In this guide (9 sections)
- At a glance
- Architecture by Plan 01, beneath an 8,000 m² meadow
- The permanent exhibition: 7,000 years in 6 rooms
- A children’s area dedicated to trees
- The major retrospectives: 2026 and beyond
- The Memorial and the Chemin de la mémoire
- Opening hours and prices at the Historial de la Vendée
- Getting there, accessibility and café
- Your questions about the Historial de la Vendée
The Historial de la Vendée is the history museum of the Vendée Department, located in Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne. Its chronological tour covers more than 7,000 years, from Prehistory to the early 20th century. Opened in June 2006, it holds the Musée de France designation. In October 2026, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission costs €8 for adults over 26 and is free for under-18s. From 21 November 2026, the official calendar lists an “exhibition” rate of €10 for adults. From the campsite with an indoor pool in Vendée Au Bois des Biches, the journey is about 45 km. Allow around three quarters of an hour by car.
Key points to remember
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Allée Paul Bazin, 85170 Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne |
| Status | Departmental Musée de France, opened in 2006 |
| What to see | 6 chronological galleries, a 265 m² children’s area and a 19-hectare park |
| Opening times | Tuesday to Sunday outside the summer season, every day in July and August |
| Price | €8 from age 26 until 20 November 2026, then €10; free for under-18s |
| Ticket | Valid all day, last admission 45 minutes before closing |
| From the campsite | Around 45 km, or about 45 minutes by car |
Architecture by Plan 01, beneath an 8,000 m² meadow
The project was born in 1998, backed by local Vendée elected officials. The firm Plan 01 won the European competition in 2002. Building work began in 2003, and the public discovered the site on 25 June 2006. The building combines steel, glass and concrete. Its green roof covers 8,000 m² and forms a fifth façade. On the side with the hall, shop and café, almost 1,000 m² of glass walls open onto the landscape. The whole site sits within a 19-hectare park on the banks of the Boulogne, classified as a sensitive natural area.
Visitors’ favourite
The green roof, designed like a meadow, blends the building into the valley.
The permanent exhibition: 7,000 years in 6 rooms
The Department’s collections include nearly 19,000 objects, spanning archaeology, fine art, ethnology and photography. At the Historial, a selection from these collections forms a self-guided, interactive route through 6 rooms:
- The Earliest Times, from the Palaeolithic to the early Iron Age, with a detective investigation to follow as you go round
- Antiquity, from the Pictones to the Gallo-Romans
- The medieval millennium, of knights and lords
- The modern era, from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, in Bas-Poitou
- The War in the Vendée, up to the execution of General Charette
- The 19th and early 20th centuries, of farming, fishing and industry
The War in the Vendée features as a key landmark in the history of part of western France. An auditorium also screens historical films. For 9-15 year-olds, there are two tablet-based trails.
Good to know
Until 19 November 2026, guided tours take place most often on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 15:00. They explore topics such as the Gauls, Renaissance arts and folk traditions. They are included in the entry ticket, for ages 7 and over.
A children’s area devoted to the tree
The Children’s Museum covers 265 m² within the museum. Since September 2026, its theme has been “Once Upon a Time… the Tree!”. Children discover the role of trees in the ecosystem, either on their own or with a guide. On Wednesdays, short activities of 20 to 45 minutes liven up the autumn. Storytelling for 3-6 year-olds starts at 11:30, and workshops for ages 6 and over at 15:00. During the All Saints’ holidays, the holiday programme runs from 20 October to 1 November 2026, with no booking required.
The major retrospectives: 2026 and beyond
Every year, one or more temporary exhibitions complement the permanent tour. In 2026, “39/45, la vie des Vendéens sous l’Occupation” (daily life in the Vendée under the Occupation) ran until 21 June. It told the story of everyday life at the time through objects, personal accounts and comic strip pages by Jean-David Morvan.
Previous seasons have featured painting on Noirmoutier, Solzhenitsyn and the abstract art of Georges Mathieu.
The official calendar shows a return to the “exhibition” rate from 21 November 2026, subject to change. As of 9 October, the exhibitions page has not yet published a title or any details. Nothing has been announced for 2027 to date.
In the meantime, the Histoire(s) de BD festival celebrates its sixth edition on 17 and 18 October 2026. Around fifteen authors will be signing copies of their books there.
The Memorial and the Chemin de la mémoire
The Vendée Memorial stands next to the Historial. It honours the 564 inhabitants of the commune and neighbouring hamlets who were massacred in February 1794. Alexander Solzhenitsyn opened it in 1993. This windowless place invites quiet reflection. The Path of Remembrance then leads to the Petit-Luc chapel, where the names of the victims are recorded. Entry is free. The Logis de la Chabotterie is about 11 km away, a 15-minute drive. General Charette was captured there on 23 March 1796. A visit to the Logis de la Chabotterie therefore continues the story of the Vendée Wars.
Opening times and prices for the Historial de la Vendée
The museum is open all year round, except on 1 January and 25 December. It is closed on Mondays, except in July and August.
| 2026 dates | Opening times | Adult |
|---|---|---|
| 2 January to 21 June | 10:00-18:00 | €10 |
| 23 June to 3 July | 10:00-18:00 | €8 |
| 4 July to 31 August | 10:00–19:00, every day | €8 |
| 1 September to 20 November | 10:00-18:00 | €8 |
| 21 November to 31 December | 10:00-18:00 | €10 |
Event weekends follow their own schedule. The ticket office closes 45 minutes before closing time. As for prices, young people aged 18 to 25 pay €6 or €8, depending on the calendar. The annual pass costs €14. The reduced price also applies to disability card holders and their companion. Admission is free for under-18s and residents of the municipality. Teachers and museum professionals also get in free. The Pass Vendée, priced at €25 for an adult, gives access to nine cultural and natural sites for one year. The official Historial de la Vendée page has the latest information.
Getting there, accessibility and café
From the coast, the route goes via Challans, Falleron and Legé. The site is also 22 km from La Roche-sur-Yon and 50 km from Nantes.
According to tourism data from the Pays de Saint-Jean-de-Monts, the average visit lasts 45 minutes. However, the park and the Chemin de la mémoire will make your outing longer.
Practical information
- Reserved spaces in the car park, entrance about 300 m away
- Wheelchairs, walking-stick seats and hearing loops available to borrow free of charge
- Lockers, baby care room, high chairs and pushchairs at reception
- No animals, except guide dogs for the blind
- Motorhomes: €10 or €12, including entry and 4 hours of charging
A tip from the campsite team
Until 18 November, the youth area offers short activities for children on Wednesdays, by reservation. During the All Saints’ holidays, the workshops run without reservation, from Tuesday to Sunday.
The museum café overlooks the park. It serves sandwiches, hot dishes and sweet treats from 10:00 to 18:00, and until 19:00 in high season. In summer, it lends out tablecloths and deckchairs for picnics.
You’ll find more ideas for cultural outings in our selection of museums in the Vendée. In season, our campsite for visiting Puy du Fou lets you combine the ocean with days out in the bocage countryside.
Your questions about the Historial de la Vendée
How can I contact the Historial de la Vendée?
The switchboard can be reached on 02 28 85 77 77. The site is 22 km from La Roche-sur-Yon and about 45 km from the campsite.
How much does it cost to get in?
€8 for an adult over 26 in October 2026, rising to €10 from 21 November. Admission remains free for under-18s.
Is the Historial open on Mondays?
No, except in July and August. The rest of the time, it is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00.
How long does the visit take?
Around 45 minutes on average, according to the Pays de Saint-Jean-de-Monts. Your ticket stays valid until the evening, so you can step out into the park and then come back in.
Is there a temporary exhibition on at the moment?
No, not in October 2026. The official calendar shows a temporary exhibition returning from 21 November 2026, with no title announced so far.
Who wrote this article?
Article written by the team at Camping Au Bois des Biches, a 4-star campsite in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, in Vendée. Information checked on 9 October 2026 on the official websites; prices and dates may change. Sources consulted:
- Cultural and natural sites, introduction to the site (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, calendar and 2026 prices (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, origins and construction (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, the permanent galleries (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, how to get there and contact details (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, museum events calendar (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, 39/45 exhibition page (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Cultural and natural sites, the memorial site (nossites.vendee.fr)
- Ministry of Culture, Muséofile record M1121 (pop.culture.gouv.fr)
- Saint-Jean-de-Monts area tourist office, page about the site (paysdesaintjeandemonts.fr)
