Windmill in the Vendée - Windmill Holiday Rental in Vouille Les Marais, Vendée, France

Where is it

• Location:  North West France  >  Pays de La Loire  >  Vendée
• Closest town/village:  Vouille Les Marais (Vendée) ( Central )
• Closest airport: La Rochelle Airport (18.7 miles *Direct distance, road distance may vary. Please refer to detailed area map for local roads.)
• Distance to coast: 9.3 miles
• Access: Car Essential Car hire
• Property highlights: Barbecue, Garden, Scenic views

 

Self Catering Breaks in Vendée Countryside Windmill

Get away from it all to the calm of the Vendée. Our wonderfully cosy and fully equipped gîte is the perfect romantic retreat for couples of all ages to relax and discover one of the most fascinating regions of France.

Easily and rapidly accessible via the A83 motorway from channel ports and half an hour's hire-car drive from La Rochelle Airport (daily flights from Bristol, Manchester, Southampton and Stansted).

Plenty to do in the surrounding area.

One of the least known and most beautiful corners of France.

Holiday Accommodation at Windmill in the Vendée

Our converted Vendée windmill is a delightful and romantic setting which perfectly matches an intimate and cosy interior with a large open garden which has a tremendous sense of space and freedom.

Ground floor

• Farmhouse kitchen - a rustic setting fully equipped with electric hobs and oven, fridge, a kettle and all the other kitchen knick-knacks you'll need.

Middle floor

• Sitting room - with comfy armchairs and a sofa,  shelves of books for exchange with ones you've read on the way down. There are also chess, draughts, backgammon and cards in case it rains.

Upstairs

• Bedroom - with double bed and a place to sit and take in the view out over the meadows of the marais poitevin.
• En-suite bathroom features a spacious shower.

Outside

There is a patio with deckchairs and the a barbecue is stored in the shed (always plenty of charcoal too. The shed is ideal if you bring bikes. The old millstone lies in the garden and makes a handy alternative picnic table.

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About Vouille Les Marais in Vendée, Pays de La Loire

The mill is in the village of Vouillé les Marais in the marais poitevin, one of the most beautiful and least known corners of France. Criss-crossed by canals passing under leafy trees with an amazing variety of wildlife and idyllic scenery, it's the perfect place for a week away from it all.

The village of Vouillé les Marais has a little café-bar, a small but amazingly well stocked shop (they always seem to have exactly what we need - it's spooky sometimes) and a boulangerie. There's also a tiny museum which is worth poking your nose into and a lovely craft shop. There's a jam maker's workshop too but we've never got round to visiting that yet!

The next-but-one village, Le Gué, has a shop and a bar where you can take your drinks over to the picnic tables by the river. It's really lovely down there and we actually prefer it to our local in Vouillé.

The nearby towns of Marans and Fontenay le Comte have very good restaurants and attractions - you'll find plenty of brochures in the mill when you arrive.

Although in a different departement and even an entirely different region of France, the major town and tourist centre of  La Rochelle is only half an hour away by car. Flying to La Rochelle on one of the many budget lines (Southampton, Bristol, Dublin, Stansted daily) and hiring a car is a perfect way to travel to the windmill. A visit to La Rochelle is an absolute must during your stay - it really is a beautiful town with more excellent restaurants and attractions than you can shake a stick at.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

How To Get To Vouille Les Marais in Vendée, North West France

Coming from the North - Nantes, Poitiers, Paris etc.

•  Travelling along the A83 (from the direction of either Nantes or Poitiers depending on which ferry port you arrived at), leave the motorway at junction 8 at Fontenay le Comte. As soon as you're past the toll booth you arrive at a roundabout.
• Turn left here (the last exit) and travel towards Vix (this is signposted on the roundabout).
• About 12 kilometres (8 miles) later you come up a short rise to another roundabout. Take the first exit (sharp right) towards Le Gué de Velluire.
• Follow that road downhill, uphill and down again for about four miles into the village of Le Gué de Velluire. Keep going through the village's twists and turns into the village of La Taillée and go on for another mile or so.
• As soon as you leave La Taillée (there's a sign with a line through the name of the village) you'll see the mill on your right. If you find yourself driving along a long straight stretch with wide open fields both sides, you've gone too far - look over your right shoulder and you'll see it.
• We've noticed that most route planners suggest leaving the A83 at junction 7 and coming down through St Jean, St Gemme and Moreilles. This is ok too but we think our way is better!

Coming from the South - La Rochelle

• From the airport: Follow the signs to Rochefort, Bordeaux and Nantes. After 8 km take the slip road on the right (passing back under the dual carriageway) onto the N11 towards Nantes, Poitiers and Niort.
• From La Rochelle town centre: Follow Toutes Directions until you see a sign to Nantes (the N11).
• Once on the N11 drive for 10 km (ish) and turn off at the slip road onto the N137 to Nantes.
• You come up to a a big roundabout with a wiry sculpture of don Quixote on it. Take the second exit signposted to Marans and Fontenay le Comte. The road is pretty much dead straight for 20 km interrrupted by one more small roundabout about half way.
• The town of Marans is on your route. Drive straight through the middle and out the other side.
• There are boats for hire, nice restaurants and tourist attractions in Marans but you'll find out about them later...
• 6 km after Marans you come to a roundabout. Take the first exit onto the D25A.
• Drive 4 km to the village of Vouillé les Marais. When you can't go any further (you come to a T-junction) turn right.
• Drive past the church, the mairie, the shop and the cafe and right out of the village. You'll see the mill across the fields to your front-left. You can't miss it.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.

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Facilities at Windmill in the Vendée

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Availability at Windmill in the Vendée

Changeover day: Saturday

Availability last updated on: - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

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