Places to see near la garangeoire

[Diamondsandpearls01]

Hi, I’m about to book a week’s camping at La Garangeoire for the end of August for my family - my DH and 2 DC ages 5 & 9. We love exploring, visiting villages, shopping, mooching in cafes etc - (as well as just chilling by the pool) and suddenly I’m realising there may not be too much of that in the surrounding area. Does anyone know what there is to do round there? Our other option is the Dordogne, but it’s so much further to drive to. Or does anyone have any other recommendations?!
Thanks

You have to go to Fred's pattiserie in St Giles (good for a mooch but busy). You can have an afternoon cake. Utterly, completely amazing. Beaches at Dunes 2 between Brem sur Mer and Brettignoles. Get there in the morning. Really lovely beach shack cafe. There is a famous Chateaux of the chap that led the Vendean revolution about an hour away and the museum of the Vendee is nearby too. Go on Madame's walk on a Wednesday morning to find out about the Vendee and the revolution. Very interesting and explains a lot about the landscape. Olonne Sur Mer is busy but quite nice along the prom.

Thanks. Really helpful info. Especially the bit about the cake!

Take a road trip out to Noirmoutier (but not on a Sunday when the whole of France goes!). Time it so that you can cross one way using the causeway (D948), you can park up and walk along the beach too.

Apremont has a small chateau, plus you can take a lift up the water tower. There's a lovely bathing lake there too.

Puy du fou is about an hours drive away, but worth it. There is a lot of walking though, so would depend on your 5 year old. Nantes is also about an hour too.

We are going at the same time (for the 8th year in a row), and we struggle to leave the site (so much to do). i would agree with all the places mentioned. also Lac du Jauney is close by. Just down the road is "Le Grand Defi", a Go-ape like park, 5 mins drive down the road. suitable for 5+ (different trails for different ages)

You must go to Puy du Fou. I can't quite describe it without it sounding shit so I would just say google it.
It looks on first glance like somewhere which would be boring, DH looked askance at me for suggesting it but it is so brilliant, the whole family will love it!
We are going back again this year as going back to the Vendée, to a different campsite this year (although went to La G last year and loved it, didn't get round to rebooking in time this year)

As Giraffe says, Puy du Fou is a must. It's amazing and your DCs will love it.

tbh we just did beach and playing on the campsite for 90% of the time. It's such a fab place. We went 3 times I think - nowhere else in the Vendee came close.

Yes we are going to Chateau la Forêt this year but I already know it won’t be as good. And I wanted to try La Guyonnière as that did look as good but couldn’t do our dates. Must book earlier next year!

We're off to La G beginning of Aug for 2nd time! Le Grand Defi is amazing - our 5 year old LOVED it as there's a really substantial course for that age and it's only about €15 for 2-3 hrs.

We loved market day at Bretignolle - as always get there early - 8.30 is good so we did it early in the holiday before we'd got into a later routine.

Really nice beach and cycle path on promenade at st Jean de monts, bring a sun shelter if you can.
Auberge du jaunay creperie is fab for a meal - about 10 min drive and a lakeside walk
Just back from La G - have a great time

Fusion we’re also going early August for our second time.

Just remembered that we did the velo rail - lots of fun!

Book online though, which you can normally do a few days before, take drinks and snacks to have on the journey. A carriage behind us bought champagne for the stop at the end.

Lovely creperie right next to the starting station too.

Ooh we are off to La G in September for the first time so this thread is really helpful! I’ve been doing a bit of research and come across a chateau which is also a setting for treasure trails and looks like a lot of fun - chateau des enigmes, possibly. I also have a helpful guidebook recommended on here by a lady called Angela Bird.

People who have been to puy de fou, would it be suitable for toddlers (18 months and almost 4) or more for older children?

@fusionchefgeoff
Is La Grand Defi the adventure trail near La G? trying to work out if it's the same place as the one onsite at Chateau la Foret where we are going this year.

Re Puy du Fou, we had 2/4/14 year olds last year and they all enjoyed it. I think they probably get slightly more from it when they are older, the little one didn't like the Viking show for example but the one with all the birds of prey was a hit with everyone.

Yes I think it’s one and the same. It is HOT HOT HOT here at the moment!! We arrived yesterday so nothing much new to add. If you’ve got any golf balls knocking around at home you can save the €2 per ball for mini golf!

Bring a nice big inflatable for the lagoon. If your children are young, bikes or scooters are a must.

If your children are older, be prepared that you might end up having to build a raft for the Crossing the Lake challenge. We've ended up spending a small fortune on cable ties and rubble sacks in Brico

We arrive on Wednesday for a week - have been in the South so far.

Are there any 'off the beaten track' beaches you'd recommend? We had an ok time at Sables Des Olonnes last year (and the BEST lunch!) but would like to find a less towny spot this time.

Just looking at Veillon which looks nice?

Also, with Lac de Jauny is it a swimming lake?

@MrCSWS the Lac de Journay question was for you if you can help??

Dunes 2 at Brem is a lovely, lovely beach. Missing it!

Plage de la Paracou, just north of Les Sables, is great. It's got a retaining wall to give a safe bathing area. Good blend of sandy play and rock pools.

@fusionchefgeoff what was your amazing lunch spot, please?

@giraffeski - sounds like ours would be a bit small for puy de fou - 4 year old was terrified of the theatre even when it was Julia Donaldson extravaganza!

@LePetitPont TripAdvisor has reliably informed me it was Las Regates.

We've come back from a fab day at Les Dunes. Dunes 1 has a great Little beach cafe which did incredible chi-chi fresh fried doughnuts yum yum!

No, you cannot swim in lac de jaunay. I was reliably informed by Jean luc on the family bike ride last Thursday that this was because it was a "new" lake! Apremont is the best place for that