The Vendee Coast Is Full Of Food and Drinks Delight

If the acres of wide, sandy beaches, pine forests and pretty harbours aren’t reason enough to visit France’s Atlantic coast, the rich food culture and wealth of seafood more than tip the balance

- Lulu Grimes

Western France’s Vendée coast is blessed with more than 90 miles of white sandy beaches. They’re quiet by European standards (even in July when we went), and with a backdrop of fragrant pine trees and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a glorious setting for a family holiday. Dotted along this lovely stretch of coast are villages built around harbours, oyster beds and islands, and bike paths that run from Noirmoutier to Bourgenay.

The area has a rich food culture, from the oyster trade in the Bay of Bourgneuf and sardines from St-Gilles-Croix-deVie, to brioche (‘better than Paris!’, you’ll be told), charcuterie and glistening white salt. Local Noirmoutier potatoes are used to make posh bags of crisps.

The seaside towns, which are largely dependent on tourism, come alive in the summer. While frites, pizza and fish and chips are on offer – try hake from the La Roulotte van (laroulotte-fish-n-chips.com) – so are moules, platters of fruits de mer and dishes of ‘mogettes’ (white haricot beans), as well as the delicious custard tart, flan maraîchin.