We have gathered some information for you to make your upcoming holiday as relaxing as possible and to enhance your anticipation for your trip.

First, some general information: We belong to the municipality of Le Bernard on the Côte de Lumière ("Coast of Light"). Our region is fortunate enough to be the second sunniest department in France after the Côte d'Azur, with over 300 sunny days a year – so you have chosen your holiday well! :-)

Le Bernard is located in the south of Vendée, on the northern edge of the Marais Poitevin. Our municipality is not directly by the sea, but there are still three small coastal villages nearby, namely from north to south: Le Bouil, Le Petit-Rocher, and Les Conches.

The road from Les Conches to Angles passes through a marsh area where wild birds, including swans and storks, can be observed from the road. The deeper you venture into the marsh, the more you will spot ducks, cormorants, various wading birds (snipe, lapwing, dotterel...) and occasionally even marsh owls, which are best observed at sunset.

House rules

No pets or children under 9 allowed.
No smoking.
No parties.
No tampons or trash in the toilet.
And last but not least: no bad vibes :-)

Wifi

Network: jollychateau
Password: jollychateau

Activities and excursions

Surfing is possible at nearly all beaches here. At the nearby surf schools "Manu Surf" (also online) or with our friend Ghislain from the "Insidesurfschool," you can either rent equipment or book a surf lesson.

The Waveski world champion Océane has her kayak, SUP, and waveski rental "Paddleaventure" right next to Plage de Veillon. Here, you can rent a kayak or a SUP, or book a guided tour with oyster tasting. For exploring the area by bike or riding along the coast, it’s best to rent bicycles from "Vendéecycles" in Longeville-sur-Mer. We recommend downloading the app "Komoot" (available for Android and iOS) to discover various hiking and cycling routes around our house.

The most beautiful beaches for us are our home beach Les Conches and the sandy beaches La Terrière, La Plage de Veillon, and the rockier shores around Jard-sur-mer. All beaches and dunes are protected, so please be mindful not to enter the dunes, stay on the paths that run through them, and of course, do not leave any litter on the beach.

La Plage de Veillon is the only beach where there are small cafés at the beach entrance. In Les Conches, there are some tents on the beach during the summer where you can get something to eat and drink – but we advise you to bring some food or drink with you if you want to stay longer at the beach and not just eat fries and ice cream. :)

Nature

Just a 20-minute drive from us lies Piquet, or the "Valley of Yon." This region is also known as "the small Pyrenees of Vendée" and features a vast forest with fallen trees, rivers, and natural vegetation. Various hiking trails wind through the woods. Another nearby attraction worth visiting is the Marais Poitevin, approximately 40 minutes from us. Here, you will find the second-largest wetland in France after the Camargue, renowned for its green canals, often referred to as "green Venice." We recommend booking a guided tour that will take you through this beautiful nature on a skiff or wooden canoe. Alternatively, you can paddle on your own or rent a stand-up paddleboard (available for booking from April to September). You find more information at www.la-venise-verte.com

Shopping

You can find everything you need in Angles or Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits. The nearest and largest supermarket is "Intermarché" (either in Angles or in Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits). The supermarkets here are also open on Sundays until 12:30 PM, but there is sometimes a lunch break between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM, especially in the smaller supermarkets. The larger ones are open all day.

If you really want to go shopping, we recommend La Rochelle (60 km away), Nantes (120 km, but reachable via the highway in an hour and a half), or Les Sables d'Olonne (23 km away). In La Tranche sur Mer (9 km away), you can also stroll around, have coffee, and enjoy dining in a smaller setting. If you want to refuel affordably, always go to supermarket gas stations (almost every supermarket here has one). It is much cheaper than refueling at the highway gas stations or at independent stations. Unlike other countries, here you always have to insert your debit/credit card into the machine and enter the PIN before you can refuel!

Further tips

• The coastal town of Les Sables-d'Olonne and the beautiful city of La Rochelle are just a stone's throw away, and about an hour away you will find the impressive amusement park "Puy du Fou." We recommend watching "La Cinéscenie," the world's largest night show, which tells the story of our department. Reserve tickets in advance on the website! Nantes is also beautiful and can be reached via the highway in about an hour. Be sure to visit the "Passage Pommeraye" in the city center and "Les machines de l'Île."

• If you are in Les Sables d'Olonne, you should check out the "Île de Penotte" district (the access roads branch directly off the beach promenade). An artist has adorned the walls of this small neighborhood with beautiful shells. The market halls are also worth a visit (open only until 12:30 PM!). Les Sables d'Olonne has a very beautiful town beach where you can stroll along the promenade and enjoy a coffee or a meal in one of the many restaurants.

• The famous Île de Ré is also only about an hour's drive away from us and is a great destination with its hollyhocks in summer and the magnificent architecture, as well as the well-preserved fortifications around the capital, St. Martin. If you are already heading to La Rochelle, you can combine it with a trip to Île de Ré, which lies just off the coast of La Rochelle. However, take a little extra money with you, as the island is quite expensive :-). Our tip is to head to the capital, St. Martin, and sit in one of the small cafés by the harbor.

And there is more….

• Would you like to visit markets? You can find a list of all current markets on the website "Destination Vendée Grand Littoral." You can also visit standing stones, known as "Menhirs." In Avrillé, just around the corner from us, there is a "Menhir Trail," the "Circuit des Menhirs et Dolmens." Speaking of Menhirs: approximately here in our region is where the story of "Asterix and Obelix" took place!

• The medieval town of Clisson, located between La Roche sur Yon and Nantes, has an almost Italian feel with its impressive castle ruins, beautiful streets, and bridges. About 12 km away is the "Parc Floral de la Court d'Aron," a large and lovely flower park. Admission costs around 10 euros. Interestingly, the Hellfest, the largest metal festival in the world, takes place here with the Wacken Festival!

• In the summer months (open from April to the end of September), the beach bar "La case d'Elo" at La Terrière/Le Phare beach is highly recommended. The smaller counterpart to "La case d'Elo" is called "Cabane de Marie" and is located at La Tranche sur Mer beach. The opening hours depend on the weather. Make sure to check their Facebook pages!

• Also about an hour's drive from us, you will find the largest Japanese garden in Europe, the "Parc Oriental de Maulévrier," set on 12 hectares, incredibly beautiful! Between May and September, guided evening walks with lanterns and storytellers are regularly held there (unfortunately only in French, but the atmosphere is worth it even if you don't speak the language).

• In the summer, numerous night markets (marchés nocturnes) take place. You can find them all on the Vendée Grand Littoral website. In Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, about 15 minutes away from us, there is a beautiful old castle ruin that you can visit. A museum showcasing the history of our department can be found not far from us at the "Logis de la Charbotterie." There is also a very nice restaurant for after your museum visit.

• On the way to the beach in Les Conches, you will find the "Banc de Sable," operated by the German-speaking Ana and her partner Manu (the owner of the surf school). In the summer, various concerts take place here, and you can enjoy a glass of wine or beer, order a punch, or have brunch (open from April to September). Additionally, you can take a look at the concept store next to the restaurant. Ana's mother, Annette van Rhysen, creates beautiful (though somewhat expensive) ceramics that you can take home!

• Speaking of surf shops: We love the Novafun Surfshop in La Tranche sur Mer because the owners are super nice and the shop isn't too hipster. Owner Pascal has been surfing for decades and knows exactly what he can offer you.

• You love wine and would like to take some local wine home with you? Then we recommend a visit to "Vignobles Mourat," about 40 minutes from our house. There, guided tours of the vineyards are offered, followed by a wine tasting.

• Would you like a massage or a tattoo? Alexandra has her "Le p'tit atelier" in Longeville-sur-mer near the church, where you can book a massage or an appointment for a small tattoo to take home. Massages can be conveniently booked online through her website. For all tattoo inquiries, please contact Alexandra in advance at leptitateliervendee@gmail.com. Speaking of Longeville-sur-mer: there is a super cute market around the church every Monday and Friday!

  Restaurants

• "L'Antica" In Talmont Saint Hilaire, about a 10-minute drive away, there is incredibly (!) good pizza from a huge stone oven that was specially made in Naples. (9 Rue du Ctre, 85440 Talmont-Saint-Hilaire)

• "Racine" The restaurant run by an incredibly nice couple offers top-notch cuisine with a small menu (fish/meat, no vegetarian options) at moderate prices. One of our favorite restaurants (also because you don't have to dress up and the decor is so lovely). Be sure to reserve a table in advance, as it is a small restaurant that has become very popular! (7 Sq. Dr. Pierre Prévost, 85750 Angles)

• "L'Astrolabe" in La Rochelle. That's something different! If you're already in the area for a day trip, we can only recommend this restaurant. Located just behind the market halls in the center, this restaurant offers excellent cuisine (including vegetarian options) in a truly stylish and cozy interior. It's really something special that you should try!(35 Rue Gambetta, 17000 La Rochelle)

• "Canoa", Also in Jard-sur-Mer. Good cocktails, close to the sea, and for vegetables, there is the "assiette chaude végétale," which is really very good.(39 Rue des Sables d'Or, 85520 Jard-sur-Mer)

• "Taj Mahal" Authentic Indian restaurant in La Roche sur Yon.18 Rue Paul Baudry, 85000 La Roche-sur-Yon)

• "Nonna",really good Italian restaurant in Les Sables d'Olonne with a lovely outdoor terrace, good cocktails (try the Fiorente Spritz as an aperitif!) and close to the beach.(20 Av. Rhin et Danube, 85100 Les Sables-d'Olonne) mit der Möglichkeit, online zu reservieren.

• "L'Étage"In La Tranche sur Mer. Very good, solid restaurant with a variety of grill specialties from an open wood grill. (10 Rue Aristide Briand, 85360 La Tranche-sur-Mer)

• Sie mögen Austern? Dann empfehlen wir Ihnen einen Ausflug zu den Austernbänken "La Guittière" in Talmont Saint Hilaire. Dort können Sie fangfrische Austern und ein Glas Wein an rustikalen Holztischen inmitten von Tausenden von Austernschalen auf dem Boden genießen. Oder Sie nehmen ein paar Austern mit und setzen sich auf eine Picknickdecke am nahe gelegenen Strand "La Plage de Veillon". Sie mögen keine Austern? Dann lassen Sie sie durch Garnelen ersetzen!

Some tips for visiting a French restaurant:

• Never immediately speak English. Instead, try a few words in French (just give it a shot - even if you know little!). It helps break the ice, even if you only say three words! Or at least ask first if someone speaks English. This applies to basically every situation. The French take great pride in their country, their food, and their language, and they do not appreciate being expected to speak English (or another language) ;-) If you try French and they speak English they are happy to switch. But show them you are willing to try :)

• Wait until you are assigned a seat. Unlike in many other countries, you must wait until a waitress or waiter shows you to your table.

• Do not discuss the menu or exchange ingredients (unless you are really allergic to something).

• The order is always the same: Wait until you have received a table. Enjoy an aperitif while studying the menu (if you want to be local: The regional aperitif is "Trouspinette," a liqueur made from sloe berries. "Kir pétillant," a sparkling wine mixed with various syrups, usually blackberry, peach, or blackcurrant, is also very popular). Then order your meal. Don’t skip dessert. And the most important thing is: Take your time. Don’t rush through the meal - you are a) in France and b) on vacation! :-)

• Tipping in a restaurant is not very common in France, but it is appreciated all the more when it is actually given.

• Last but not least, but perhaps important for you: Being a vegetarian - if you are - might be a challenge when visiting France. Vegetarian dishes are rare (except in the big cities). Since we have been here, we have noticed that there are increasingly more vegetarian options in restaurants and that awareness and availability of organic products are growing, but France unfortunately still has a strong meat culture despite all this. A small plus point might be that the meat in almost all restaurants is of high quality; the French do not like cheap and inferior food. Among the restaurants we have listed above, you will feel most comfortable as a vegetarian in L'Antica, Nonna, Canoa, Taj Mahal and L'Astrolabe.

For all restaurants, you should definitely make a reservation during the high season! Many restaurants also offer a cheaper lunch, usually between 12:00 and 14:00. Please note! All restaurants open in the evening around 19:30 (not before), and it is generally very difficult to find something to eat between 14:00 and 19:00. Make sure to have lunch between 12:00 and 14:00; otherwise, you might have to wait until the restaurants open in the evening :-). Most bakeries, however, are open all day, for example, "Frères Bonnin" in Angles (at the roundabout towards La Tranche sur mer) also has savory options that you can quickly grab for a lunch snack. Nothing fancy, but if you're really hungry, it might be a good idea to stop by there.

The nearest pharmacy is located in Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits. Additionally, we have two excellent osteopaths nearby: our close friend Renaud Rannou in Jard sur Mer and Renaud Duprez in La Tranche sur Mer. You can reach the emergency services at +33-15. There are two hospitals in La Roche sur Yon (Clinique St. Charles or Hôpital départemental) and one in Luçon. The phone number for the fire department is 0251 98 96 15, and for the police, it is 0251 98 91 45. In emergencies, you can contact us at +33 768 55 88 02 (also WhatsApp). Check-in is at 4:00 PM, and check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Before you go:
Turn off the lights
Close the windows
Notify us about your departure
You can also follow us on Instagram (@jollychateau) and tag us in your stories/posts so we can share them :)
And lastly: Please treat our home as if it were your own.
Have a wonderful stay! :)