed by trails. Walks are very pleasant, shaded by the forest canopy, and you'll enjoy the sea air. There are several routes accessible on foot or by bike. They are easy to access, with no difficulty or elevation changes, and the trails are well-maintained. They are therefore ideal for families.

Day 6 - Admire the lighthouses of Vendée, an unusual maritime heritage

They have been overcoming technical challenges and illuminating the coasts for centuries. They are an integral part of our maritime heritage. We are, of course, talking about the lighthouses of the Vendée ! The region has many lighthouses, but few are accessible to the public. The Grand Phare de l'île d'Yeu is the only Vendée lighthouse that can be visited. It offers an exceptional panorama of the island and the Vendée coast.

Day 7 - A day in the Marais Breton Vendéen

The Marais Breton Vendéen stretches across 45,000 hectares on the northern coast of Vendée, straddling the Loire-Atlantique. Originally, it was a vast foreshore, a stretch of sand or rock that the tide covers. This natural area was developed in the Middle Ages by monks and is part of local history. Did you know that between the 15th and 18th centuries, the Marais Breton Vendéen was the largest salt producer in France? This is an opportunity to discover ancestral know-how that continues to this day! Moreover, this ancient craft works in symbiosis with nature and rarely disrupts this unusual ecosystem. You will make beautiful birdwatching observations there.

We hope this 7-day tour program has inspired you for your next vacation in Vendée.

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