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An EnthuZiaZT's Glimpse of the Vendeé |
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EnthuZiaZT
Club Member Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Location: CB6 2PB Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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Posted: 11 Aug 2013 at 9:59pm |
We had a wonderful time in France in July, so we thought you would like to share our adventures with us, sorry it’s a bit late and picture heavy, but there were so many, it was hard to choose which to leave out!
St Jean du Monts in the Vendeé and the Ile de Ré The impressive Bridge at St Nazaire on the journey down. At €16 (£14) this 3km bridge to the Ile de Ré is the most expensive toll we’ve ever known. Very commercialised, there were so many bicycles, it was worse than a busy day in Cambridge! Passage Du Gois (French for - to wade) at Ile de Noirmontier This 4 km tidal passage was first used in the 16th Century and has Balises (Towers) for stranded motorists to climb if caught out by the tide!! Every day it is inundated with locals digging for shellfish. There is an awesome bridge that was built in 1971, so you can escape from the island , if you miss the tide.!! Mike with The Bridge in the background Cross to commemorate lives lost. The sea flooding back over at High tide, luckily everyone was across, but it had taken over 3 hours. The Castle at Tiffauges was very impressive, built on the river Sevré between the 12th and 15th Century it has a very dark legend as it was the home of Giles De Rais, a notorious child murderer and rapist, a friend of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) he was later to be known as Bluebeard. Very entertaining with a play and a 3D film and a grandstanded outdoor display of Medieval Warfare and Weapons with the chance to watch everything all over again if you missed anything. An incredible place for Children as they can dress up and are taken round in a group! Good value too as it was only a few Euros!! Play with Bluebeard & Joan of Arc Michael plotting this next target with the mini Trébuchet, they actually lob things into the river below!!! Once a Knight, always a Knight, but once a Knights enough!!! Hoisted onto his Horse A Medieval Crane! We had a really restful holiday and meeting up with Mike French from .net in La Gacilly was a bonus, he said that he would welcome a visit from any of the Z forums Guys and his DAY BOATS are to be recommended. We love this area in France, especially as it has it’s own micro-climate with endless sunshine and beautiful countryside and coastline. Mike & Sandy Edited by EnthuZiaZT - 12 Aug 2013 at 11:19pm |
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EnthuZiaZT
Mike & Sandy |
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steveH
Club Member Concours Chairman Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1065 |
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we have holiday'ed down Vendee for years with the kids - Le Tranche (??) La Rochelle (??) if memories serve correct.
It is a great place to relax. Super driving roads and looks like you had a great time.
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Tell it how it is the Northern way.
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hennabm
Club Member Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Status: Offline Points: 521 |
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Some nice pictures.
We visited the island last year and was suprised at the cost of the toll for the bridge.
For me I soon turned around and came off the island as it was like driving in Britain but on the wrong side. It seemed that nearly every other car was a UK registered and I wanted to holiday in France not a mini Britain.
The submarine pens at La Rochelle were still there but out of bounds as they were in the port itself.
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82 323i Henna
90 320iSE - died Apr 21 10 116d Sport 12 1.4 Punto Easy 89 240DL est 11 X3 3.0d SE |
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EnthuZiaZT
Club Member Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Location: CB6 2PB Status: Offline Points: 63 |
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Yes, Stevie we had a great time, like you it is one of our favourite holiday spots which we return to each year.
You're right hennabm, we also circum-navigated once and straight out again afterwards, we couldn't believe you could get so many people on such a small island!! La Rochelle, Isn't that were they filmed one of the Bond movies or at least a well known movie? We think that the best way to approach La Rochelle is from the sea through the old fortifications on a boat from Tranche. Perhaps one day we will get as far down as the Dordogne to visit Mike Fishwick. Edited by EnthuZiaZT - 12 Aug 2013 at 11:08pm |
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EnthuZiaZT
Mike & Sandy |
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Rev426
Club Member Joined: 05 Jun 2012 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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Looks great.
I love France, and yes there will always be Brits, and Germans and Belguims as well, but thats because they're lovely spots. Theres always somewhere just away from the crowds to discover as it's such a huge country. We've been to the Dordogne for the last 20 years, both for family holidays and on our way to various other regions and it's well worth a trip. Beautiful scenery and gorgeous views. Canoe rides, great walks and fab restaurants. Give it a go you'll enjoy it. We normally go in September when the volume of people has diminished. May and June are great months as well. We find the best of the weather for open touring is usually at those times. Thanks for posting it's inspiring me to book for next year! :-)
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Nick
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