If you have taken holidays in France before, you will know that the French don’t normally need much of an excuse to open a couple of bottles of wine and party until the small hours of the morning! This is particularly true on 14th July, the French National day (or Bastille day as we know it). All around the country, concerts, village dances and firework displays are being organised to celebrate the French Revolution, its values (Liberty, Equality and Fraternity) and, of course, its emblem – the Blue, White and Red flag…
Having said that, these celebrations can be more subdued in the Vendée. This area was, after all, the scene of brutal wars following the Revolution, during which the Vendée royalist partisans fought to the bitter end. You can learn more about this part of the Vendée history at the Historial de la Vendée in Les-Lucs-sur-Boulogne – an interactive museum, cutting-edge by both its architecture and visual display technology, spanning 7000 years of history in this department.
These days, one of the best places on the Côte de Lumière to enjoy the National day and, particularly, the evening – is Saint Gilles Croix de Vie. Every year, thousands of spectators line the estuary quays to watch an amazing half-hour long firework display. Luckily, the weather is set to be dry and warm again this year!
As for us, we will prefer the somewhat quieter venue of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, a pretty village along the banks of the Jaunay river, half-an-hour from the coast (Brétignolles or Brem-sur-Mer), known for its art and the excellent Café des Arts (my favourite restaurant in the area!). France wouldn’t be France without food and wine so we will enjoy both of these there on Saturday 16th July, before « ooohhhing » and « aaahhhing » (same in French or in English!) at the colourful sparkles lighting up the summer sky…
