Delicious Milk Bread 12 Dec 2022, 10:29 am

Winter always makes me a bit nostalgic for my mother's milk bread. The air was not only filled with the aroma of yeast and baking, but permeated with the expectation of homemade bread, fresh from the oven and served with butter and homemade strawberry jam OR (even better in my opinion) butter and hot chocolate made with real chocolate. My dad and I could barely wait until the bread was cool enough to slice! This last Sunday I posted some terrible pictures of my own fresh-out-of-the-oven milk bread and I was bombarded with questions about how to make the bread, so I thought I'd make a quick recipe post for you all to enjoy and try. So, this is my sweet mother's most delicious treat! And she baked many, many loaves for many, many people to say thank you, or to cheer them up, or just because. You could too! ...

Beaujolais Nouveau: what’s the hype? 7 Nov 2022, 8:27 am

The Gamay grapevines that lend the Beaujolais Nouveaux their unique taste are cultivated over only 30,000 hectares ... in the world. Half of these vineyards are located in France, just north of Lyon, in the southern part of the Beaujolais AOC. More particularly, they cover 97% of the Beaujolais region. The Gamay grapes, a variety conceived by crossing the vines of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc, make excellent wines for ageing. But those wines are not what this post is about. Curious about the hype around the annual release of the Beaujolais Nouveau vintage on the third Thursday of November, we went in search of the what, the where, the who, and in this quest, discovered perhaps the more important—the why—of this story. We discovered it's not **just** about the wine!History of Beaujolais Nouveaux – The Gamay grapes have been established in the Beaujolais region north of Lyon since the ...

The history of France’s most iconic cookie: the Macaron 4 Nov 2022, 10:33 am

Macarons are a staple treat sold at many French bakeries and cafés. Resting row after colorful row in the shop displays, these most delicate of cookies cause little explosions on the senses from the first-glance to the first bite. Macarons are as delicate as they are seductive; as versatile as they are difficult to make, and as humble as they are a luxurious gift to yourself or a loved one. Macarons are a cornerstone of French culture, tucked into a fancy box. How did this cookie become so iconic? How did it know its beginnings? And where?History of macarons – Macarons as we know them today have gone through an evolution dating back to the 8th Century. Whilst the early macaron is said to know its birth in Italian monestaries, the fact that the pastry is based on almonds points to an origin in the Arabic kitchen. Centuries ago the ...

Christmas Markets 2022 in the Vendée 27 Oct 2022, 7:36 am

NOTE: INTHEVENDEE.COM IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR EVENT CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONSSaturday 19th November *Sainte-Cécile 85110   Stade, Rue de l'Aublonnière, L'Aublonnière from 10h00 - 20h00 *Saint Gilles Croix de Vie 85800   Halles de la Vie from 9h30 to 19h00 *Sallertaine 85300  RECOMMENDED    Ile des Artisans! Fête des Lumières from 14h00 to 21h00 at Centre Bourg Sunday 20th  November *Sainte-Cécile 85110   Stade, Rue de l'Aublonnière, L'Aublonnière from 10h00 - 20h00 *Sallertaine 85300  RECOMMENDED     ! Fête des Lumières centre-bourg from 11h00 to 19h00 Friday 25th November *Avrillé 85440   Place des Halles from 16h00 to 22h00 Saturday 26th November *Beaufou 85170   Centre ville from 10h00 to 22h00 *Bellevigny 85170   *Salle du Quadrille from 15h00 - 20h00   *École des Chaumes from 16h30 *Champ-Saint-Père 85540   Ecole saint Pierre, rue du petit Paris from 10h00 to 18h00 *Chavagnes-en-Paillers 85250   École Nazareth, Rue des Écoles, La Gerbaudière ...

Journées Européennes du Patrimoine 2022 in the Vendee 12 Sep 2022, 3:17 pm

Welcome to the European Heritage days 2022! In the Vendée, that is. The 3rd weekend of September ranks among the best weekends of the year in France! It is the perfect weekend to challenge yourselves with a sprint around our lovely Département du Vendée for the opportunity to visit well-known historical locations and monuments as well as sites that are rarely open to the public, for free or at a reduced rate. How mental the sightseeing tour is entirely up to you. We tend to drive between 300 and 400km in two days, our destinations mapped either in a loop, or chosing a gem farther afield with things to see along the way. Here's a list of options  in 2022. This year's theme is sustainable patrimony.The history of the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine or European HeritageThe French Ministry of Culture began the event  La Journée Portes Ouvertes in 1984. In the ...

How to best stay cool in a heat wave! Plus the three heat-related syndromes 11 Jul 2022, 3:58 pm

The second week of July 2022 will bring another heat wave throughout France. The Vendée will also be hit hard with temperatures of over 37 degrees Celsius. Here are some tips on how to keep your body cool during a huge heat, what you can do to keep the house cool, and the three heat-related syndromes that keep emergency services very busy during a heat wave. Be safe!BODY HEALTH DURING A HEAT WAVE DRINK WATER DON'T WAIT TO BE THIRSTY TO DRINK WATER OR SOMETHING WITH ELECTROLYTES. AVOID CAFEINE DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL IF YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU DRINK ALCOHOL LOTS OF WATER IN BETWEEN. STAY IN THE SHADE OR KEEP INDOORS WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES INCL EXCERSIZE KNOW WHICH PARTS OF YOUR BODY ARE THE WARMEST AND COOL THEM DOWN - e.g. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, A BUCKET WITH COLD WATER TO STICK YOUR ...

Best Vendée chateaux to visit with children 11 Jul 2022, 10:58 am

All summer long the Vendée offers fantastic opportunities to explore medieval life. Certainly le Puy du Fou our world renowned historical theme park is a place where you can do that and where your family will have a fabulous time. But if that's not in your budget, never fear. There are other opportunities to step back in time. In the following article we share the castles where you can bear witness to fierce reenactments, play games, and dive head first in a world of imagination. Enjoy!The following are navigation images. Click a castle image to be taken to its info.Château d'Apremont Château d'Apremont was established in the XIth century atop a rocky cliff overlooking the Vie river, both elements forming a clever natural defense of the castle which was only accessible via the north. In fact the ruined castle that can be visited anno 2020 is the remainder of both ...

COVID-19 Vendée 6 Jul 2022, 5:15 am

While there are no official changes in the status of the rules, the numbers are going up again just slightly due to new variants and increased travel. Do stay vigilant. Wear a mask when in close proximity to others, wash and disinfect your hands, keep your distance. Unless there are significant changes announced by the government or department, this article will not be updated.  We invite you to follow included links for the latest official updates. Have a great summer! Current measures The “vaccination pass” has been suspended Wearing of a mask remains necessary in healthcare facilities, retirement homes, establishments for people with disabilities. when around people who are at high risk of developing serious illness around people who have tested positive and contact cases The mask is no longer compulsory in closed places but remains required in all manner of public passenger transport until May 16th.  Use your best ...

2022 Evening markets in the Vendée 1 Jul 2022, 11:42 am

inthevendee.com is not responsible for cancellations or changes to this schedule. Changes can happen at any moment due to weather or the pandemic situation. Please check local "mairie" (townhall websites) for (last minute) announcements or call the nearest Office de Tourisme. Friday July 1st 2022 ** Saint Jean de Monts 85160 from 21h00 Avenue de la Mer and the Avenue des Demoiselles **Saint Gilles Croix de Vie 85800 from 20h00 Place du Vieux Port and the Place du Marché aux Herbes ** NEW! Vouvant 85120 from 17h00 to 21h00 Place du Bail (local products) Saturday July 2nd 2022 ** Saint Jean de Monts 85160 from 21h00 Avenue de la Mer and the Avenue des Demoiselles **Saint Gilles Croix de Vie 85800 from 20h00 Place du Vieux Port and the Place du Marché aux Herbes Sunday July 3rd 2022 ** Saint Jean de Monts 85160 from 21h00 Avenue de la Mer ...

Spam phone calls in France? Here’s what you can do! 30 Jun 2022, 1:14 pm

UPDATE: AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER 2022 IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT COLD CALLERS MUST NOW USE A 09 NUMBER TO CALL. IT WILL THEREFORE BECOME EASIER TO RECOGNIZE WHEN NOT TO ANSWER THE PHONE. [admin 09/09/2022] Do you have a business and receive tons of cold calls from entities trying to sell a product or services? We feel your pain! Phone operators in France are obligated to add your number to a liste rouge, where your number will not be published in a directory or given out for commercial or other reasons; or to a liste orange which is supposed to avoid marketing calls.  Even if you don't have a business these types of spam calls seem a real problem in France.  But, especially for businesses this is proving to be a difficult problem - we can't imagine surviving with a business number on a simple landline. It makes the phone ...