The Vendée region of France has a lot to offer its visitors - with miles of sandy beaches and many other tourist attractions. Here are some of the most popular attractions - click on the images to view more information about each site.

The fantastic Puy du Fou theme park is only 60 minutes away, where you will be transported back in time to the Roman, Viking and Medieval eras. In the summer months the park stays open late into the evening for a spectacular sound and light show. Not to be missed!

For a more tranquil day out, the Marais Poitevin is only 60 minutes away. Here you will find the famous ‘Venise Verte’ with its miles of canals and waterways. A great place to stop off is Coulon where you can hire a boat for the morning before sampling some of the local specialties at the many little restaurants scattered along the canal banks. The area is also well known for its ruined abbeys and there are often reenactments and evening shows held in the grounds of the abbeys.

Within a 15 minute drive is the Indian Forest Adventure Park - a great day out for all the family - with pony rides and bouncy castles for the younger children, crazy golf, water slides and paint balling for the slightly older ones and tree climbing and flying over lakes for the brave!

The Château des Aventuriers makes a fun day out - with a treasure trail in the extensive gardens and a pirate theme, You can also explore inside the château.

30 minutes away at Talmont St Hilaire is the Automobile Museum, with its vast exhibition of cars through the ages. A good one for the boys!

The old town of La Rochelle is a must for visitors, with its great architecture, pedestrianised shopping areas, street markets and harbour-side restaurants and cafés. In summer there is street entertainment every evening around the harbour and also many music & film festivals. The aquarium is great for the children and nearby is a naval museum and many historic boats.

Further afield the historic City of Nantes is worth a visit - with a great Château and museum, along with wide shopping avenues and lots of restaurants and arcades to explore - you can even take a boat trip down the river Loire.

To the south of Lairoux is the town of Fontenay le Comte which has a great street market on a Saturday, along with many festivals and fayres throughout the summer

The forest and lake around Mervent are also great to explore - with many picnic areas and lakeside restaurants & cafés. There is also an old-fashioned theme park with helter-skelters, water slides and train rides at the Parc de Pierre Brune!

The Futuroscope Theme Park is about 90 minutes away near to Poitiers - here you can ride on some fantastic simulators - transporting you through time and space, or watch many 3D films in giant cinemas. There is a great evening sound & light show. Well worth a visit!