Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez

On the outskirts of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, on the St-Jean-de-Monts side, is the charming town of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez.

About 15 km from the campsite, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez is a charming seaside resort on the Vendée coast. With its watersports centre, its long stretches of fine sandy beach and its national forest, Saint-Hilaire has managed to perfectly adapt to its environment. There are several buildings to visit during your escapade to Saint-Hilaire. These buildings, which are often for religious purposes, are deeply rooted in the local heritage of this town of 10,000 inhabitants.

• Saint Hilaire church: guided visit on Tuesdays
• Sion chapel
• Bourrine du Bois Juquaud (thatched cottage)
• Gardens of La Villa Grosse Terre

Don’t forget to visit the salt marshes: in 1995 the salt marshes in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez recommenced their activity with the exploitation of two main marshes: Le Marais de l’Étoile (private property) and La Saline du Recoin (communal property).

On foot or by bike, make the most of an outing in the heart of the marshes to discover the work of a salt worker. You can admire the gestures inspired by the pure tradition of this trade, which help create this famous ‘white gold’. The flora and fauna of this natural area will also be presented to you during your visit which will end with a tasting session, if you so wish.