What to do in Saint Hilaire de Riez
Nestling between ocean, forest and marsh, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez is a famous seaside resort in the Vendée. With its 10km of fine sand, the resort has plenty to offer. A sporting destination par excellence, it also knows how to maintain its traditions.
Beaches and water sports
Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez has been awarded the Blue Flag for its fine sandy beaches. The most famous of these is the Plage des Demoiselles. This long beach offers supervised swimming in summer. At low tide, you can fish for pine nuts, a local speciality.
- The Demoiselles water sports centre offers an introduction to catamaran sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddling and sand yachting. You can also take a surfing lesson.
- The Sion water sports centre is also a great place to discover the marine environment: dinghies, catamarans, kayaks, windsurfing and paddle boarding, with a “Jardin des Mers” for children aged 5 and over.
Soak up nature and culture…
On foot, by bike or on horseback, the Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez area is home to miles of hiking trails between beach, forest and salt marsh.
The Vendée Corniche
Listed as a Remarkable Natural Site, the Corniche Vendéenne is a picturesque three-kilometre walk from Saint Hilaire de Riez to St Gilles Croix de Vie. The cliffs can reach heights of 7 to 8 metres. If you head north along the corniche, you’ll discover the “Trou du diable” cave, not far from the Cinq Pineaux, which keeps watch over the devil imprisoned in the corniche…
The Vie salt marshes
An unusual walk through the heart of the Vie salt marshes will give you an insight into the work of the salt worker. The salt harvest will hold no secrets for you!
La Bourrine du Bois Juquaud
In the heart of a site classified as a “sensitive natural area”, discover the daily life of market gardeners at the beginning of the 20th century. A former farm centred around a bourrine (a traditional dwelling in the Vendée Breton Marshes) tells the story of Armandine Gandemer, its last occupant.
201 Forest Avenue, an address to remember!
Facing the ocean, 201 Forest Avenue is a multi-activity leisure complex located in Saint Hilaire de Riez, between Saint Jean de Monts and Saint Gilles Croix de Vie.
On the programme: a 12-lane bowling alley, a 400 m2 laser game, a fitness club, a restaurant and an atmospheric bar (concert evenings, karaoke, salsa, match broadcasts, etc.) and games (table football, billiards, pinball, darts). In short, there’s everything you need to have a good time when it’s raining or when it’s too hot.
photo©simonbourcier.com, 3345557/Pixabay, Stephane Grossin/Vendée Expansion, DolfiAm/Pixabay, 201 Forest Avenue,