"Atlantic Toboggan" water park
St Hilaire de Riez, Vendee (near St Gilles and St Jean de Monts)
Outdoor auquatic fun park set around a lake. Huge 28° fun pool with waves, toddlers pool, 100m dinghy run, 250m slide, jacuzzis, geysers, picnic area, snack bar. Link to Atlantic Toboggan

"Oceanile"
Noirmoutier
A similar park on the island of Noirmoutier which also has a covered pool. Open late June to early September, 10.00 to 19.00.
Link to Oceanile

 

 

Opening :

Mid June to early September 10.30 to 19.30 

"Feeling Forest"
St Hilaire de Riez, Vendee (near St Gilles and St Jean de Monts)
Pine forest adventure park. 2 to 3 hour course. Inflatable games, miniature golf, picnic area, snacks. You must book in advance:
Tel. 0033 (0)6 26 43 15 21. Minimum height to upheld hands 1m40.
Link to Feeling Forest
Link on this site to Quads, Paint Ball and Go-karting at St Reverend

 

 

Opening :

Mid April to early September  

Perfumed Gardens - "Jardin des Olfacties"
Coex, Vendee (Between St Gilles and Aizenay)
Botanical garden of 3500 scented and unusal plants. 2 hour visit.
Arranged in different settings and different themes. Exhibitions and demonstrations. Gift shop with natural perfumes and products.
Floodlit night visits (1 hour) Wednesdays and Fidays in July/August.
Link to Jardin des Olfacties

 

 

Opening :

Early April to end of September  14.00 to 19.00

Indoor leisure park "Ile aux Jeux"
Challans, Vendee (also similar one at St Hilaire de Riez)
Indoor leisure park for children. 800m². Inflatable games, bouncy castle, trampolines, and more. Baby area. Near to the shopping centre.
Link to Ile aux Jeux

 

 

Opening :

Wednesdays and weekends
10 to 12.30
14 to 18.30  

Velo Rail
Commequiers, Vendee (just south of Challans)
A ride through 10km of countryside on the former railway line on a
pedal-driven cart. In groups up to 4. Picnic possible half way.
Reserve in advance. Tel. 0033 (0)2 51 54 79 99
June - departures 10.00, 14.00, 16.30
July/August - departures at 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00.
Other times - departures 14.00, 16.30
Link to Velo Rail   See their video

 

 

Opening :

Early April to end of October. Closed Tuesdays  

Apremont - village, chateau and lake
Apremont, Vendee (Between St Gilles and Aizenay)
Charming village to visit with its chateau and its lake with beach - swimming, pedalos, etc.

The Chateau of Apremont: Dates from XIII century. Overlooking the river on a rocky outcrop. The two existing towers date from the XVI century, built on the medieval site by Philippe Chabot de Brion.
Chateau visits: April, May 14.00 to 18.00, Summer 10.30 to 19.00.
September 10.30 to 18.00
Link to Chateau

 

 

Opening :

Early April to end of September

The wind garden - "Jardin du Vent"
Notre Dame de Monts, Vendee (near Noirmoutier)
A novel garden to visit - new exhibits each year, sculptures, wind chimes, gift shop... Children's fun workshops in July and August.
June July August - Weekdays 10.00 to 19.00, W/E 14.00 to 19.00
Other times - 14.00 to 18.00, closed Mondays.
Link to Jardin du Vent

 

 

Opening :

Early April to end October

Salt Production - "Marais Salants de la Vie"
St Hilaire de Riez, Vendee (near St Gilles and St Jean de Monts)
Visit to the traditional salt production in the salt marshes. See the various stages of evaporation and how the salt is collected and graded. Exhibition to see and sale of "fleur de sel" and sea salt.
Link to salt production

 

 

Opening :

15th June
to 15th September  

"Sealand" aquarium
Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Vendee
200 metre circuit taking about 1hr 15. 200 different species, both tropical and cold water. Performing seals. Gift shop.
July August - 10.00 to 20.00
Other times - 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 19.00
Link to aquarium

 

 

Opening :

February to November

Boating lake - 'Les P'tits Mousses"
St Gilles Croix de Vie, Vendee - Avenue de la Cour Saint-Laud
Children's boating lake on the Jaunay river, with various electric boats for hire, canoes, padalos. Tel. 0033 (0)6 84 92 89 97
June - 13.30 to 18.30
July August - 10.00 to 19.00

 

 

Opening :
June July August

Butterfly house - "Ile aux Papillons"
La Gueriniere, Nourmoutier, Vendee
The largest butterfly house in France, with hundreds of species from all over the world. The butterflys fly freely amongst tropical plants. Educational displays and film. Picnic area and gift shop.
June July August - 10.00 to 19.30
Other times - 14.00 to 19.00
Link to Ile aux Papillons

 

 

Opening :

April to September