THE MUST-SEES AND DOs
IN SAINT-HILAIRE-DE-RIEZ

Have you decided to spend your next camping holiday in St Hilaire de Riez so you can enjoy the beach, fine sand and Vendée sunshine? The Plage des Demoiselles will certainly tick all your boxes.

Regularly ranked in the top 10 most beautiful beaches in Vendée, the Plage des Demoiselles is perfect for a day’s swimming, building sandcastles, or going kitesurfing, sand yachting and clam fishing. Just a flip-flop’s throw from the beach, the promenade at Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez is perfect for a seafront walk all the way to the Esplanade de la Mer in Saint-Jean-de-Monts.

Leaving from Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, set off to explore one of the most beautiful natural sites in Vendée: the Vendée headland! Iconic sites on this untouched coast include the Cinq Pineaux boulders (classified as a “”remarkable site”” in 1926), and the Trou du Diable, a majestic geyser that looks like a massive bubbling cauldron. The lighthouse, Villa de Grosse Terre and Phil’Ours Rock are also well worth visiting. Added plus: a unique panorama of the Vendée coast, from the tip of Notre-Dame-de-Monts to Sables-d’Olonne and Ile de Yeu on a clear day.

Allow 2 to 3 hours for a walk along the headland, the cliffs of Sion and the rocky coast between Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (distance: 10 km round trip).

A fascinating walk through the Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez salt marshes! Make the most of your stopover in Saint Hilaire to learn more about the salt worker trade, the age-old techniques of salt harvesting, and the salt marshes’ flora and fauna.

Abandoned in the 1970s, these marshes were rehabilitated in 1997 and this traditional Vendée industry is witnessing a boom. There’s a superb guided tour that follows the footsteps of this ‘white gold’, where you’ll learn more about the history, the local anecdotes and its geography. All in the heart of an extrordinary Natura 2000 classified site.

Learn more about theMarais Salants de la Vie.

A place where you can learn to love nature and the way things used to be! Located on the former Mattes dune belt, on the edge of the marsh, the Bourrine du Bois Juquaud will teach you all about the life of the Maraîchins (the inhabitants of the marsh) on an early 20th-century farm. A well-documented and fascinating guided tour of a pretty thatched cottage built of earth and topped with a thick reed roof.

During high season: musical entertainment, demonstrations of traditional skills (rattle and feather duster making, butter churning, etc.), local produce and market garden tastings.

Learn more about the Bourrine du Bois Juquaud.

The kids won’t be forgotten during your camping holiday at St-Hilaire de Riez. This seaside resort has loads of activities and outings for kids and teens. In July and August, the little tourist train of Saint Hilaire de Riez is a popular activity. On the programme: guided tour of the village of Sion and the Vendéenne headland.

Other attractions include Atlantic Toboggan, a large 10-hectare park entirely dedicated to water-based fun for all the family, and Dino’s Park with its animated dinosaurs in the middle of the Pays de Monts forest. If you’ve got budding climbers in the family, take them treetop walking at Feeling Forest, a unique treetop walk park in Vendée. Younger campers will also get their fill. Youpla’Land has outdoor bouncy castles for children aged 3 and over. Meanwhile, at the seaside, the Berniques Beach Club welcomes your little ones all summer long to the large Sion sur l’Océan beach.

Ah, the rain… Like anywhere in France, the Vendée also has its rainy days… But don’t panic, there are tons of indoor activities at St-Hilaire de Riez. Head for Forest Avenue, a multi-activity leisure complex. Go bowling or play laser tag while you wait for the sun to reappear.

Another option is “Elements Escape Game”, an escape game in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, with immersive settings and well-thought-out puzzles.

The Sol à Gogo campsite in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez welcomes guests to a seaside location. Enjoy a perfect coastal setting for a holiday where you can enjoy swimming, water sports, hiking, cycling, cultural events and plenty of downtime.

Choose from shady or sunny camping pitches for your tent, caravan or campervan, or settle down in a modern, comfy mobile home that will suit all tastes and budgets.