Explore the diverse landscapes of the Vendée region: dunes, forests, wetlands, and rocky coastline
This is the perfect trip to see all of Vendée’s natural wonders: from the polders of the Breton wetlands to the canals of the Poitevin wetlands, with visits to Les Sables-d’Olonne, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, and Ile d’Yeu along the way. It’s a journey that brings together the ocean, great food, great people, and some lively locales.
😍 Of the 210 km of cycling trails that extend along the coast, over 60% are reserved for cyclists. You can discover these varied landscapes in total safety. Throughout the itinerary, you’ll alternate between sport activities, visits to notable sites, and sampling delicious dishes.
📍 245 km
⏱️ 6 stages
🏁 Bouin ➡️ Marans
🚲 I cycle often
Day 1: from Bouin to La Barre-de-Monts (46.5 km)
As you head out along your Vendee cycle routes through the Breton wetlands, the path will take you near polders and under the windmills of the picturesque Port du Bec, also called “the Chinese Port.” You’ll find many oyster farmers here unloading their oysters. It’s your first of many opportunities to take a break and sample the local delicacies.
A bit farther along is Le Gois. It’s a causeway that’s 4.2 km long and accessible only at low tide, giving access to Noirmoutier Island. The causeway first came into use in the 1760s. Stop at Le Gois and search for shellfish, including the famous local clams.
Before you reach La Barre-de-Monts, you need to stop at Le Daviaud Eco-Museum.
After, head into La Barre-de-Monts for your first night on your Vendee cycling adventure. Use your time here to sample oysters at the huts of the oyster farmers and prepare for an island escapade tomorrow.
🛏️ Several accommodations with the Accueil Vélo label at La Barre de Monts
Day 2: Ile d’Yeu (4.5 km on La Vélodyssée and 30 km around the island)
Head off to Ile d’Yeu. After a 30-minute ferry ride, you can discover Port Joinville, its harbour, its narrow streets, its fort—a former military fortress transformed into a prison for high-profile inmates, now a registered historical monument—and its makers of prune tarts and minmins: caramels with prunes only made on Ile d’Yeu.
As you please, you can buy some bread, some rillettes de thon (tuna pâté, a local speciality), and a bottle of white wine and have a picnic in front of the Chapelle de la Meule, which overlooks a cute little harbour in a cove.
Next, the ruins of the Vieux Château (Old Castle) of the medieval Breton nobleman Olivier de Clisson, and the sheer cliffs carved by the wind, contrasting with the calm of the island’s beaches, dunes, and pine forests. Return to the Fromentine neighbourhood of La Barre-de-Monts, where you can have dinner and get a good night’s rest.
Day 3: From La Barre-de-Monts to St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (35.8 km)
In the heart of Les Pays de Monts national forest, the path travels over gentle hills and alternates between maritime pines and evergreen oak. Visit Biotopia and explore all the secrets of the coastal and forest world, from the visible to the invisible! When you arrive at the big beach in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, you can explore vast expanses of fine sandy beach. While you walk along the beach, you’ll undoubtedly be able to watch horse riders and sand yachts.
Farther south, you’ll breathe in the sweet scents of the maritime pines and the salty sea air of the “Corniche Vendéenne” cliff road. This route offers a great way to discover the wonders of the “Coast of Light.” You can visit legendary spots like the "Trou du Diable” (Devil’s Hole), “Les Cinq Pineaux” (The Five Heads), and the “Rocher de Pilours” rock, until you reach the sardine boat harbour in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie... Stop off at the Perle des Dieux to try some sardines, then visit the Maison du Pêcheur fisherman’s museum and meet the monkey...
🛏️ Spend the night in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie with several Accueil Vélo accommodations available.
The path linking La Barre-de-Monts and St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Day 4: Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie to Les Sables-d’Olonne (37 km)
As you continue exploring Vendee cycle routes along the coast, with fine sandy beaches alternating with rugged coastline, you have an opportunity to do a little wine tasting: in Brem, the makers of “Fiefs Vendéens” and Brem (AOC designation since 2011) wines will be happy to share with you their creations imbued with the sandy, salty earth in which their grapevines grow.
Between Brem-sur-Mer and Les Sables-d’Olonne, your Vendee cycling journey will get a bit hillier! Along the way, you’ll see salt marshes (stop at Les Salines, the adventure park dedicated to salt harvesting) in yellow and ochre colours and natural landscapes that are home to numerous frogs and birds.
In Les Sables-d’Olonne, make sure to visit the Saint Nicolas de la Chaume church in the fishermen’s neighbourhood and Penotte Island, with its houses decorated with mosaics.
🛏️ Spend the night in Les Sables d'Olonne where around ten accommodations with the Accueil Vélo label can welcome you.
The cycling path linking Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie with Les Sables d’Olonne
Day 5: From Les Sables-d’Olonne to La Tranche-sur-Mer (44 km)
This Vendée cycle route offers beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean from the rocky coast to the docks of Bourgenay harbour. Along the way, stops at the Aquarium de Vendée. Passing by dunes, forest, resort towns, and wild coves, this Vendée cycling path is one of the most pleasant rides along the Vendée coast. Highlights include Veillon beach and the nearby renowned oyster bar Le Park La Guittière; and let’s not forget the area’s salt marshes.
A small, winding road will take you into the heart of the Longeville-sur-Mer national forest. Out on the ocean, you’ll see kite surfers and surfboarders doing tricks. This part of the French coast is a hotspot for boardsports. Take a little break in the town of Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard, where you can visit the home and gardens of former French prime minister Georges Clemenceau.
A good night’s rest in La Tranche-sur-Mer will be well appreciated after a day of braving the Atlantic winds (around ten accomodations Accueil Vélo)
The cycling path linking Les Sables-d’Olonne and La Tranche-sur-Mer
Day 6: La Tranche-sur-Mer to Marans (46 km)
From La Tranche-sur-Mer to the traditional little port town of L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, there’s plenty to discover: the Pointe d’Arçay and Pointe de l’Aiguillon, landscapes of dunes and forest, large fine sandy beaches, mussel beds, La Belle Henriette lagoon, the mouth of the Lay river, the edges of the Poitevin wetlands, and more. Or you can have some adrenaline-pumping fun at Atlantic Wakepark. In Saint-Michel-en-l’Herm, the medieval abbey is a testament to the important role played by monks in settling the Poitevin wetlands. Not far away is a bird sanctuary where you can go to marvel at nature and the winged inhabitants.
You have now reached the end of your cycling trip in Vendée, on the border with Charente-Maritime.
ℹ️ ALL THE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
➡️ Type of route: linear with one-way bike rental
🚗 Access to the route
By car, parking possible:
- Bouin: several car parks in the town
🚲 One-way bike rental
For this trip, one-way rental is the ideal solution: see the “one-way” bike rental companies on La Vélodyssée"
📓 Finding your way around
There are a number of paper guides to help you follow this route, find the references.
You could see the French Vendée bicycle map that lists all the cycle paths of the Vendée; or consult the website dedicated to the cycle routes of Vendée.
↩️Also check out loop cycling routes in Vendée:
- Panoramas Loop in the Pays de Saint-Jean-de-Monts, a 27-km loop, Notre Dame de Monts to La Barre-de-Monts
- Polders Loop in southern coastal Vendée a 25-km loop from Triaize to Luçon
Tailor-made itineraries
Tailor-made itineraries
16 Bouin / La Barre de Monts - Fromentine
17 La Barre de Monts - Fromentine / St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
18 St-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie / Les Sables d'Olonne
The Vélodyssée cycle route gradually moves away from the coast and winds between the Olonne forest and the former salt marshes, now a protected area. This route reaches Les Sables-d'Olonne via the marina, Port Olona.
19 Les Sables d'Olonne / La Tranche-sur-Mer
20 La Tranche-sur-Mer / Marans
Cycle through vast expanses of marshland and farmland dotted with farms and cabins until you reach Marans, a pleasant riverside town bordered by the Sèvre Niortaise River. Be curious and explore the marina, the historic center, and the church with its futuristic bell tower, all of this town that lives to the rhythm of the water.
