Culture, leisure, nature… at the Butchers, this area of ​​56 hectares was acquired by the department of Vendée. Located in the center of large migration areas, the bird sanctuary Landes-Genusson is a haven for passerines, birds of prey and water birds. Some days, more than 2,000 birds park there and occupy the surroundings of the ponds.

This natural area consists of :

• 3 ponds with a total area of ​​30 hectares

• a space intended for the reception of the public (house of the pond, health, parking, lawns),

• particularly fragile areas reserved for birds and closed to the public.

Discovery of the environment :

Butchers' ponds are a favorite place for migrating and breeding birds. The majority of diving and surface ducks are present, such as scaup, scaup, coot, which account for 70 to 90% of the department's population. More than a thousand birds are counted each winter.

Herbaceous vegetation, typical of wetlands, characterizes this environment. There is an area with iris behind which a cariçaie and a jonçaie. A willow will advance to the north of the large pond. Border hedges are diversified with oaks, ash trees, hawthorns, brambles. 13 hectares were wooded in 1988 with local species (14 000 feet of maple, oak and pedunculate oak).

The ponds are nursed with roach, tench, pike and black bass.

The public can freely access the area reserved for them around the pond house and on the dike of the big pond where they can discover the space as a whole. On the latter, it can engage in fishing from July 1 to August 31 (fishing cards issued by the approved associations of fishing and fish farming).

To discover the educational programs, follow the link : http://www.edap.vendee.fr/Lieux-d-action/Cite-des-Oiseaux

To discover the webcam of the Cité des oiseaux, follow the link : http://www.vendee.fr/Webcams/Cite-des-oiseaux

Le Puy du Fou, one of Vendée's top tourist attractions located in the municipality of Les Épesses, can be proud of having been voted world's best park on several occasions! The legendary night-time Cinéscénie show has contributed to the park's fame, harnessing new technology to create an awe-inspiring, ever-changing set where over 2,500 actors bring Vendée's history back to life. Another prestigious evening show has been added for 2020, Les Noces de Feu, a fairy-tale wedding on the lake against a magical backdrop of water and fire.

You will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of performances on a historical theme, all created with the aim of surprising and enchanting visitors. Watch the impressive demonstration of the Circus Games on the terraces of the Gallo-Roman Stadium, or the merciless attack of the Vikings. Tremble before a swashbuckling show with Mousquetaire de Richelieu. Step back in time with Le Grand Carillon, an unusual musical choreography display set in the charming 18th-century village. Soak up the atmosphere of the three other period villages: La Cité Médiévale (a medieval city), Le Bourg 1900 (a turn-of-the-century town square) and the Fort de l'An Mil (a hamlet from the year 1000). Relive the splendid days of Versailles with Les Grandes Eaux, and join the Court of the Sun King by following Louis XIV into the pavilions of his prestigious palace.

You can also see falcons, owls and vultures fly close by at the Bal des Oiseaux Fantômes, or visit Le Labyrinthe des Animaux, a hedge maze where the surprises awaiting you are sure to make you jump. Walking and sightseeing are also part of the programme. The castle rooms will reveal their Renaissance treasures to you, while the many natural areas, such as La Clairière aux Daims (a forest with deer), La Vallée Fleurie (a lush valley) and La Prairie des Animaux (a nature reserve with many animals) offer some idyllic walks on which to admire the park's flora and fauna. But that's not all... You are sure to find many more gems to astound, impress and move you, and bring some unforgettable memories home!

On the banks of the Sèvre Nantaise, Clisson in Loire-Atlantique instantly charms walkers with its medieval air and Tuscan influence. Standing on a rocky promontory, its medieval character is clearly recognisable in its cobbled and sloping streets, the remains of the castle, a former fortress flanked by towers built between the 11th and 17th centuries, the bridges, the Romanesque church and the magnificent 15th-century covered market. The whole town is embellished by Italian architecture represented by tile and brick villas, Classical statues, arcades... Pay a visit to the Garenne Lemot estate on the banks of the Sèvre Nantaise, where you can stroll through the superb park and admire a typical Tuscan-style villa. Walk up one of the town's flights of steps to enjoy a lovely view over the tiled rooftops.

In the capital of the Nantes vineyard, the winegrowers of Clisson open their cellars to visitors for tastings that are a wine-lover's delight.

In June, the city hosts famous events such as the Montmartre art festival in Clisson and the Hellfest metal music festival, where the huge 10-metre-tall guitar is a curiosity in itself!

Linen weaving and the production of the famous red handkerchiefs have made the town of Cholet famous.

The Textile museum housed in the former Rivière Sauvageau laundry recounts the history of the textile industry around Cholet and describes the manufacturing techniques. Weaving demonstrations are also put on.

At the edge of the Loire, the Nantes vineyard stretches as far as the departments of Maine-et-Loire and Vendée, covering around 15,000 hectares. This is the largest wine-growing area in the Loire Valley. It is famous for producing dry white wines like Muscadet, its flagship wine, and Gros Plant.

The Nantes vineyard offers a wonderful range of landscapes and sites that you can discover on a country trail called "Journey in the vineyard". You are invited on a historical and cultural journey, on foot along one of the 38 walking circuits or by car following the signs. The programme includes the Muscadet vines, the Goulaine marsh, the Sèvre Nantaise riverbanks, beautiful natural sites and picturesque places like Clisson with its Tuscan feel.

To round off your visit, meet the winegrowers and head to Le Pallet to visit the Nantes Vineyard Museum, which houses a collection of over 500 objects from the 16th century to the present day, relating to the history and know-how of the region's winegrowers.

The Logis de la Chabotterie, a typical Vendée stone manor house in Saint-Sulpice-le-Verdon, has furnished rooms, a permanent exhibition on the subject of the War of the Vendée and General Charette and a beautiful walled formal garden featuring flowerbeds, old roses and aromatic plants.

The Chemin de Charette path through Chabotterie wood leads to a monument commemorating the place where General Charette was arrested in 1796.

A Baroque music festival, Musiques à la Chabotterie, takes place every year in July and August.

Monday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Tuesday: Fermé
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM, 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM

Situated in Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne, The Historial de la Vendée is a museum recounting the history of the Vendée, from Prehistory to our days. The Historial also houses a small museum for children about the history of food.

World-famous for its luxurious buildings, the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Chalonnes-sur-Loire in Anjou to Sully-sur-Loire in the Loiret, it boasts a huge amount of historic, architectural, cultural and natural treasures.

Not to be missed in the Maine-et-Loire are the châteaux of Saumur, Angers, Serrant, Montsoreau, Brissac-Quincé and Brézé, as well as Fontevraud abbey. Charming villages also lie along the Loire Valley, such as Champtoceaux, Béhuard, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, Montjean-sur-Loire, Ingrandes and Montsoreau. The scenic cliff-top Anjou road, which stretches from Chalonnes-sur-Loire to Rochefort-sur-Loire, offers a magnificent view of the green landscapes of the Loire Valley.

In the Loir-et-Cher, the Château de Chambord, the Château Royal de Blois, the Château de Cheverny and the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire are some of the area's must-see sights.

The must-see castles in the Indre-et-Loire are the Château de Chenonceau, nicknamed the Ladies Castle, the Château d'Amboise, the first royal castle of the Renaissance, the Château de Villandry and its remarkable gardens, and the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau standing like a jewel on the Indre River. Prestigious, majestic and steeped in history, they are all awe-inspiring and enchanting.

Sights not to be missed in the Loiret include the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Briare aqueduct, Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire abbey and the towns of Beaugency, Meung-sur-Loire and Orléans.

The history museum of the city of Nantes since 1924, the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany Museum is the last castle on the banks of the River Loire before it reaches the ocean, and is based in buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries. This is where Duchess Anne of Brittany was born, and where Henry IV signed the Edict of Nantes, authorising Protestants to freely practise their religion.

The 7 sequences spread across 32 rooms, whose design was fully overhauled in 2016, make up a museum trail that tells the story of the city, from ducal Brittany to the city of today, through port and industrial activities and social movements.

Major historical events are explored extensively, from the Edict of Nantes to "black gold", from the Revolution to the two World Wars, through a collection of over 1,000 objects. The trail ends with a vision of the city, a multimedia creation by the contemporary artist Pierrick Sorin.

Visitors can enjoy guided or self-guided tours, and the site regularly hosts exhibitions.

Nestled at the confluence of the Loire and Erdre rivers, Nantes is a surprising city in the Loire-Atlantique department, elegantly oscillating between past and modernity.

Start your visit with the old town, a nice place to stroll around where you can discover many historic buildings. The Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul has a beautiful tuffeau interior and is lit by a huge 25-metre-tall stained glass window, dedicated to the Breton saints. It is here, in the right arm of the transept, that the tomb of Francis II is located.

As you continue your walk, you can admire various 18th and 19th-century buildings and half-timbered houses in the old Le Bouffay district. Feel like doing a little shopping or satisfying your appetite? Visit the Passage Pommeraye, a superb 19th-century covered mall. You will find shops and restaurants on its three floors. Notice the beautiful wooden and metal staircase, glass roof and fluted columns!

The 15th-century Castle of the Dukes of Brittany stands at the heart of the old town, which earned Nantes the moniker of City of Dukes. It was once a fortress, as evidenced by the moat and towers with Breton machicolations. The tower of the Golden Crown, the well with wrought iron armatures featuring the ducal crown, and the large dwelling designed for Francis II and adorned with Gothic dormers are among the castle's must-see sights. In addition, the castle houses the Nantes History Museum, which offers an unusual way to discover the city. You follow a trail divided into seven sequences, from Francis I to the present day, as well as industrial Nantes and its current revival.

Make a detour via the Quai de la Fosse to admire some 18th-century residences and go as far as number 86: now outbuildings for the Durbé mansion, they were once used as a warehouse by the French East India Company.

Nantes has many green spaces such as the Japanese garden and its waterfalls, located on the Ile de Versailles. With a rich collection of cacti and flora from Brittany but also North America, Asia and Africa, the Botanical Garden (Jardin des Plantes), adorned with water features, is another pleasant place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Into art and history? Head to the Fine Arts Museum where around a thousand works are exhibited, including European paintings dating from the 13th century to the present day. The Natural History Museum has beautiful collections on different themes: zoology, regional wildlife and mineralogy. As you walk along its paths, you will be awestruck by the spectacular skeletons of a fin whale and a basilosaurus isis - the ancestor of the whale and the only such specimen in France.

Your tour of Nantes now continues with the Ile Feydeau, which was once a marshy island. In 1926, the city decided to fill in the arms of the River Loire and the island was thus attached to the city.

Then head to the Ile de Nantes to discover an extraordinary attraction: the Machines of the Isle (Les Machines de l'île). This exhibition space is often likened to a skilful blend of the world of Jules Verne and the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. What you will see is unique: animals made of wood and steel, arranged in scenes in a surprising gallery. Go for a ride on the elephant, a gigantic structure with room for about fifty passengers. Set off to discover the world of the sea at the Marine World Carousel, whose dimensions are dizzying: 25 metres tall and 22 metres in diameter! Inside this mechanical aquarium, all aspects of the sea are revealed, from the deepest abysses to the surface, not forgetting the sea beds.

Finish this extraordinary tour at the workshop terraces: this is where the awe-inspiring creatures are made, and you can even watch their creators building them.

Built in 1804 by Napoleon I, the town of La Roche-sur-Yon abounds in typical early 19th-century Neoclassical buildings. The Napoleon Trail, signposted with information panels, takes visitors on a tour of sites such as Place Napoleon, a square where an equestrian statue of Napoleon I stands, Saint-Louis church, the town hall (Hôtel de Ville), the former law courts (Palais de Justice), the imperial secondary school, the theatre, the Prefecture and the national stud (Haras National).

Perched on a hillside overlooking the roofs of the capital of Vendée's hedged farmland, Bressuire Castle, the fief of the Beaumont-Bressuire family from the 11th to the 16th century, played an important role in the struggles that took place in Poitou between the Kings of France and England. Bressuire Fortress has kept a number of relics of its medieval past, for instance the two walls from the 11th and 13th centuries, dotted with towers. A small Neo-Gothic castle, built in the 19th century on the site of the seigniorial lodge, now hosts temporary exhibitions.

Also discover the Church of Our Lady, from the 11th-16th centuries, with its imposing 56-metre bell tower!