Bike ride and discovery tour between Talmont-St-Hilaire and Jard-sur-mer
Bike ride and discovery tour between Talmont-St-Hilaire and Jard-sur-mer
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Rest and relaxation
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English
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To the south of Les Sables d'Olonne, Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is 16 km of beaches and a famous castle. The history of Château de Talmont begins at the beginning of the Middle Ages, in the 11th century. It is an impressive stone fortress. It all started with a tower, on the orders of William the Bald and quickly built around a site whose influence follows the shape of the landscape and nestles against the marshy areas, with a peripheral wall. A little higher up, the city developed, protected by this building and became prosperous under Guillaume le Jeune, second master of the place and son of the first. After many adventures and passages from hand to hand, the castle suffered from quarrels against the English and in the 17th century, a large part of the castle and its dwellings were destroyed to avoid serving as an English base in this strategic region. Centuries pass, the castle is in ruins and bought in 1920 by the municipality, then classified in 2009. Since then, it has been hosting cultural events and a restoration program is at work. It can be visited all year round, school groups make educational trips there and in the summer, guided tours and shows take place there.
• Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is also the estuary of Payré, with the salt marshes of La Guittière, classified as a natura 2000 zone, with characteristic plants, thousands of birds, to be discovered during a visit guided or by your own means on the footpath that takes you through beautiful viewpoints. Take a walk (and go for a swim, the water quality is perfect) at Plage du Veillon, to see the fossilized footprints of dinosaurs (210 million years old, anyway!), you can walk to near the Dune du Veillon, the estuary offers magnificent colors in all seasons, as well as remarkable flora.
• To go further, on the subject of dinosaur tracks: in Saint-Hilaire-la-forêt a few kilometers away, the Préhisto'site du Cairn, will tell you everything you need to know about the prehistoric past of the region, dinosaurs to the first men. There are 3 rooms over 350m2 of exhibition space, it's the ideal place for families, if the rain comes! There are outdoor spaces to discover, a garden and entertainment during school holidays
• Go on an adventure in one of the two (or both!) giant corn mazes of Talmont. They are so big that you can cross them by mountain bike, with small obstacles that are more fun than really complex... On foot, there are 36 puzzles to solve, the children have fun in the playground, there are tennis, mini-golf…
• It's raining ? Meeting at L' Aquarium de Vendée, with beautiful colored fish, a charming little site, an instructive visit.
• Do you prefer cars to fish? See you at the Automobile Museum of Vendée , full of charm, family run and full of details to look at, old cars (nearly 100!), simulations and a prototype corner...
• In summer, come and get active at the La Bélière leisure park near the Veillon beach. Day ticket, go for a splash at the beach and come back at the end of the day!
• Stroll around the pleasant marina of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Port Bourgenay. It is always pleasant to walk around imagining yourself on board these beautiful boats!
• To discover Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, take your hiking boots and follow the Chemin des Douaniers, 16km between forest, beach and marshes.
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To the south of Les Sables d'Olonne, Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is 16 km of beaches and a famous castle. The history of Château de Talmont begins at the beginning of the Middle Ages, in the 11th century. It is an impressive stone fortress. It all started with a tower, on the orders of William the Bald and quickly built around a site whose influence follows the shape of the landscape and nestles against the marshy areas, with a peripheral wall. A little higher up, the city developed, protected by this building and became prosperous under Guillaume le Jeune, second master of the place and son of the first. After many adventures and passages from hand to hand, the castle suffered from quarrels against the English and in the 17th century, a large part of the castle and its dwellings were destroyed to avoid serving as an English base in this strategic region. Centuries pass, the castle is in ruins and bought in 1920 by the municipality, then classified in 2009. Since then, it has been hosting cultural events and a restoration program is at work. It can be visited all year round, school groups make educational trips there and in the summer, guided tours and shows take place there.
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