In Saint-Gervais
To begin with, the village itself: its old townhouses, its châteaux, its national stud farm founded in 1846 and its Bordevert chapel.
Around Saint-Gervais
Saint-Gervais is on the road to the islands: Noirmoutier, by the passage du Gois or by the bridge, and Île d'Yeu, by fast boat or helicopter. The sea is only a few minutes from the house.
Close to Challans and Saint-Jean-de-Monts, our village is surrounded by sites that bear witness to the rich natural, historical and ecological heritage of the region, and to its human heritage too. Here is what you can discover in north-west Vendée from the house.
Distances from the house
From Saint-Gervais: the sea, the islands and a few of Vendée's great sights.
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In the village
Saint-Gervais
Old townhouses, châteaux, the national stud farm and the Bordevert chapel.
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A few minutes
The sea
Saint-Jean-de-Monts, very close, a stone's throw from the beaches.
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3.5 km
La Vélodyssée
A 3,460 m cycle link leads right to our door.
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7 km
Châteauneuf
Its little windmill and its stork observatory.
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8 km
The passage du Gois
The way onto the island of Noirmoutier: a causeway over 4 km long that disappears at high tide.
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15 km
Noirmoutier by the bridge
The entrance to the island and its leisure boating.
- By fast boat
- 40 min
- 45 min
- 1 hr 10
The sea and its trails
Several themed trails are open to the curious, starting from Saint-Gervais.
- The oyster trail
- The salt trail and its salt pans
- The Bay of Bourgneuf
- The bird trail
The port du Bec
The port du Bec, also known as the “Chinese port”, is on the oyster trail. It is well known and appreciated for its mussel and oyster farming.
It shelters a fleet of boats fishing for sole, sea bass, red mullet, elvers, prawns and cuttlefish, mainly in the Bay of Bourgneuf, the Loire estuary and around Île d'Yeu.
The beaches
The sea is a few minutes from the house. Saint-Jean-de-Monts, very close, is a stone's throw from the beaches.
The marsh and its birds
Here we are in the heart of the marsh, a favourite place for walkers and anglers, who enjoy the calm and quiet of this unspoilt natural setting. Its changing light and reflections delight painters, photographers and poets.
The wildlife is exceptional, and there are many bird-watching spots across the region.
- Otters and genets
- Eels and frogs
- Cranes, barnacle geese, greylag geese
- Many species of migratory birds
- More rarely, griffon vultures
Châteauneuf and its storks
7 km from the house, Châteauneuf has its little windmill and its stork observatory.
The islands: Noirmoutier and Île d'Yeu
Noirmoutier, by the passage du Gois or by the bridge
The entrance to the island of Noirmoutier and its leisure boating are 8 km away by the passage du Gois, or 15 km by the bridge.
Probably unique in the world, the passage du Gois links the mainland to the island at low tide. You never tire of watching the causeway, over 4 km long, disappear within a few hours.
The Gois is also a delight for the many shore fishers who find clams and other shellfish there. You can discover the Bay of Bourgneuf, now protected by dykes and polders unique in France.
Île d'Yeu, by fast boat or helicopter
Île d'Yeu can be reached by fast boat from Fromentine, at La Barre-de-Monts. Two companies run the crossing, with online booking:
Book with the Compagnie Vendéenne
The tour of the two islands, Noirmoutier and Île d'Yeu, is one of the routes presented in the Walking and cycling section.
The aerodrome and heliport at Beauvoir-sur-Mer
At Beauvoir-sur-Mer, the Jacqueline Auriol aerodrome is home to the Oya Vendée Hélicoptères heliport and the Aéro-club de Beauvoir-Fromentine.
You can reach Île d'Yeu by helicopter: the crossing takes 9 minutes and runs all year round. Oya also offers introductory flights and helicopter tours over the passage du Gois, the Bay of Bourgneuf and Noirmoutier.
The flying club organises discovery and introductory flights, in a light aircraft or a microlight, to see the Pays du Gois and the island of Noirmoutier from the sky.
Heritage and villages
Our village is surrounded by typical villages that bear witness to the rich cultural and gastronomic heritage of the region.
At Beauvoir-sur-Mer and Bouin
At Beauvoir-sur-Mer, the church of Saint-Philibert dates from the 11th century. At Bouin, the church offers a panoramic view over the Bay of Bourgneuf.
Walking and cycling
For nature lovers, Saint-Gervais has its ponds and trails for horse riders, walkers and cycle tourists. On foot, you can follow the GR8, which runs along the coast, or do the tour of the two islands, Noirmoutier and Île d'Yeu.
6 to 15 km
Walking trails
There are very many walks to do in the surrounding area. Between 6 and 15 km, they suit every level. The trails are regularly maintained and well used.
30 to 100 km
Cycle touring
Cycling is a real institution in the region. Vendée has the largest cycle network in France, with more than 1,000 km of paths, and its gentle gradients make it an ideal destination for everyone. The routes around here run from 30 to 100 km and cross hedged farmland, marshes and beaches.
La Vélodyssée is 3.5 km from the house: a 3,460 m cycle link leads right to our door. We welcome many bikers and cycle tourists, and a shelter is available for them.
The bikers' and cyclists' stopoverFor a big day out
Three landmarks to see further afield, starting from the house.
- 1 hr 10
Le Puy du Fou
- 40 min
La Roche-sur-Yon
- 45 min
Nantes and its airport
Good reasons to extend your stay
The rooms, breakfast and the evening meal at our table d'hôtes await you in Saint-Gervais.
Find us
In the heart of the village of Saint-Gervais, between the marshes and the Vendée bocage: the sea, the islands and the Vélodyssée are all close by.
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Give a stay
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The gift cardDogs (up to 15 kg) and cats are welcome, for €7 per night: please let us know when you book.