Notre-Dame-De-Monts: Trails, Wind Art and Nature

In Notre-Dame-De-Monts, activities range from trails through marshland and forest to artistic installations, nature education and water sports. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by considering your interests: Would you like to plan a walk, explore nature-related topics or try water sports? The activities differ both in their themes and in how they place the landscape and nature at their center.

Walk through marshland and forest

The Voie verte in Notre-Dame-De-Monts is a signposted, unpaved nature trail covering a total of seven kilometers. The stated walking time is one hour and 30 minutes. The route includes 2.5 kilometers through marshland, three kilometers through the forest and 1.5 kilometers along a shared-use path. This breakdown gives you an idea in advance of which landscapes shape the route and how its sections are divided. As route conditions can change, it is best to check the current conditions before setting out.

At eleven kilometers, the Sentier de la forêt is the longer of the two routes described. It starts in Notre-Dame-De-Monts and follows sandy terrain through a forest of maritime pines and holm oaks to the tree canopy at Pey de la Blet. You can base your decision mainly on the route length and the surroundings described: the Voie verte links marshland and forest, while the Sentier passes through a pine and oak forest. A walking time is given for the Voie verte; no time is provided here for the Sentier de la forêt.

Experience art, nature and landscape

In the heart of Notre-Dame-De-Monts, the Jardin du Vent invites visitors to enjoy an artistic and playful stroll. Moving sculptures, huts, wind chimes and legends are among the features along the way. The Jardin also has a library that is open year-round. Concerts, yoga and other events are held there too. If a particular concert or yoga event is important to your plans, check the relevant dates: these activities are part of the program, but individual dates may change.

Biotopia focuses on biodiversity and offers an interactive, educational exploration of various habitats: from forest and ocean to dunes and the tidal zone. Walks, workshops, evening events and treasure hunts explore local flora and fauna as well as the natural heritage. Individual activities may change. So if you would like to plan your visit around a particular activity, check the relevant dates. Its focus on different environments makes Biotopia a different way to explore nature than a trail through marshland or forest.

At Kulmino, views go hand in hand with themes related to water and the landscape. The observation platform is 70 meters above the ground and offers a 360-degree panoramic view over marshland, forest, dunes and islands. Two permanent exhibitions complement the view: “L’eau sous toutes ses formes” explains the water cycle from the source to the tap. “Paysages et énergies renouvelables” explores landscapes and renewable energy. This means you can visit Kulmino both for the views and out of an interest in water and energy.

Water sports activities

The Pôle Nautique de Notre Dame de Monts offers supervised activities year-round for trying, learning or improving water sports. Sessions are led by state-certified instructors and are open to people aged six and over. The program includes sailing, sea kayaking, sand yachting, canoeing in the marshland, coastal walking, stand-up paddleboarding and wingfoiling; there is also a sea garden for children. The activities listed give you a concrete idea of the range on offer. When planning, you can consider whether you are more interested in sailing, paddling or another of the listed disciplines.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: La Faute-Sur-Mer, Landevieille, Île d'Yeu, Le Boupère, Chantonnay, Saint-Michel-En-L'herm, L'île-D'elle, La Réorthe.

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