PAYS DE SAINT GILLES CROIX DE VIE ❘ THE VENDÉE
3 THINGS NOT TO MISS • Stroll the atmospheric port and taste fresh- from-the-ocean fish and seafood
• Admire the ocean views along the Corniche Vendéenne
• Go wine tasting at the organic wineries of Brem sur Mer
Clockwise from far left: Explore the aquamarine waters by kayak; Saint Gilles Croix de Vie sits astride La Vie river; a salter in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez; exploring by bike; La Tour Joséphine lighthouse; the Escale Pêche museum; a bird’s eye view of the Église Saint-Nicolas; try your hand at sailing and other watersports; sardines are a local speciality
museum, which offers English-language exhibitions and tastings, and a stop at the Halles Couvertes before heading north along La Vie into the Marais Salants. Just minutes from the Centre- Ville, the picturesque patchwork of salt marshes is a bird-watching paradise and dotted with traditional salt farms. Book a guided tour to watch a salt harvesting demonstration and pick up a bag of local salt as a souvenir.
BACK TO NATURE
While having a car is useful for exploring the surrounding areas, many of Saint Gilles Croix de Vie’s natural corners can be easily reached by bike (electric and mountain bike rentals are available), and with direct trains to Nantes, it’s quite possible to leave the car behind. The top destination for beach-goers is the almost two-mile-long Grande Plage, where you can get your adrenaline fix surfing,
bodyboarding, and kite-surfing. The paved seafront promenade fills up with holidaymakers in the summer months, and it’s lined with ocean-view restaurants. Be sure to snap a photo of Saint Gilles’ most Instagram-worthy vista – a row of bright-blue beach huts that stare out across the beach. Further south, the dunes du Jaunay fringe the beachside, and walking and cycling trails lead all the way down the coast to the market town of Bretignolles- sur-Mer. On the other side of the dunes, the calmer waters of the River Jaunay offer a tranquil spot for kayaking and paddleboarding.
Cap off your explorations in the vine-clad fishing village of Brem-sur-Mer, perched on the northern cusp of the Olonne marshes and famed for its AOC Fiefs Vendéen wines. There are two wine-tasting routes to discover in Brem, and equally recommended is a table at Les Genêts or Les Brisants (in neighbouring Bretignolles-sur-Mer), where the region’s seafood gets a Michelin-starred makeover. A fitting way
to end your sojourn by the sea. • Further information: www.
payssaintgilles-tourisme.fr
❯❯ Feb/Mar 2023 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 119
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