Our partnership has even included rehearsal sessions for performers at Les Charmettes – culminating in a free show from French superstar Christophe Mae performing hits backed by a full orchestra.

This year we asked our holiday home Owners and holidaymakers to star in a film celebrating our link. After three days of filming, here is siblu’s video for Un Violon sur le Sable.

The festival itself takes place over three evenings at the end of July. It’s free to attend and attracts about 150,000 people each year, so getting the best spots is a skill in itself.

We love big outdoor events like Un Violon sur le Sable – which ones can you recommend?

So,  siblu is  making a stand for self-catered holidays in France !

Here are three ideas that we hope will make your mouth water. And don’t forget, when you book a siblu holiday, a free barbecue is included so you can make the most of delicious food choices available at mouth-watering food markets that take place close to many of our 14 holiday villages across France.

Biscuits, beer and sweet Yorkshire pudding in Brittany
Bénodet hosts a lively Breton market selling a huge range of foods, with specialities such as the Aven Oyster, which has a sweet hazel-nutty taste, the spicy Andouille sausage and the Far dessert, best-described as a sweet Yorkshire pudding. The town is also home to the François Garrec biscuit factory and the Bénodet brewery, which opens every Friday to visitors.

Feast on your food at Domaine de Kerlann siblu village near to Pont Aven, in southern Brittany. A seven-night stay for a family staying in a two-bedroom holiday home is currently available from only £978 for a 9 August departure, saving £335. This price includes a free barbecue, plus entry to indoor and outdoor pools, children’s clubs and nightly entertainment.

Kiwis in Charente Maritime
Royan has an impressive fish market which sells all sorts of catches, with crawfish and Marenne Oysters the stars. The main food market is a superb source of seasonal produce, such as the Charente melon, Blayais asparaguses and even kiwi fruit – France is the second largest European producer!

Seven nights from 20 July at La Pignade siblu holiday village in nearby Ronce-les-Bains start from only £928, saving £195 on bookings made before 30 April. You can cook up your catch on the free barbecue which is included with every booking. There is also a pool, children’s clubs and horse-riding school to take part in.

France’s organic south coast
Les Arceaux organic market in Montpellier is packed with fragrant cheeses, regional wines and local specialities like Camargue sausages and Collioure anchovies. The Place de la Comédie is Montpellier’s centre and a brilliant place to people watch, plus it bursts at the seams every morning with organic fruit, honey, herbs and olive oils.

Siblu’s Le Lac des Reves holiday village is just five miles from Montpellier, but even closer to several of the region’s brilliant beaches. A family can stay for seven nights from 13 August in a standard two-bedroom holiday home from only £1,119, saving £184 for bookings before 30 April. Price includes free barbecue facilities, children’s clubs, pools and entertainment.

Bon appétit !

Please note, all prices are subject to availability.

Brittany is an ideal family destination for camping in France. The region has the longest coastline in France, so there are white-sand beaches, serene harbours and craggy coves to discover.

Plus, camping doesn’t have to be under canvas. You can enjoy all the luxuries of a mobile home holiday by staying at one of our best-known siblu holiday villages. Four-star Domaine de Kerlann has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a splash zone and sports pitches, and is located close to the pretty town of Pont Aven.

And why is August such a great time to visit? Well, there is the Lorient Celtic Festival (5 to 14 August 2011), a 10-day celebration of Celtic culture includes more than 250 events for 700,000 visitors taking place on stage, in the street and under tents. There’s a diverse collection of musicians from across the world and headline events including Pipe Band and Bagpipe Championships, instrument master-classes and dance competitions. About 60% of the events are free to watch, so there is amazing amount to see and experience at no cost.

For those seeking some solitude from the Celtic clamour, Brittany beaches are superb. The fishing port of Trevignon has a huge beach with lots of smaller bays. Port-Manech is a pretty harbour town with a large sandy beach that is rarely crowded and has plenty of rocks pools for inquisitive kids. La Grande Plage in Carnac is south-facing, sandy and the ocean is calm and suitable for youngsters.

Carnac is also the site of France’s version of Stonehenge. For 6,000 years more than 3000 standing stones, some more than 20m high, have stood in perfect alignment for more than two miles. Local myth has it that the stones are a legion of Roman soldier turned into rocks by the magician Merlin.

I hope that has whetted your appetite. Find out more about Brittany in the siblu region guide, or price up your holiday.

If you have visited Brittany or been to the Lorient Celtic Festival, please tell us about it in the comments below.

So if you want a family camping holiday in France, packed with activities, big pool complexes, dynamic children’s clubs, some of the best beaches in France, and the chance to feed popcorn to giraffes, choose a stay at one of these holiday villages with siblu.

Beauval Zoo
Beauval is home to over 4,000 animals and the zoo has been described as one of the world’s 15 best. It has the largest elephant plain in France, an African Savannah with over 80 animals, one of the biggest sea-lion swimming pools in Europe and rare breeds including white lions and white tigers.

Where to stay: Domaine de Dugny is on the northern bank of the Loire river, close to many stunning chateaux. There is a pool complex, free children’s clubs, adventure playground, bike hire and fishing available. Seven-nights from 17 July starts from only £874, including a saving of £88 for bookings made before 28 March.

La Palmyre zoo
La Palmyre zoo is one of the biggest in Europe with 1,600 animals from across the world. It has a strong conservation programme and runs breeding programmes for endangered species, but children will be much more interested by how close they can get to many of the animals.

There are stalls selling snacks which you can feed to the animals, getting you really near to elephants, giraffes and zebras. Children will also love watching the polar bears swimming through their glass-walled tank, the parrot and sealion shows, the baby monkeys and the extrovert meercats who love to play up to an audience.

Where to stay: La Pignade is a scenic siblu village surrounded by woodland stretching to the nearby beach. There is a covered pool, horse-riding school and free children’s clubs. Seven-nights from 24 July starts from only £1,046, including a saving of £116 for bookings before 28 March.

Oceanopolis sea life centre
Oceanopolis, on the outskirts of Brest, is a high-tech sea-life centre with Europe’s largest marine aquarium. It contains polar, tropical and temperate zones dedicated to a huge amount of sealife. The tropical zone is the most impressive and has species including sharks and large sea turtles which you can see at close quarter from walk through tanks.

The polar zone is the smallest but has fascinating attractions including a penguin colony, a pack of ice seals and impressive giant crabs. There’s also an atmospheric movie shot from of a research ship crossing a polar ice flow.

Where to stay: Domaine de Kerlann is a four-star holiday siblu village in southern Brittany. It is a great base for exploring and has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a fantastic splash zone and multi-sports pitches. Seven-nights from 31 July starts from only £1,053, including a saving of £285 for bookings before 28 March.

- Ends –

For a family holiday with a difference, take advantage of France’s love affair with the bike and try out miles of new cycle networks in popular French tourist resorts. You can strap your bikes to the car or hire cycles during your break and enjoy one of these great value pedal-powered family holidays with siblu villages (www.siblu.com; 0871 911 7777).

The Vendée’s vélo routes
The Vendée has invested heavily in cycle tracks and the region can now be explored in full from the saddle, along more than 1000km of designated routes. Almost 300km of tracks run along the coast, taking in marshland, dunes and beaches.

A unique attraction of the region is the Vélo Rail, where families can swap their bikes for a cart which they pedal along 10km of disused rail track through the Vendée countryside.

Stay at Le Bois Masson in St Jean De Monts. This large and lively holiday village has entertainment for children and adults, indoor and outdoor swimming, free children’s clubs and even a spa for post-cycling stress relief. A seven-night stay from 13 August starts from as little as £1,038 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.

On your bike in Brittany
Brittany, which is renowned for its beautiful coast, has new cycle routes that take in some of the most stunning ocean views. Designated vélo routes can be followed to the towns and beaches around Quimper, Brittany’s oldest city.

Base yourself at Domaine de Kerlann siblu village near to Pont Aven, where saddle sore families can relax with free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools and a splash zone. A seven-night stay from 23 July starts from as little as £808 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.
Cycling through Charente Maritime
There are miles of accessible cycle routes for all abilities through Charente Maritime, the sunniest region on France’s west coast.  Take to two wheels through the La Coubre forest, to discover the golden beaches of the Côte Sauvage.

Start your adventure from Bonne Anse Plage siblu village in La Palmyre. When the cycling gets too much, you can let the outdoor pools and free children’s clubs take the strain.  A seven-night holiday from 20 August starts from only £950 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.

All prices are subject to availability.

Best beaches
Lake Biscarosse and its lakeside beach are gorgeous and there’s a good selection of children’s parks and cycle routes [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

I thought it was brochure speak about the lake and it’s beach, but it really was excellent especially for young children. A large beach with golden sand that gently shelves into the sea, staying shallow for at least a hundred metres [TripAdvisor member, Essex].

We were blown away by the ‘lake beach’. [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

There is mile after mile of uncrowded, silver sand beaches washed by the lively Atlantic, pine forests which seemingly go on for ever. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

There are fantastic surfing beaches at Biscarosse and Mimizan. Both are small but lively resorts on the Cote d’Argent and decent waves are pretty much guaranteed. There is also Hossegor, slightly further south, which is known as a fine surfing beach and which has even hosted world tour events – one siblu customer travelled all the way from Australia to take part!

Attractions and Adventure

Hiring bikes and cycling round Lake Biscarosse was really safe, easy and enjoyable, even with a 5 year old [TripAdvisor member, Languedoc]

La Reserve is a super site if you want to take in the area, we managed to get down to Spain for lunch! [TripAdvisor member, Cambridgeshire]

Dune du Pilat, near to Arcachon, is the largest sand dune in Europe. At 150m high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long, it has swallowed hotels and roads. Climb to the top of the dune to see incredible views of the sea on one side and rolling pine forest on the other.

Cities and towns

Bordeaux is filled with historic buildings, wide squares, a modern and swift tram system, and street after street of swish shops. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

The Roman spa town of Dax has great shops sitting alongside the historic Roman ramparts and the bubbling spa waters. The steaming water which constantly pours from the underground spa is supposed to be a cure for a whole host of ailments [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Sexy, stylish Biarritz was a magnet for the Swinging Sixties jet set and still retains its aura of elegance and elan. This is the place to see and be seen [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Arcachon is a classy seaside town with good beaches and good, if pricey, restaurants, cafes and bars.

St Emilion is a heart-warming ‘ugly duckling grows up and becomes glamorous swan’ tale. In the 8th century a hermit called, Emilion dug out a cave for himself in the rock. A monastery followed. Then it blossomed into a gorgeous medieval hilltop village, surrounded by endless vineyards that produce full-bodied deep red wines.

What to eat, where to find it
The Arcachon Basin is France’s most important oyster producing region, and so you will find delicious, fresh oysters on every menu in the small villages and towns on the edge of the bay. Much of Aquitaine cuisine is based on goosefat, and foie gras, a goose-liver pate is a speciality.

Keep an eye out for meals containing ‘Périgord’, which will indicate a dish containing truffles. Any meal is best rounded off with a smooth coffee served with a small Canele, a delicious French pastry with custard centre and caramelized crust.

Bordeaux is famous for its wines, and if you have a fine palette and a few quid, go in search of a bottle of Bordeaux 2009. According to French experts, this year’s red will be the first great vintage of the 21st century, because of incredible growing conditions not seen since the 1940s.

Events

Stumbling upon the fiesta in Parentis and seeing the running of the bulls was an unexpected treat. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

Where to stay

La Réserve, on the banks of Lac Biscarosse, has the twin benefits of a beautiful lakeside beach with golden sand and shallow waters, and its own refreshing pool complex. The parc is set among miles of pine forest, with many great cycle routes for explorers. The kids’ playgrounds are popular, and there is more than enough to keep teens busy, including a range of watersports on the lake.

The region of Côte d’Azur loves the limelight and is famous for its lively nightlife and glitzy reputation, but there are also a few publicity-shy places that are worth their salt. It has a star-studded history as the play place for rich tourists looking for a healthy winter retreat, and then for Kings, Queens and the glitterati of the early 20th century, an association that has been reinforced through the annual Cannes Film Festival, and from starts from Becks to Elton John who buy luxurious holiday homes on the coast.

Best beaches

The best value and indeed the most beautiful beach we went to was in St Aygulf – absolutely fantastic. Great early evening music and waiter service on the beach [TripAdvisor member, Waterford]

Families in Fréjus head to the long, sandy, sheltered beach that stretches to the next town.

Attractions and Adventure

For a more ‘epic’ experience visit the Gorges d’Heric; it is one of the most impressive and magnificent gorges in the region. This long deep crack in the ground is wild, lush and incredible.

For a fantastic day out with the kids then you can do no better than Aqualand (check out www.aqualand.fr and click through on ‘Frejus’).  This is the biggest water park on the Cote d’Azur with slides, lagoons, spa baths as well as play areas, restaurants and bars.  You can buy tickets on parc and it’s an easy 10 minute drive (approx).

Cities and towns

The seaside town of Fréjus is an historic port balanced on a rock plateau, and there are Roman ruins, sandy beaches and chic bars. There’s a typical Med coast holiday feel, with streets lined with ice cream parlours, souvenir shops and restaurants. The bustling town is filled with classical remnants and medieval ruins, contrasting with the modern marina of Port Fréjus.

Frejus itself is a very beautiful place to visit and we enjoyed exploring all the lovely bays and the wonderful mountains that surrounded this area [TripAdvisor member, Fife]

Port Grimaud is St Tropez without the fake tan. It’s a French version of Venice, with winding streets and canals.

St Tropez is a chic town where you can mingle with the ‘jet set’. Relax into one of the many cafés and spend an afternoon celebrity spotting, and watch your kids stare wide-eyed at the yachts.

Cannes is famed for its film festival, but you’ll also be impressed by the gorgeous sandy beaches and cafés on La Croisette; perfect for watching the world go by.

The locals whizz up and down Nice’s magnificent palm-lined ‘Promenade des Anglais’ on roller skates, but the trick to enjoying the star studded town is to take things easy and milk every last detail.

Monaco is home of the rich and famous and famed for its fabulous casino. Of course the beautiful people who hang out here have beautiful yachts, so the marina should be near to the top of your ‘to see’ list.

Food and restaurants

Frejus hosts two food festivals: the Fête du Raisin celebrates the arrival of the first grapes through the medium of wine tasting and traditional dances, and every September there is an Omelette Géante – that’s right, a giant omelette – festival. 

Port-Grimaud has an organic bio market which takes place on Mondays and Fridays. There are organic fruit and vegetables, fresh products, food bread and bio wine, plus natural beauty products.

St Tropez is known for its tans, but every Tuesday and Saturday the Place des Lices in this famous town transforms into one of the biggest markets in Provence. Stalls sell a range of products, including fish and locally sourced food. 

The pretty squares of Aix-en-Provence are transformed into a sea of colours, sounds and appetising smells as the Grand Marché sets up its stalls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 08h to 12h30. 

Marseille’s famous fish market on the Quai des Belges is a wonderful place to wander around. The local traders use the phrase Peché le nuit, vendu le matin to describe the freshness of their goods: “Caught in the night, sold in the morning”. 

Where to stay

Le Montourey has been described as siblu’s most relaxed site ever; it’s very quiet and you can hear the birds chirping through the day. The parc is a great base for touring the region’s most famous towns, with St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Grasse nearby.

While the weather and Med coast are the main temptation, another draw is Languedoc’s wine producing pedigree: this is the world’s biggest wine region, covering almost 300,000 hectares and producing more wine than Australia.

Best beaches
Vias beach is separated into little sandy bays, and all the kids fish for crabs and tiddlers around the rocks, which is great fun [TripAdvisor member, Glasgow]

There’s a long stretch of beach at Cap d’Adge and free parking near to the marina. If you’re feeling brave, there’s a famous nudist beach nearby too.

Valras Plage has a long beach that gently shelves into the sea, making it ideal for swimming, sailing and sunbathing. Valras Plage harbour is home to some delightful bars and restaurants, many of which offer live music during the evening.

Explore local coastline and discover gorges and coves. La Grand Motte, Carnon and Palavas beaches are golden beaches just 10 minutes away from Lac des Reves.

Attractions and Adventure
Europark in Vias has plenty of rides for all the family, and a candy floss stall with about 50 different flavours on offer! There is also go-karting and mini golf next door. [TripAdvisor member, the Midlands]

Aqualand in Cap d’Agde has giant flumes, waterslides and a wave machine. [Top tips] get your tickets from the siblu reception so you can bypass the entrance queues and save money, and keep hold of your tickets – you can use them to buy tickets for another day at a fraction of the price [TripAdvisor member, Essex)

Captain Jackos toddler waterpark in Cap d’Agde is excellent for little kids.

Visit the historic Canal du Midi, which took 12,000 men to build. You won’t have time to explore the entire 235km, but book a boat, bicycle or horse for a fantastic day-long sightseeing activity.

Hire canoes at Roquebon, a very pretty mountain village on the River Orb, and enjoy hours of fun on the water. Top tip: you are given a waterproof pod so take your camera, suncream, towels and a picnic. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

The Haribo sweet museum in Uzes provides a potted history of sweets, and in exchange for your entrance fee you are given tokens for the sweet-making machines found throughout. [TripAdvisor member, Tenerife]

Each year the local casino sponsors the fantastic Fete de la Saint-Pierre in Valras Plage in June, to put on free concerts, boat races and fantastic fireworks – great stuff [Jason, Siblu]
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Cities and towns
Montpellier mixes old and new beautifully, to present a fabulous array of sights, buildings, shops and a great selection of restaurants. Head to the Place de Comedie, the pink-marbled heart of the city, for an afternoon spent people watching. Explore the side streets and find boutique shops and authentic cafés and restaurants, serving tasty ‘plat du jours’.

Cap d’Agde is billed as a smaller version of St Tropez. It’s a modern bustling port which offers an impressive selection of shops, restaurants and bars. As well as indulging in eating, drinking, shopping and yacht-spotting, you could always hire a boat or go diving.

Carcassonne is a Unesco World Heritage Site and it has been described as the finest medieval fortified town in Europe. Carcassone’s castle featured in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, there are fantastic museums of chivalry and the middle ages (one where kids can be knighted), plus lots of good walks and loads of pavement cafés when it all becomes too much!

Sète has built up on the banks of the Canal du Midi, and its streets are lined by shops and restaurants. There are great views of the Italian-style houses and some of the fastest sailboats in the world.

St Guilhem-le-Desert is a World Heritage Site which has been designated a ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, one of the most beautiful villages in France. There are Bronze Age gorges and caves packed with art and craft shops and hidden houses, yet despite the awards and beauty, St Guilhem has remained refreshingly modest. On the way back stop off at Pont du Diablo, and huge bridge which spans a gorgeous lake. If you don’t mind climbing down the steep path, the chance to swim in the lake is really worth taking.

Vias sur Plage is a bustling seaside stretch, and venture further and you will find Vias Old Town, which is all tiny squares and cobbled streets, where there is a twice weekly market packed with fresh produce, including oysters and mussels.

Food and restaurants
Le Pescadou in Vias was our favourite – fantastic fish & sea-food [TripAdvisor member, Glasgow]

I tried snails at Vieux Logis in Vias Old Town, and they were very good, and very garlicy [TripAdvisor member, Warrington]

El Duende in Pérols serves great value local food and a gipsy band plays live music at weekends, creating a great atmosphere [Amandine Daniaud, Lac des Reves]

Stalls around Montpellier’s Les Arceaux organic market are packed with fragrant cheeses, regional wines and local specialities like Camargue sausages and Collioure anchovies and the Place de la Comédie, Montpellier’s best-place to people watch, bursts at the seams every morning with organic fruit, honey, herbs and olive oil.

Take a late-night stroll through the regional markets in the ancient town of Sete, just 20 miles from Le Lac des Reves. The food market takes place in the Place du Galion aux Quilles every Thursday from July 5 until August 30, and is open from 16h to midnight.

The famous indoor market at Narbonne provides an assault on your senses – there are sacks of aromatic spices combining with the strong smells of freshly caught fish, the waft of cheeses and the odours from many stoves, griddles and pans as traders cook their wares. Les Halles de Narbonne has become an institution, and is a must-see on any Destination Cooking holiday. The market opens daily from 6h to 13h.

For another fantastic covered market, try the popular Les Halles de Nimes which opens everyday between 0630 and 1300. Stalls trade local delights including fresh vegetables, succulent olives, and garlic – the cornerstone of many a south-coast meal. There are even freshly snuffled truffles available for those planning a luxurious meal.

Special events
Sand sculpture festival on Cap d’Agde’s Plage de Rochelongue. [May 2010]

Cap d’Agde stages its stunning Soirées Pyrotechniques in July – five nights of fireworks displays that locals say are on a par with any across the world. [July 2010]

Nimes’ Le Feria de la Petanque is a five-day celebration of petanque which features a knock out tournament for teams from across the world, plus performances and entertainment. [July 2010]

Carcassone hosts more than 70 free concerts, many at incredible venues, as part of its Festival de Bastide through July. [July 2010]

Where to stay
La Carabasse in Vias is a huge holiday parc with a fab pool area and slides that are brill for children. The location is great, with beaches shops and restaurants in walking distance and the kids will love the energetic and engrossing clubs.

Lac des Reves is a truly relaxing family site close to the Mediterranean coast and Montpellier. There is a highly rated pool and large sandy beaches nearby.

Sables du Midi is a small parc with a relaxing pool and terrace, on the outskirts of the popular seaside resort of Valras Plage

Vendee beaches
The beaches in the Vendée, along the Côte de Lumiere (’coast of light’) are truly stunning and will ruin you for any others, as you’ll forever be comparing them and finding alternative are ‘just not quite up to the Vendée standard’.

The popular plage at St Jean de Monts is a favourite because of its space, fine soft sand and safe waters. It’s inevitable that your children will head off and play, so there are a series of tall poles topped with shapes along the beach, which kids can use to find their way back to you.

Parking close by can be a trial during the peak season, but the Vendée has miles of easily manageable cycle paths that wind that run through the resort and along the beach

The Vendee is blessed with many great beaches, so if you can drag yourself away from St Jean de Monts, it should be to stand out resorts. Les Sables d’Olonne is the most chic destination in the Vendée and if you want a break from the sunbathing, there are many top-class shops.

If you take the crossing from the mainland to the Ile de Noirmutier, you’ll more picturesque beaches. The best is Bois de La Chaize, which has its own bathing huts that gives the beach an old-world aura.

The area of Sion Sur L’Ocean has a rare thing for a Vendée beach – cliffs. The rocky outcrops create lots of sandy inlets to explore and rock pools where crabs hideout.

• You say
  St Jean-de-Monts has a beautiful sandy beach, which locals consider one of the most beautiful in France. It’s immense, really clean and great to swim off [TripAdvisor member, Coventry]. There is a watersports area where you can hire sand yachts, catamarans, canoes and windsurfers. If you are a fan, then St Jean de Monts beach is perfect [TripAdvisor member, England]
• The beaches are amazing — Plage les Salins has really easy parking at any time of day, loads of space and is a really safe beach with dunes at the back [TripAdvisor member, Somerset]
• Les Sables d’Olonne has a marvellous beach [TripAdvisor member, Cambridgeshire]
• Sion Sur L’Ocean beach was very popular with my boys as it had rock pools and so we all went crabbing, which was great. It also has little coves which were very private [TripAdvisor member, Bristol]

Vendee Attractions and Adventure
Puy du Fou is a medieval theme park where you can relive 2,000 years of French history through smoky, live spectaculars. It is made up of ‘villages’ that represent a different era, and there is a 600 seat Roman stadium which hosts Gladiator and Viking shows. Throughout the day there are performances of falconry, jousting, magic and music.

The parc has several main shows, including a battle of the keep, a Viking bombardment from the sea, chariot racing, gladiator parades and combat in a replica amphitheatre, birds of prey and the swashbuckling musketeers.

In the evenings, the park explodes back into life when a thousand local volunteer actors stage a historical sound and music extravaganza called Cinéscénie, which relives the history of the Vendée. Book your tickets in advance, as every show gets sold out in the summer.

Be aware: Puy du Fou is based around its shows, so trying to get round all of them in one day can prove too much. It’s best to pick three that you really want to see, and then fill in any extra time as you can.

There has been lots of recent work to make the Vendée a cycle-friendly destination. Now there are 475 miles of cycle paths along the coast, with many picturesque routes.

Ride around the woods and seaside at St Jean de Monts (you can swap your bikes for a flat boat at one point). If hiring a bike is too much hard work, then hire a Rosalie, a canopy covered pedal car with steering wheel and break lever. It sounds silly, but you see lots in the main town of St Jean de Monts.

While not quite cycling, Velo Rail is a wheeled platform that runs on a 10km disused rail tracks – it’s a unique way to cross through some beautiful countryside and to see the region. Be aware: the Velo rail must be booked in advance, and costs around 11€ per hour.

The Marais-Poitevin, to the south of the region, is a reclaimed marshland criss-crossed by canals and rivers, and so is best explored by bike or by boat, which can include flat-bottomed barques, dinghies and canoes.

You say

• Le Grand Parc du Puy du Fou is an excellent day out for the whole family. If you have children of primary school age (plus early teens) it really is a bit of a must see as it covers the majority of UK Key stage 2 History and delivers it in a fabulous way. Slick, professional and good technology means that Vikings/Romans and Medieval battles come to life in front of you. [TripAdvisor member, Wales]
• Biking around the Vendee was fantastic — fairly flat but miles and miles of cycle paths (once you find them). We cycled almost every day and thoroughly enjoyed it. [TripAdvisor member Carlisle] St Jean de Monts is dotted with small forests with lovely sandy cycle tracks through them, which made for really nice bike rides [TripAdvisor member, England]
• We spent five hours having great fun climbing and sliding down zip wires at Arbre Adventure, a tree adventure parc in St Jean de Monts [TripAdvisor member, England]

Cities and towns
Les Sables d’Olonne is the smartest resort on the coast. The long beach, bustling seafront and chic shops have earned Les Sables d’Olonne the nickname ‘mini Nice’. Though the beach is the main centre of activity you should also take some time to visit the food markets. The central market hall is open seven mornings a week in summer and there’s a fish market on the quay that serves up the day’s catch from 3.30pm. There is also a motor museum, which will keep everyone entertained.

Plush Ile de Noirmutier, which is linked to the coast by a three-mile tidal causeway that is only passable at low tide, offers excellent individual shops, vibrant restaurants, wonderful ancient houses and a 12th century abbey. It’s like visiting a tropical island (which gets especially busy on Sundays).

The small warm island of L’Ile d’Yeu simply exudes charm from its whitewashed villages and welcoming beaches. Bikes are the best way to explore and if you resist the temptation to stop, swim, dive or take photos you could cover the whole island in an afternoon! If you want to admire some of the man- made sights, there is the Grand Phare lighthouse or the ruins of Vieux Chateau fortress.

Apremont is a pretty village with a medieval castle, a large lake and a sandy beach. You can hire pedalos, flat-bottomed boats and canoes to paddle leisurely around the lake. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you can justify trying out the bar and restaurant which have stunning views over the lake.

You say

• St Jean de Monts is nice, with markets and a lovely promenade at the beach [TripAdvisor member, UK]
• Head into St Gilles Croix De Vie for an evening meal and a visit to the famous roundabaout (the kids will love it) [TripAdvisor member, Solihull]. Every evening there is a market until 6pm and the shops stay open until 7:30pm – a great atmosphere [TripAdvisor member, Somerset]

What to eat, where to find it
St Jean-de-Monts, has a market everyday in the town centre, at which you can buy the most wonderful fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables, and there’s even a butcher who smokes his own quail. Close to Le Bois Masson is a vineyard outlet where you can get award winning Muscadet at very low prices.

Les Sables d’Olonne central market hall is open seven mornings a week in summer and there’s a fish market on the quay that serves up the day’s catch from 3.30pm.

St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is famed for its fresh sardines. The vintage ‘sardines millésimées’ are supposed to be laid down like fine wine! For children with short attention spans, there is a tiny museum called the Maison du Pêcheur, which used to be a fisherman’s cottage.

Travelling to the Vendee
Nantes and La Rochelle airports are both served by a variety of routes from the UK and Ireland, and there is a regular shuttle bus that runs from Nantes to St Jean de Monts.

Driving to the Vendee from most ferry ports is a cinch. From Cherbourg or Caen, take the toll free A84 to Rennes and then finish the journey on the N137 and E03. This is a toll free route and only takes around 4 hours, which should be considered when you are weighing up the costs of the various ferry routes.

Driving from Calais, take the A16 to Rouen and then join the A28, which takes you most of the way, as far as Le Mans. Then join the A11 before picking up the local roads. The Calais route will take around 7 hours, and you’ll pay around 45€ in toll charges.

All of the usual road regulations apply, and in France it is also compulsory to have a warning triangle and high visibility vest. If you don’t have these, you can face on the spot fines.

Climate in the Vendee
Vendee is one of the sunniest places in France and summer temperatures are regularly in the comfortable 20s, and rainfall levels very low. Early autumn can see lots of great weather too, although it’s often less certain than the summer months.

Where to stay
Le Bois Dormant is an ultra relaxing four-star holiday parc which is great for families with small children, who will love the pool and spend their nights playing football until the sun finally sets.

Just over the road is Le Bois Masson, which is a bigger and busier four-star holiday parc, with indoor and outdoor pools, its own health and wellbeing spa and a lively bar and restaurant.

It’s a World Heritage Site with many small villages and towns which have grown around the larger châteaux over the years, so there is plenty to discover and enjoy.

Attractions and Adventure
The Loire River is the longest river in France and there are many beautiful views, picnic spots and walks along its banks.

• All the best chateaux are within a 25 minute drive, and most chateaux have things that will interest kids, such as mazes, play areas, bike/boat hire [TripAdvisor member, Somerset]. Blois is 15 minutes (horse and carriage around town a must); Chenonceau (built as a bridge across the Loire) and Chambord (the largest chateau in the Loire, and one of the most recognisable in France) about 25 minutes — both absolutely stunning.
• Amboise chateau is a hidden gem. It looks old and dilapidated from outside but appearances are deceptive — the roof garden is breathtaking. The town of Amboise is a must, beautiful and traditional [TripAdvisor member, London].

Château Chaumont-sur-Loire is the closest to Dugny, and is famed for its stunning gardens, which are both recreational and interactive. The gardens are created in the shape of a tree, with each branch themed in a different way. From April to October the gardeners are on-hand to pass on their expert knowledge to visitors through a series of shows.

On a smaller scale, the Châteaux de la Loire en Miniature (20km from Domaine de Dugny) features mini-versions of the 44 most prestigious Châteaux of the Loire. Along the one mile walk there are bonsai trees, 10,000 figurines and miniature railways. Tickets cost around 12.75 euros for an adult.

• Don’t miss Kayaking down the Loire with Loire Kayaks (just outside Blois). They take you 6k down river and you kayak back in your own time (take a picnic and make a day of it – fabulous!) [TripAdvisor member, Somerset].
• Fantasy Forest (climbing/paintballing for kids) is a good bargaining tool for kids when you want to visit chateaux, but it is a bit expensive [TripAdvisor member, Somerset].
• The region is lovely for cycling, with flat roads little villages to find. [TripAdvisor member, Ireland].
• Don’t miss a trip to Beauval Zoo it was a fantastic day out well worth the money. [TripAdvisor member, Scotland]. Beauval is home to over 4,000 animals and the zoo has been described as one of the world’s 15 best! It has the largest elephant plain in France, an African Savannah with over 80 animals, one of the biggest sea-lion swimming pools in Europe and rare animals including white lions and white tigers.
• Look out for leaflets for Lulu park, which is full of bouncy castles, slides, swings, trampolines and much more [TripAdvisor member, Scotland].
• If you plan to go fishing in the pool at Domaine de Dugny, there’s a good head of small fish with some big carp and sturgeon as well. The biggest I had was a 22lb mirror carp but I did hear of a 25lb mirror coming out just before we left [TripAdvisor member, Essex].

The troglodytes at Saumur are small stone dwellings, some of which were used by prehistoric man, but many that have been carved out to use as cellars and storage rooms. On a much larger scale, there is the La Ville Souterraine, an underground city created by artists.

Food, restaurants and markets

• We found a restaurant called Hotel du Pont in the village of Molineuf, and we sat by the river and threw bread to the fish. The food was excellent and a very reasonable price. [TripAdvisor member, Ireland]

The market in Amboise is one of the biggest in the region. The Friday market has 30 to 70 traders and sells food and regional delicacies. On Sunday morning, there 150 to 200 stalls selling even more varieties of local wine, cheese, meat, fruit, vegetables, honey, fish, oysters and a whole variety of locally produced extras.

Tours is known as the city of 30 street markets. There is an excellent covered food market on Place des Halles, with additional produce on the square outside on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. There’s a gourmet market that takes place on the first Friday of every month, from 4pm to 10pm, and the Foire à l’Ail et au Basilic, a garlic & basil fair, at Sainte Anne at the end of July.

Where to stay
Domaine de Dugny is an outstanding 4-star holiday parc with a popular kids clubs and a highly praised pool complex. The parc is relaxing and tranquil for parents, and close to many of the region’s best attractions. If you need any pointers, the team know the area intimately. There’s also a small lake on parc that’s good for boating and fishing – there are some big beasts in there!