List of natural, cultural, and historical sites in Vendée, including the Noirmoutier and Yeu islands, Puy du Fou, medieval castles, marshes, museums, beaches, and nature reserves. The department offers a variety of heritage between the Atlantic coast, farmland, and marshlands, with historical monuments from the Middle Ages to contemporary times.
Maillezais, Vendée, France
Monastery founded in the 10th century, transformed into a cathedral in the 14th century, featuring monumental ruins and a medieval hydraulic system.
Vendée, France
Network of navigable canals lined with century-old trees where visitors travel by boat through fields and natural floodplains.
Les Épesses, Vendée, France
Entertainment park offering shows on the history of France, period village reconstructions, and daily activities in a natural setting.
Bouin, Vendée, France
Typical oyster port with wooden piers on stilts in the Bourgneuf Bay. Boats rest on the mud at low tide.
Tiffauges, Vendée, France
15th-century fortress with towers and ramparts on several levels. The site offers demonstrations of medieval war machines and historical reenactments.
L'Île-d'Yeu, Vendée, France
Large granite island in the Atlantic Ocean with cliffs, coves, and sandy beaches. The village of Port-Joinville hosts fishing boats and the medieval castle dates from the 14th century.
Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Vendée, France
This island is accessible via the Gois causeway or the bridge. It features salt marshes, fishing ports, sandy beaches, and green oak forests.
Vendée, France
25-kilometer coastal road along the Atlantic Ocean with schist cliffs and fine sand coves between Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie and Sables-d'Olonne.
Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne, Vendée, France
The museum traces five historical periods with archaeological collections, everyday objects, models, and interactive reconstructions.
Rives-d'Autise, Vendée, France
Romanesque monument built in the 12th century by Eleanor of Aquitaine, featuring a vaulted cloister, chapter house, and restored convent buildings. The abbey displays medieval religious architecture.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Main seaside resort of Vendée with its fishing port and large beach where tourists swim in summer. Trawlers unload their catch on the docks.
L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer, Vendée, France
Natural cape where the Lay and Sèvre Niortaise rivers meet before flowing into the ocean. Migratory birds frequently stop here.
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Vendée, France
Geological formation composed of limestone and clay cliffs overlooking Veillon Beach. The site offers seaside hiking trails.
Vendée, France
45,000-hectare area of salt marshes and canals between Vendée and Loire-Atlantique, with numerous natural habitats for birds.
Apremont, Vendée, France
16th-century military building constructed on a rocky promontory, with a drawbridge and a stone staircase tower.
La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée, France
Departmental equestrian center with an indoor arena, outdoor arenas, historic stables, and demonstrations of horse-related professions.
Saint-Prouant, Vendée, France
12th-century monastery with a church, cloister, and convent buildings in remarkable preservation, showcasing medieval religious architecture.
Les Landes-Genusson, Vendée, France
Protected natural area featuring three ponds and observatories to explore migratory and resident birds in their natural habitat.
Montréverd, Vendée, France
18th-century manor with French gardens, a historic site where General Charette was captured during the War in the Vendée.
Avrillé, Vendée, France
16th-century historical monument surrounded by a park with games and attractions, offering puzzle trails and fun activities.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Residential area characterized by its walls adorned with mosaics made from sea shells, located near the waterfront.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Former German bunker converted into a museum displaying period medical and military equipment. The site traces this underground hospital's history during the occupation.
Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits, France
6-hectare water park including pools, slides, and themed areas for aquatic activities and relaxation.
La Guérinière, France
Butterfly conservatory under a temperature-controlled greenhouse where specimens fly freely among tropical plants.
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, France
Medieval fortified construction built in 1020 on a rocky promontory, featuring enclosure walls and defensive towers.
Soullans, Vendée, France
19th-century house-studio displaying the collections of painter Charles Milcendeau. The interior walls are decorated with Spanish-inspired frescoes.
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Vendée, France
Wide sand beach bordered by dunes, located at the mouth of the Payré. Area reputed for surfing, sailing, and sand yachting.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Collection of 45,000 shells and marine specimens from around the world. The museum presents rare species and fossils in thematic showcases.
Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Vendée, France
1/10 scale reproduction of typical Vendée villages from the 1900s with shops, houses, and monuments. The models illustrate everyday life from that era.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Art center established in a 17th-century priory presenting temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection of contemporary artworks.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France
Former communal school from 1891 transformed into a museum. The rooms recreate the daily life of the Olonnes region inhabitants between 1900 and 1950.
Sallertaine, Vendée, France
One of the last windmills in France built in the 16th century. It still produces flour with its original mechanisms.
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Vendée, France
Permanent exhibition showcasing 200 car models from various eras along with a collection of historic automotive accessories and parts.
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Vendée, France
Marine center housing tanks with 500 aquatic species, including tropical fish and reptiles. Visitors observe marine life through transparent tunnels.
Saint-Denis-la-Chevasse, Vendée, France
Museum institution displaying 1600 culinary objects tracing the history of French cooking and the evolution of domestic practices over centuries.
Mouilleron-Saint-Germain, Vendée, France
Historic residence turned museum with twelve exhibition spaces retracing the career and life of the former Prime Minister.
La Guérinière, Vendée, France
Collection of objects and documents on maritime and land life on Noirmoutier Island, showcasing fishing, salt, and agriculture activities over two centuries.