Vendée, land of tales

Originally

As the land of many tales and claimed freedoms, the Vendée region preserves a slice of French history within its borders: main character to some of the pivotal moments that shaped the nation, and animated, today, by the actions of the men and women who wholeheartedly commit to their beliefs.

Over the centuries

From the Chouan revolts to the uprising led by Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Siciles, a common theme emerges : Paris will not dictate Vendée’s destiny. In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the people of Vendée refused to participate in the national conscription effort, arguing that the proclaimed equality in Paris favoured only the fortunate few. Between 1793 and 1794, almost 10,000 men and women paid for this defiance with their lives. Almost forty years later, Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Siciles would attempt to revive this rebellious spirit, this time against Louis-Philippe the 1st.

Nowadays

A distinct love for France is vividly brought to life at the Puy-du-Fou nowadays. Each year, two and a half million people come together to witness spectacular historical pageants . A chance to connect with the 3,500 volunteers involved in these festivities, contemporary testament to the enduring patriotic spirit of the region.

Did you know?

• The Resistance of Vendée, as depicted by Alexandre Solzhenitsyn, who inaugurated the Memorial of the Wars in Vendée and wrote: "Today, I believe, the French will increasingly come to better understand, to better appreciate, to proudly hold in their memory the resistance and sacrifice of Vendée.

• The salt marshes of the Bay of l'Aiguillon, known as "mizottes," annually host hundreds of migratory birds, an echo to the Puy Du Fou's falconry which raises over 500 birds of 73 different species, primarily raptors and swallows.

• The Puy-du-Fou forest, featuring century-old oaks, chestnut trees, ferns, and aquatic plants, spans 25 kilometres of preserved nature across more than 50 hectares, with 250 plant species. Not to mention the mythical European glasswort...

• The voices of Dumbledore and Gandalf, portrayed by Marc Cassot and Jean Piat, accompanied the nighttime spectacle at Puy-du-Fou. This "cinéscénie" features 2600 actors performing in front of 13,000 spectators per show, offering a unique portrayal of Vendée's history, centred around a different character each year.

• The hip-hop festival "Ramène ton flow", with its inaugural edition held in 2023, brings together diverse artistic realms, including a freestyle stage curated by the “école des 100 solutions”.

• “The Other Factory", the largest indoor sports and leisure facility in Europe, spans 16,000 square metres in Cholet, near Puy Du Fou, home to "Le Grand Défi," the largest treetop adventure park… in the world.

• Vendéspace, a 21,000-square-metre sports and cultural complex designed by Paul Chemetov (known for the creation of the second part of Les Halles in Paris, Palais Omnisports, Arènes de Metz...), will host the "Basketball Week" from June 1st to 9th, the French Cheerleading Championship, and the training camp for the French women's team.

• From football to sailing : between the Montaigu-Vendée Football, a historic training site for young footballers and the venue for an international tournament that has seen the world's best players, and the starting point of the Vendée Globe in Les Sables d'Olonne.