This new title from Bradt is the only English-language guide to focus on Pays de Loire: The Vendée and surrounding area including Pornic, La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Nantes, an increasingly popular part of France. Written by Angela Bird, who for almost 50 years has owned a home in the region, and award-winning travel writer Murray Stewart it covers everything from family holidays to walks, cycling, local cuisine and history.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMAT ION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Fauna and flora of the Vendée region, History, Architecture, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture, Sport Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights and itineraries, Tourist Information, Maps, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Senior travellers, Travellers with disabilities, Ethnic minority travellers, Gay and lesbian travellers, Travelling with kids, What to take, Money, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays (Jours Fériés), Shopping, Sightseeing and entertainment, Sports and other activities, Media and communications, Buying property PART TWO THE VENDEE Chapter 3 Northwest Vendée and the Islands Bouin, Beauvoir-sur-Mer, Île de Noirmoutier, La Barre-de-Monts and Fromentine, Bois-de-Céné, La Garnache, Challans, Sallertaine, Notre-Dame-de-Monts, St-Jean-de-Monts, Soullans, Commequiers, St-Hilaire-de-Riez, St-Gilles-Croixde-Vie, Île d'Yeu Chapter 4 L es Sables-d'Olonne, La Roche-sur-Yon and the Bas-Bocage La Roche-sur-Yon, Nesmy, Chaillé-sous-les-Ormeaux, Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits, Le Poiré-sur-Vie, Aizenay, St-Étienne-du-Bois, Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, La Mothe-Achard, Apremont, Coëx, St-Révérend, Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Brem-sur-Mer, Olonne-sur-Mer, Les Sables-d'Olonne, Les Sables (La Chaume), Jard-sur-Mer, Talmont-St-Hilaire, Avrillé Chapter 5 Southern Vendée: The Marais Poitevin The southern coast, Inland: Luçon and the dry marshes, La Venise Verte: 'Green Venice', The Marais Poitevin beyond the Vendée Chapter 6 Fontenay-le-Comte, Pouzauges and the Haut-Bocage St-Michel-Mont-Mercure, Pouzauges, St-Prouant, Mouilleron-en-Pareds, Bazoges-en-Pareds, Chantonnay, La Châtaigneraie, Vouvant, Mervent, Faymoreau, Fontenay-le-Comte, Nieul-sur-l'Autise Chapter 7 L es Herbiers, Clisson and the Vendée Wars Clisson (Loire-Atlantique), Tiffauges, Mortagnesur-Sèvre, St-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, Montaigu, Rocheservière, La Gaubretière, Mallièvre, Les Brouzils, Chavagnes-en-Paillers, Les Herbiers, Les Épesses, Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne, Les Essarts, Mouchamps PART THREE NORT H AND SOUTH OF THE VENDÉE Chapter 8 L a Rochelle and the Île de Ré La Rochelle, Île de Ré Chapter 9 Nantes, Pays de Retz and the Loire Estuary Nantes, The Pays de Retz, Northwards across the estuary, From the ocean back to Nantes: the Loire's south bank Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Further Information Index