The wild Atlantic coast, the long sandy beaches, the villages and villages with irreducible charm... The reputation of the Vendée is no longer to be done. This department of Pays de la Loire has become a favorite destination for tourists French and foreign. Between nature and farniente, there is something for everyone in the Vendée !

La Roche-sur-Yon, the main town of the department since its foundation. This ancient village of 650 inhabitants underwent a real metamorphosis when, on May 25, 1804, Napoleon declared that the prefecture of Vendée would be transferred there. It is then a modern city that takes shape on the model of a pentagon. Today, it still has the influence of its illustrious founder on its monuments. Facing the famous Place Napoléon, the central point of the city, the Church of Saint Louis, commissioned by the Emperor in 1808, takes up the architectural aesthetics of the great Roman monuments. This neoclassical architecture has six columns and two pilasters on its imposing façade which make it a popular stop for art lovers. More unusual, the Chocolate Museum of Roche-sur-Yon makes you travel through time to become incollable on the cocoa beans and their many variations. Follow a gourmet course punctuated with tastings to discover the origins of chocolate in a fun way. You can also observe the work of the chocolatiers, who make before your eyes small delights to ancestral recipes.

Fancy walking along the Côte de Lumière ? Go to Les Sables d'Olonne ! This seaside resort is famous for its trails up the coast and its charming sandy beaches. It is also a well-known place for enthusiasts of water sports, including sailing. Les Sables d'Olonne is indeed the starting point of the Vendée Globe, a single-handed sailing race in the world whose fame goes beyond our borders. For history buffs, a little detour by the Museum of Popular Traditions will not disappoint you. Reconstitutions of the everyday life of the beginning of the 20th century, exhibitions of crafts and costumes... An attractive program that will take you to the heart of Sablais life one hundred years ago.

Finally, one can not go to Vendée without visiting the Island of Noirmoutier. This treasure of the Atlantic coast is the ideal place for nature lovers. Admire the salt marshes and sand dunes that make up this remarkable landscape. Take a detour to the Château de Noirmoutier, a medieval military architecture dating from the 12th century, where you will find a museum retracing the origins of the island through a rich collection.