Location

Although it is in the middle of the country side Le Village du Bois is easy to reach. It is equidistant (just 5km – 5 minutes in the car) from the town of Talmont St Hilaire (supermarkets, bars, restaurants, shops, chateau), the marina at Port Bourgenay, the Blue Flag sandy beach at Plage Veillon and an excellent 18 hole championship golf course.

We are just one hour away from the World famous Puy du Fou and La Rochelle, famed for the La Pallice harbour and its beautifully preserved period architecture. Even closer and accessible by car or on bicycle (just a 15 km drive or off-road cycle along le Corniche) are the fabulous beaches, shops, zoo, quayside restaurants and bars of Les Sables d’Olonne; the start point for the famous Vendée Globe Round the World Yacht race.

The South Vendée

The Vendée has one of the sunniest climates in France. It is a favourite holiday destination both for the French and for the thousands who flock here each year from around the world. It has 200 km of coastline, 140 of which comprise fine sandy beaches sloping gently into the Atlantic Ocean plus many areas of historical interest and natural beauty. All in all this means that there is plentiful activity for couples, families and people of all ages to enjoy.

Its numerous small towns and villages preserve the traditional French way of life and, in addition to its holiday credentials, the Vendée is a working coast with an array of picturesque fishing ports where mussels and oysters are brought in plus modern marina ports with the associated restaurants and nightlife.

The beaches

The plentiful, stunning sandy beaches in this part of France (most blue flag) are invariably backed by large sand dunes planted in the 19th century with forests of pine trees. Our local beach: La Plage du Veillon is just 5 minutes away by car. It is without doubt one of the most attractive and is regularly voted one of the best places to visit in the Vendée. It is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and is part of a coastline which features stretches of low cliffs with beautiful sandy beaches and small coves. The dunes are the highest in the area and the shelter they afford has allowed a lagoon to form inside the estuary.

There is lifeguard supervision during the main season and facilities include  an excellent restaurant which specialises in the freshest seafood. There are options to hire equipment (and take lessons) to surf, kitesurf and paddle-board. La Plage  du Veillon is a short cliff-top walk from Port Bourgenay an attractive marina with cafes, restaurant and bars. It is also straightforward to walk over or around the dunes to discover the estuary of the Payre River and the Port de la Guittière; the centre for oysters produced in the river estuary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVx9vGrQ8ao

There are numerous other beaches within easy reach including the famous La Tanchet at the south of the Grand Baie at Les Sables d’Olonne. For a guide to local beaches use this link: http://www.vendee-guide.co.uk/vendee-beaches.htm

Talmont St Hilaire

The town is famous for its imposing Richard the Lionheart Chateau, originally owned by the princes of Talmont and from 1152 – 1204 by the English. It also boasts other attractions including a large leisure lake with good walks, an excellent children’s play area and a good windsurf/sailing school. There is a good variety of restaurants and shops, old and interesting buildings.

Both within Talmont and wider afield, guests can explore bustling markets and restaurants that serve classic French cuisine paired with the Vendée’s excellent local wines.

For groceries there is a large Super U and a Lidl plus an open market in Talmont centre on several days of the week.

Sporting enthusiasts can choose from a wide range pursuits including; golf, surfing, kitesurfing, jetskiing, sea fishing, canoeing and mountain biking.

The 7th Continent Aquarium and the Labyrinthe En Delire are both 5 minutes from our site and the fantastic O’Gliss (waterpark) and O’Fun (high ropes and zipwires) parks are just 20 minutes away. Local paintball and go-karting appeals to fun seekers and the ‘eco-zoo’ at Les Sables d’Olonne is a great day out for children and adults alike. There is even a car museum and a local racecourse (the Hippodrome de la Malbrande) at which there are regular events during the summer months.