Eastern Christmas market at Tiffauges
Another beautifully atmospheric château in the Vendée is that of Tiffauges, just west of Cholet in the north of the region and once home to the legendary and barbaric Bluebeard (or Gilles de Rais).
Perched as it is above the village, come Christmas this medieval fortress is tranformed into a snow-capped pine forest with artisans, local gourmand delights and unusual gifts such as sugared perfumes!
There are dozens of local artisans along with ice-sculptures, traditional Christmas carols, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.
Entry is free and it’s open on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th of December 2014.
Noel au Haras
The amazing performances of the dancing horses at the Haras in La Roche sur Yon are well worth a visit at any time of the year and as you’d expect, come Christmas they put on some very special displays. This year the main performance tells the story of the legendary horse of Mervent and you can expect a performance infused with a sense of fun as well as daring, with talented displays of man and horse working together.
There’s lots else to do while you’re there, including guided tours, pony and trap rides, donkey rides and story telling.
You can find out more at www.haras.vendee.fr
Lucy Pitts is a freelance writer and runs www.lemoulin-frenchholidayhome.com. She divides her time between the Vendée and the UK.