Vendée: The best hiking trails for your holidays!
The Vendée department is located on the French Bay of Biscay. Here you will find unspoiled landscapes, dreamy coastal sections, and the perfect conditions for a hiking holiday with a few sunny days on the beach. Inland, you can look forward to several nature parks as well as historic towns with a very special charm.
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Vendée - 8 special hiking trails
Jaunay-See Circular Path
Around Lac du Jaunay, there are several campsites and a well-signposted hiking trail. Follow the route and discover hidden swimming spots, picturesque views, and many places for a well-deserved break. The circular trail is a total of 7.7 km long and has over 116 meters of elevation. Plan for your hike to take one and a half to two hours and bring appropriate swimwear in the summer months so you can refresh yourself by swimming in the clear lake. Dogs are also welcome on the excursions at any time. The four-legged friends are often allowed to run off-leash.
From Plage des Amourettes to La Tranche-sur-Mer
The Plage des Amourettes is located in the small French commune of L’Aiguillon-la-Presqu’île in the Pays de la Loire region on the Atlantic coast. Here, there is a very special mild Mediterranean microclimate with an unusually high amount of sunshine for the region. Additionally, its charming location on a peninsula is remarkable. The natural beach offers plenty of opportunities for long beach walks or individual small hikes in the dunes. For example, the tour that measures around 11 kilometers in length takes you on coastal paths by foot or by bike to the small commune of La Tranche-sur-Mer directly on the coast.
Around the beach of Veillon
Circle the peninsula in just one and a half hours and discover the many faces of the beach. The circular route measures 6.9 kilometers and is classified as easy. You walk along the sandy beach, near marshes, and around the Castle of Veillon. Pack swimwear if you plan the hike between May and September, so you can take a break after the excursion or in between and cool off by swimming in the ocean. In the transitional seasons and winter, the region is less visited, allowing dogs to even roam without a leash.
Forest of Longeville and Beach of the Rock
The starting and ending point of this hike is in Le Rocher. From there, the route leads towards the beach. It continues along the Vendée coast and through the forest of Longeville back to the starting point. The easy tour can be completed in just over an hour. Due to the particularly fine sand structure and gentle dunes, the beach of Le Rocher is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Vendée. If you own a dog, it is allowed to be taken on the route on a leash. The path is open year-round and very popular, so you are likely to encounter other hikers.
The Donkey Farm - Rousselin Mill
One of the most popular routes starts in L’Aneria and leads to Moulin Rousselin. Experienced hikers need just under three hours for the 12.1 kilometers, as the elevation difference of only 215 meters is easy to manage. They often follow the course of the Sévre Nantaise river and can take a well-deserved break on the park benches. Dogs are of course welcome on the hike, but should be leashed due to the many wild animal species in the area. You march through evergreen landscapes, discover colorful wildflowers, and pass some centuries-old communities. Boussay, in particular, is worth a stop to see the impressive church Sainte-Radegonde-Saint-Sébastien.
Circular hiking trail at Lac du Marillet
The easy to moderately manageable circular hiking trail around Lac du Marillet extends south of the municipality of Château-Guibert, which rests on a rocky outcrop surrounded by two rivers. All year round, you can hike here amidst an almost Mediterranean plant world with kingfishers, forests, vineyards, and marshlands. Château-Guibert serves as the starting and ending point. With sturdy footwear, you proceed on paved roads and well-trodden paths around the lake. You repeatedly catch glimpses of the blue waters, the church tower of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité, and the impressive dam. Picnic and playgrounds make the hike an unforgettable experience for families as well.
Circular trail around the Lac de la Bultière reservoir
Meadows, fields, and small forests shape the landscape around the reservoir, which measures almost 5 kilometers in length. In width, however, the lake is barely wider than 25 meters at its narrowest points, allowing you to easily look from shore to shore. The circular path, measuring about 16 kilometers in length, leads in a charming proximity to the shore around the entire lake. Approximately in the middle of the elongated lake, a bridge crosses over. This offers you the opportunity to shorten the round tour by half or to divide it into two stages.
Health Course Circuit de Madoreau
The Madoreau fitness trail is ideal for getting some fresh air while exercising. The route leads through a cool forest. Holm oaks, cypresses, and holly provide shade. You might encounter cute squirrels, wild boars, and deer on your walk. Picnic tables invite you to take a break. Red markers guide you along the Circuit de Madoreau. 19 stations along the way invite you to train strength and endurance. Do something good for your body and build your muscles in nature. A parking lot is available at the starting point of the loop.