I don’t know the Vendée very well, mostly due to a lack of opportunities, because there isn’t a region in France I wouldn’t want to discover. I find that we are so lucky to have such distinct characteristics and a variety of landscapes in our small territory compared to other countries, so I want to make the most of it… I was therefore delighted when the Tourist Office of Saint Jean de Monts invited me to come and discover this little seaside resort by the ocean, which is located just opposite the Île d’Yeu.
Saint Jean de Monts is truly a seaside resort with astonishing charm (it officially received the ‘Station Balnéaire’ label in 1969). Sometimes a seaside town, urbanized with numerous water activities, and sometimes very natural with the nearby pine forest and the marsh just behind it, it harbors a large number of different natural spaces.
As a result, there are multiple activities to practice in the region, ranging from sports, cultural and natural discovery of the territory, and gastronomy, as well as numerous events and celebrations held throughout the year. So, I will try to draw up a short list of activities and places that I tested and that I recommend to you.
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Table of Contents
The Thalasso / Spa of Saint Jean de Monts
The Saint Jean de Monts Thalasso includes an aqua-relaxation area (Bullneo) with numerous fitness and health activities centered around a large seawater pool heated to 31°C, a hammam, a sauna, water bikes, a jacuzzi, and numerous massage and body care services.
Tips:
- You can make an appointment at the Thalasso boutique for a free skin analysis, and samples will be offered to us.
- Thalasso activities are freely accessible to patients (weekly schedule).
- Booking a treatment grants free access to the entire complex.
For my part, I tested a 20-minute Zen massage, very relaxing, before heading to the herbal tea area to drink a detoxifying beverage. Having become a fan of the sauna since my little German getaway in Aachen, I also went for a little sweat session; it’s always good for the body! You should also know that the thalasso-spa offers a treatment for diabetics, unique in France, and that a dietitian works with the center, offering slimming cures, prenatal care, or programs specifically adapted for diabetics.
During my getaway, I stayed in the charming Best Western hotel, located 600m from the sea, which allows direct access (without going outside) via the basement to the Thalasso, which is very convenient. The rooms are spacious and quiet, and I decided that for next time, I’ll stay in the magnificent suite with a private rooftop pool – the best!
AtlanticThalasso Spa and Best Western hotel 12 avenue des pays des monts 85160 Saint Jean de Monts
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The Personalized Fitness and Well-being Program
The resort also offers a personalized Fitness & Well-being program, which is free for everyone and available all year round! The advisors at the Saint-Jean-de-Monts tourist office welcome the public every day for information and, especially by appointment, in an area dedicated to the Espace Odysséa, to offer a personalized ‘Fitness and Well-being’ program.
At the end of this meeting with a ‘well-being’ advisor, you leave with a program of activities (based on the desired benefits) that you have the possibility (and no obligation, mind you!) of booking at the end of the meeting. The benefits have been defined in partnership with the professionals from the Saint-Jean-de-Monts thalasso-spa.
For more information or to make an appointment, contact the Tourist Office at 0 826 887 887
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Take a walk on the foreshore
A must-do activity during your stay: take a short walk on the foreshore with Florence at low tide at the end of the day, to discover the little world of the coastline from a new angle. Everything was magical: the light, the moment, the experience, the sharing. We even learned how to do ‘shore fishing’, we ate small shellfish, and above all, I tasted an oyster just taken off the rock, certainly the best of my life, so fresh and salty—pure happiness (and to think that before this stay, I didn’t eat them!).
Having reached the closest point to the receding sea, we also had a short lesson in clam digging (a shellfish found just beneath the sand, indicated by a small hole in the water) and an explanation of ancient techniques (using a type of wooden footwear) to move more easily on the foreshore (well, looking at our test, that wasn’t proven!).
Walk on the foreshore price: between €10 to €15 for an adult and between €5 and €10 for a child duration of the walk approximately 2h30 to 3h
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Guided tour behind the scenes of the historic Saint Jean de Monts Casino
On the program for this morning visit: a short presentation on the history of this mythical place (which began in 1953), as well as a presentation of the gaming room and the internal operation of a slot machine (very informative!).
The tip: the Casino offers a free introduction to table games, specifically Boule, on Sunday afternoons from 4 PM to 7 PM with fake chips.
Saint Jean de Monts Casino 29 Esplanade de la mer 85160 Saint Jean de Monts Price: €8 for the tour, with welcome breakfast included All year for adults by reservation at 02 51 26 55 04, Monday to Friday morning duration: 1h
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Explora Parc
This leisure park in the heart of the Saint Jean de Monts forest offers a new activity unique in France: Archery Tag.
The concept: a type of paintball with a bow and arrows, 100% harmless and painless with foam arrow tips.
The park also offers 8 tree-climbing courses (accessible from 5 years old) with over 500m² of net courses on three levels, a Slackline for extreme sports fans, and the Forest’Bar with a beautiful terrace under the trees to sip a drink after exerting yourself.
The little extra: the park uses CLIC IT lanyards, a system of smart lanyards that allows for continuous protection and eliminates the risk of falling while leaving the participant totally free and an actor in the practice.
Also on the park’s program: archery, geocaching, and orienteering.
Explora Parc Every day from 9 AM tel: 06 22 61 45 98 The tip: themed night events in summer from 6 PM to midnight on Wednesdays, with many prizes to win!
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Walk on the Saint Jean de Monts Estacade (day and night)
A must-do: a walk to the end of the Estacade at night. Of course, a walk during the day is also necessary, but it’s not the same atmosphere at all…
At night, you have to follow the dance of the lights along the pier to discover the mystery of the fireflies at the end of the wooden walkway, but I won’t say more—the surprise must be kept… A magical moment to be done on a night with little wind if possible… I’ll just leave you a little hint below in a photo…
The Estacade 85160 Saint-Jean-de-Monts
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A horseback ride on the beach
If you come to spend some time in Saint Jean de Monts, you absolutely must take a short horseback ride with Nelly’s Ranch.
For starters, because it’s so pleasant to go horseback riding in the pine forest and especially to do a little trot on the sandy beach, with the horse’s hooves in the water—honestly, it’s a magical moment, and it was certainly one of the best memories of my stay. Plus, horseback riding remains one of the best ways to discover the natural environment of Saint Jean de Monts. And what’s more, in summer, Nelly also offers bareback rides in the sea, so you get completely wet with the horses; that must be quite something!
Nelly's Ranch Equestrian Center route du Moulin Cassé 85160 Saint Jean de Monts
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The Saint Jean de Monts Nautical Base
You can practice kitesurfing, sand yachting, catamaran sailing, paddleboarding, and dozens of other nautical sports. But you can also simply go have a drink on its terrace, which opens onto the ocean with a stunning view of the blue expanse.
The Nautical Base Avenue de l'Estacade 85160 Saint Jean de Monts
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Practical information and tips
The good news is that coming to Saint Jean de Monts by means other than a car is entirely possible. You just need to take the train to Nantes, and from there, there is a bus that leaves from Nantes for Saint Jean de Monts, as well as a TER regional train.
Small selection of tips in Saint Jean de Monts:
- There are several free parking lots.
- If you are traveling in a group for the holidays, the more people there are, the cheaper the vacation. Accommodations in Saint Jean de Monts offer sliding-scale discounts to encourage family stays.
- Consider picking up a free ‘Pass culture découverte’ at the Tourist Office; it will give you access to reduced rates at 22 sites.
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This trip was truly one of ‘firsts’ for me (first horseback ride on the fine sand, first oyster tastings, first time in the Vendée, first walk on the foreshore, multiple gastronomic discoveries that I will talk about in a future article, by the way), and I must say that I completely fell for the charm of this destination, from which, truly, I didn’t want to leave… It goes to show that the resort’s slogan ‘Unleash your desires!’ proved completely true for me. I even spotted a small bourrine (traditional Vendée house) to settle into when my older days arrive…
In any case, it is with great pleasure that I will return soon to explore all the other activities, visits, and specialties that I didn’t have time to discover, and I have a second article in store for you with my selection of gastronomic ‘good addresses’ in Saint Jean de Monts and a discovery of local specialties.
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And you, have you ever been to Saint Jean de Monts or the Vendée?
Find all my articles on the Pays de la Loire region below:
⇒ All my articles on the Vendée
⇒ All my articles on the Pays de la Loire
MY ARTICLES ON SAINT JEAN DE MONTS (2015)
⇒ Getaway to Saint-Jean-de-Monts
⇒ Good addresses in Saint-Jean-de-Monts
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free; permission from the photographer is required before any use
