Vendée in western France has the most camping pitches in the country

Vendée department in western France has the most camping pitches in the country and recorded more than nine million overnight stays last year in its outdoor accommodations, according to a report from a local tourism agency.

Those include campsites, caravan parks, holiday parks, natural areas and farm campsites. 

The Vendée has 52,000 camping pitches, regional newspaper Ouest-France reports. Located in the Pays de la Loire region, it is known for its 276 km of Atlantic coastline and its famous historical theme park Puy du Fou. 

For an idea of scale, France has 7,460 campsites in total, the Directorate General of Enterprises reported in 2024. Vendée holds about 300 of those, or 4%. In contrast, the department makes up only 1% of the total French population. 

French tourists make up the majority of those visiting the Vendée, but foreigners are increasingly flocking to the area. Last year, 15% of open-air stays were from foreign tourists, with Britons making up the largest demographic. The percentage is up 7% from last year, according to the agency’s report. 

Sylvain Ha, who oversees international promotion at Vendée Expansion, which is financed largely by the department, said tourism has long been part of local history. 

“There are a lot of people who had their first vacation experiences in the Vendée and who have come back quite a few times with their children, grandchildren, and so on,” Mr Ha told The Connexion. “So there’s always that loyalty, which goes some way toward explaining why we have so many campgrounds.” 

There are other draws as well. Vendée’s location on the centre of the coast makes it easily accessible, and cheap prices are not hard to come by. There is also a range of natural scenery, from sand beaches to woods.  

Vendée’s call is something Jean-Marc Arthot, an artist and president of the Vendée New York Club, knows well. Mr Arthot moved to the Vendée as a child, but now lives in Nantes. Still, he has an apartment in the port town Les Sables-d'Olonne in the Vendée, and often returns there. 

“You get hooked on the sea,” he told The Connexion. “And besides, since I live in Nantes, I make up all sorts of excuses to get back to the Vendée as quickly as possible.”

Mr Arthot - whose Vendée New York Club brings together Vendéeans in America and Americans in Vendée - said the department is unique in its welcoming attitude towards newcomers.

“You can become a Vendéean even if you weren’t born there,” he said.  

Adding to the region’s popularity is the diversity of camping arrangements you can reserve. They range from empty pitches for putting up tents to elaborate bungalows. Online, you can even find some campgrounds with pools, water slides, wifi and washing machines. 

Over time, many offerings have moved upmarket, becoming closer to resort hotels than to traditional campgrounds, Mr Ha said. About 80% of outdoor accommodations in the Vendée are classified as 3, 4 or 5 stars, according to a 2023 report from Vendée Expansion.

That might explain the wide range in prices: in the heat of the camping season, from July to August, a small mobile home may be around €350, while empty pitches for vans can be found under €25 per night. As for more luxurious mobile homes on the coast, the price could be €4,500 to €5,000 per week. 

While July and August is the peak of domestic tourism, the overall season including foreign tourists lasts from June 21 to September 15. 

Tourists from Ireland, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium are also some of the most likely to visit the Vendée, Mr Ha said.

As for the demographic makeup of those who visit, it is largely couples and families. Around half of those who come to the Vendée are repeat visitors. 

Mr Arthot attributed much of that desire to return to the welcoming attitude of locals. 

“People are very endearing, because they are humble,” he said. “They are interested in others.”

Not to mention the large variety of landscapes, activities and cultural heritage to explore, he added. As for the department’s strong tie to camping, Mr Arthot pointed out that many of the campgrounds are run by families who transformed their fields into large sites for pitches. 

In a department where authorities report that tourism brings in €2.5 billion in economic benefits each year, there are many options for booking a camping vacation. Mr Ha recommended La Fédération Vendéenne de l'Hôtellerie de Plein Air’s site, as well as in-vendee.com. 

Whether they’re looking for a nature getaway in a high end cottage or a group of bungalows next to each other for a friend group, “everyone will find something to suit their tastes in the Vendée,” Mr Ha said.