A magical place for a magical celebration.

This grand Christmas market will be set up in the heart of the Tiffauges château! 35 chalets will be raised in the castle's courtyard, and visitors will have a world of things to choose from... Buy presents for loved-ones, enjoy some roasted chestnuts, or just go crazy on the Christmas cake and warm apple juice…

Just like every year you can witness a spectacular event: the largest mobile set of bells in France will be parading the streets! The Douai "carillon" boasts 53 individual bells including three free-swinging bells. By nightfall, the Tiffauges château comes alive with a Christmas spirit you've never seen before!

A solitary adventure.

Known as "The Everest of the Sea", this round-the-world solitary nautical race has become a career-making competition for the world's best navigators. The concept blends adventure with physical/psychological achievement: it is a solitary race with no assistance and no stopovers for those sailing the 60-foot single-hull boats. Les Sables d'Olonne is the only port of call…

The Vendée Globe takes place every four years; 20 of the planet's best skippers are selected to participate. Their journey passes three Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn) for a total of 43 000 kilometres of suffering and solitude; the nickname, Everest of the Sea, is definitely well-chosen.

Participants must follow a precise itinerary, and any deviation calls for immediate disqualification.

Intermingling styles

This Swiss trumpetist has brought trip-hop and hip-hop to free jazz. Just like Miles Davis before him, modernity is his horizon; Truffaz is all about mixing styles and makind musical hybrids. With albums like The dawn and Bending New Corners, and more recently the DVD Face à Face, all produced by Blue Note, his quartet managed a blend of drum'n'bass, rap and that magical world of jazz improvisation.

Representation of power, symbol of an emperor.

La Roche-sur-Yon has devised a new set of heritage signposts: the 5.5km Napoleon circuit takes walkers on a unique route around the town to discover its past and its unique sites by means of an explanatory route (parcours d'interprétation) marked out by distinctive signage consisting of plaques and bookstands.
The heritage walk guides visitors through the historic town centre (Pentagone and Quartier de la Gare) and explains how the town developed from its founding in 1804 up to the mid-19th century.
The walk is divided into three sectors:
the natural site and the old town;
the town under Napoleon;
the town's expansion from 1870 to 1940.
The Napoleon circuit was developed under the auspices of the Fédération Européenne des Cités Napoléoniennes launched by the towns of Ajaccio and La Roche-sur-Yon.
Encompassing a total of 25 European towns and cities, the Federation promotes exchanges of historical information on Napoleonic history, showcases Napoleonic heritage and organises cultural and educational campaigns.

Where kids are treated like royalty!

Parents and children all want their holidays together to be a success and a source of unforgettable happy memories.

A family holiday resort must be in a position to offer absolutely everything to make that possible: suitable accommodation for families, activities to suit different ages, fun and entertainment for all, and a wide range of facilities in an environment that must be not only attractive (naturally!) but also safe.
Station Kid resorts, in association with the Ministry for Tourism which supports the association's projects, are committed to this vision, and have agreed to a strict charter with six key checkpoints : welcome, facilities, events and entertainment, activities, environment and safety.
Communes which qualify receive the award for a period of three years. The award is made only to communes that pursue a real policy of welcoming children aged between 3 and 12 and their families.

As a result, everything is in place to ensure that children have a fantastic time with their parents, who can feel relaxed and secure.
On the programme: sports, walks, fun learning activities, games and competitions and shows for all the family to enjoy.

The Tiger's lair.

On retiring from political life after the signing of the peace treaties that brought the First World War to a close, Georges Clemenceau rented this fisherman's cottage in 1919.
It is located in the Vendée, the region of his birth and where he spent many summers.
Looking out to sea, the low-lying house has remained exactly as it was at the death of the man known as the Tiger. The entrance is reached by an alley of pines and firs. Each room and each object evokes the memory of this great statesman.