Escorted Tours
La Rochelle & The Vendee
The Atlantic coastal Vendée region straddles the Loire and Poitou regions and offers a wealth of sights for the visitor, with glorious ports, historic cities, maritime heritage, cognac and wine, yet is largely by-passed in the annual rush to the coastal resorts further south.
Highlights of this superb tour include the impressive port of La Rochelle Ile de Re, our base, the pretty town of Fontenay-Le-Comte, Saintes, Cognac, the historic shipyard town of Rochefort and Nantes, a heady mix to delight any visitor.
what’s included
At A Glance
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Day 1: Travel by Eurostar & TGV from St Pancras to Niort Via Paris
Transfer by coach to the hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel.
Day 2: Full Day Tour to La Rochelle Ile de Re
The glory of the busy port of La Rochelle is its old harbour, surrounded by stately buildings and now the largest yachting centre on the French Atlantic coast.
Sights here include the twin towers that guard the harbour, the Tour de la Chaine and Tour St-Nicolas, 16th century Hotel de Ville, 15th century Tour de la Lanterne that offers wonderful views from its summit and several interesting museums of natural history and emigration.
Also worth a visit is the huge aquarium as is the delightful collection of perfume bottles at the Musée du Flacon a Parfum on Rue du Temple.
Day 3: Morning free in Fontenay-le-Comte
Morning visit to the pretty town of Fontenay-le-Comte. Often referred to as the prettiest town in the Vendée, Fontenay-le-Comte is listed as one of the “Plus Beau detours de France.” Sitting astride the River Vendée, the former port was a fording town on the old Roman coastal road, but now miles inland thanks to the silting and draining of the marshland by the Benedictine monks.
Market day is the perfect time to soak up the local atmosphere as well as exploring the sights including the castle ruins, two chateaux and an imposing cathedral. Afternoon visit to the Marais Poitevin waterways and a trip on a flat-bottomed boat (8-10 people per boat).
The marshlands are the second largest in France after the Camargue and offer a beautiful natural setting in which to relax in a small boat and let the world drift by. We finish the day with a wine tasting at a local winery.
Day 4: Full Day Tour to Saintes & Cognac with tasting
Saintes has a rich architectural heritage, thanks to its position on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Sights here include the Roman Arch of Germanicus, Roman amphitheatre, Abbaye aux Dames and 15th century Eglise St-Eutrope.
The port of Cognac on the River Charente has become synonymous with its famous export: the spirit that shares its name. With a museum dedicated to the art of Cognac production and numerous producers offering tours and tastings, you might think that is all the town has to offer, however it also boasts an attractive old town as well as a host of excellent restaurants. Having said that, no trip here is complete without a cognac tasting, one is included as part of the tour.
Day 5: Full Day Tour to Rochefort with visit to the Corderie Royale
The historic rival to La Rochelle, Rochefort was purpose built by Colbert in the 17th century to be the greatest shipyard in France, producing over 300 sailing vessels each year. Its maritime heritage can be seen in the beautiful Corderie Royale that houses an exhibition on ropemaking.
The town is also famed as the birthplace of flamboyant French writer Pierre Loti whose extravagant house is open to the public. The afternoon is free to explore independently.
Day 6: Full Day Tour to Nantes
A fascinating town of great architectural variety from its medieval core through Art Nouveau squares to high-tech towers. Once vying with Rennes as the capital of Brittany, Nantes remains essentially Breton at heart, though now the capital of the Pays-de-Loire region.
Sights include the Cathedrale St-Pierre-et-St-Paul and the Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, where the Edict of Nantes was signed by Henri IV in 1598.
Day 7: Transfer to Station For TGV & Eurostar to St Pancras via Paris
our guests say
Recent reviews
“Very good tour overall. Minor niggles-market day Wednesday in Fontenay didn’t amount to much. Would have liked more time in Saintes. Two hour walking tour of La Rochelle was maybe too long, given the need to find lunch afterwards. On the Saturday we visited Nantes it was very busy-might be better on a weekday. Hotel food-starters and sweets were very good, main courses less so. Staff kept breakfast well supplied even when very busy. Karen combined efficiency with a light touch and inspired confidence.”
Hillier, September 2024
“I had wanted to have a look at this part of France for some time and this tour was a good way of doing it. Fontenay is small but the hotel was great – comfortable rooms, lovely restaurant, good bar and excellent staff. The trips involved a lot of coach travel but it was worth it, and I enjoy travelling through the countryside. Karen (leader) was attentive and knowledgeable.”
Anonymous, September 2024
“Excellent trip. We had some wonderful visits arranged with plenty of spare time to do our own thing. Our tour manager was very informative about the locations we visited and handled problems she experienced very professionally. My only criticism of the trip would be that the day spent in Fontenay le. Comte would better arranged for the weekend market day as there was little to do in the mid week day we went there.”
Hammond, September 2024
Availability
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HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
Hotel Le Rabelais, Fontenay-le-Comte
The Hotel Le Rabelais is situated in the centre of the pretty town of Fontenay-le-Comte on the banks of the Vendée. Facilties at this well-appointed and well-run three-star hotel include a well-regarded restaurant, swimming pool (open May – September), gym, spa with sauna and comfortable bedrooms with all modern facilities including en-suite bathoom, TV, telephone, free wifi and air-conditioning.
Hotel Website link
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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