Camping La Faute-sur-Mer

Do you know La Faute-sur-Mer?

Lying on the narrow stretch of sea known as the Pertuis Breton, looking out to the Île de Ré, La Faute-sur-Mer promises exceptional scenery, a chance to discover all about oyster-farming and the bliss of simply lazing on the beach.

Fringed by 8km of beach, it offers the perfect opportunity to try your hand at a host of watersports, experience the thrill of land yachting, or wander the shores of the Rade d’Amour, a former oyster-growing area at the end of the Arçay headland. One of the town’s must-visit sites, this biological reserve is a popular spot for over-wintering birds and a welcome stop-over for those migrating further afield. With friends or family, it has plenty of surprises in store for you, and your walk will take you past innumerable information boards explaining the flora and fauna that stretches as far as the eye can see. In the distance, you’ll be able to spot the oyster beds of Les Viviers d’Arçay, sheer delight for the palate with their oyster and seafood tapas bars.

Did you know?

In 1235 the Irishman Patrick Walton was shipwrecked on the shores of La Faute-sur-Mer where he invented a new method for farming mussels. The technique is still used today with wooden piles driven into the lower area of the foreshore, forming rows known as “bouchots”. Today mussel-farming represents the second source of income in La Faute-sur-Mer.

On your programme?

Surrounded by activities linked to nature, the possibilities are endless!

On the seaward side, try your hand at shellfish gathering, kitesurfing or simply relaxing as you stretch out on your beach towel.

Landward, for all walkers and hikers, there’s no shortage of protected biological sites with practicable trails, and in the centre don’t miss a visit to the Sainte-Thérèse chapel.

If you fancy exploring around and about nearby, the Vendée Aquarium offers a range of workshops for children and adults to raise awareness about the seabed; you’ll even be able to feed the fish.

The Mervent Natur’zoo and the zoo in Les Sables-d’Olonne are both home to a fascinating variety of protected species with the aim of helping to save them from extinction. Come and admire some of their exceptional animals such as the red panda, the macaws and the Amur leopard.