Charente Vendee Attractions  This area of France has a rich variety of attractions for the holidaymaker.  Of course the miles of sandy beaches draw the crowds year after year, but there are some delightful towns and villages as well, plus vineyards aplenty with the added benefit of the home of Cognac and the local speciality Pineau. Also you will find splendid theme parks such as le Puy du Fou or Futuroscope, as well as idyllic islands, fascinating geographical features....

Zoo de la Palmyre

Location: Just before the town of la Palmyre, 15kms up the coast from Royan on D25. There is plenty of parking.
General Info: Open all year 9AM-6PM. From April to September opens 9AM-7PM.
€14 per adult and €10 for children aged 3-12.  Website.
Tel No: 0(5) 46 22 46 06
Description:  With 1600 animals to see spread over many hectares this is a zoo really worth visiting. It is situated in a pleasant location among the pine trees, west of the large resort of Royan, thus offering welcome shade in the hotter months. The zoo is well laid out and maintained with good facilities in terms of toilets, baby changing and snack bars.
Our recommendations: This is an excellent place for a family day out. A minimum visit of 4 hours is recommended and considering the size of the car-parks we imagine the zoo gets incredibly busy during peak season. Try and arrive early and make a day of it. A recent visit out of season was relatively quiet.
For children: Ideal for just about all ages. Children will especially enjoy the two shows, one featuring sea-lions and the other parrots. Check out the times of these at the start of your visit or alternatively listen out for tannoy announcements (in French).

           - Aquarium at La Rochelle
           - Aqualand theme park
           - Atlantic Toboggan
           - Château des Enigmes
           - Futuroscope
           - Ile de Ré
           - Le Dune du Pilat
           - Le Marais Poitévin
           - Le Puy du Fou
           - Tepacap
           - Zoo de la Palmyre

If you're staying in the north of this region, consider a trip to the Loire or  Brittany, if you're in the Gironde area then the Dordogne is within reach.

External websites offering information on the Vendee and Charente Maritime:

- Poitou Charente Vacances
- Le Charente

- Angela Bird's website on the Vendée

     - Top Attractions in Charente / Vendee
     - Top ten Holiday destinations in France

- If you are booking ahead and combining with accommodation then groups of 8 or more can get a €4 discount on an adult ticket and 2 on a children's ticket.  See the Futuroscope website for more information.
- If you have a "carte famille nombreuse" you may be entitled to a discount - we know people that got a "famille nombreuse" discount without even having the card, so it's worth asking for it.  They can only say "no"!  The "carte famille nombreuse" can be purchased from railway ticket offices and allows reduced price train travel as well as discounts at many attractions.