In this guide (9 sections)
- At a glance
- Talmont Castle, a thousand years of history
- Visiting the fortress in 2026 and 2027
- Le Veillon beach and the Payré estuary
- Port Bourgenay, 650 deep-water berths
- The markets of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
- Forest, marshes and footpaths
- Aquarium, museum and days out around Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
- Your questions about Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Talmont-Saint-Hilaire is worth a visit for its thousand-year-old castle, Veillon beach, Bourgenay marina and its markets. This town in the Vendée department is part of the Pays de la Loire region. It lies 18 km by road east of Les Sables-d’Olonne and 30 km from La Roche-sur-Yon. According to Insee data, the population of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire reached 8,492 inhabitants in 2023. The fortress reopens from 17 October to 1 November 2026. Veillon beach has Blue Flag status. The covered market is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, all year round. From Au Bois des Biches, our campsite on the Vendée coast, the route is about 47 km. It follows the coast of the Pays de Saint-Gilles, then skirts around Les Sables-d’Olonne. Allow around fifty minutes.
Key points to remember
| Things to do | Where to go |
|---|---|
| An 11th-century fortress | Talmont Castle, listed historic monument since 2009 |
| Fine sand and dunes | Veillon beach, Blue Flag |
| Boats and little coves | Bourgenay marina, 650 moorings |
| Fresh local produce | Covered market, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings |
| Walk or cycle | Trails, the customs officers’ path and cycle routes |
| A family outing under cover | Aquarium and car museum |
| From the campsite | About 47 km, around 50 minutes |
| From La Roche-sur-Yon | About 30 km, 35 minutes |
Talmont Castle: a thousand years of history
Talmont Castle has overlooked the village since the 11th century. Its website presents it as one of the oldest stone castles in France. William the Bald, the first lord of the area, had a stone tower built around 1020.
The fortress then passed to the Mauléon family, the Viscounts of Thouars, the Amboise family and finally the La Trémoille family. In 1628, on the orders of Louis XIII, the Prince of La Trémoille had the walls and the keep dismantled. The ruins were then used as a quarry by the local people.
The municipality of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire bought the site in 1920. The castle was listed as a historic monument by an order dated 19 June 2009. The protection covers the whole site, the 16th-century tenaille and the retaining dyke.
In 2021, an excavation by Inrap located the former medieval port, which was linked to the fortress by canals.
Visiting the fortress in 2026 and 2027
The site reopens for the autumn holidays. From 17 October to 1 November 2026, it is open every day from 14:00 to 19:00. Adults pay €7, ages 13 to 17 pay €5 and ages 4 to 12 pay €3.50. The family ticket, for two adults and two children, costs €18. Guided tours leave every day at 15:00 and 17:30, except on 31 October. On that day, the castle is closed to visitors. Only pop-up escape games take place in the keep, from 14:00 to 22:00. The site then reopens for the Christmas market, from 18 to 20 December 2026, with the keep closed. From 6 July to 28 August 2026, on weekdays, there were also falconry displays, an equestrian show and medieval workshops. On some evenings, the night-time show “The Legend of Richard the Lionheart” was staged outdoors. The 2027 calendar has not been published yet. In 2026, the season began on 5 April, with a medieval festival on 24 May.
The fortress’s official website has the latest opening times.
Visitors’ favourite
The keep, open to visitors on four levels, towering over the Talmont coastline.
Practical information
- 8 rue du Château, 85440 Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
- Allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes for your visit; you can leave and come back during the day
- Dogs welcome on a lead
- Payment by bank card, cash or paper chèques-vacances holiday vouchers, except at the shop
Veillon beach and the Payré estuary
Along 16 km of coastline, the area alternates between wooded cliffs, coves, pebble shores and fine sand. This long stretch of sand has been awarded Blue Flag status. Right next to it, the Payré estuary unfolds with a turquoise lagoon, salt marshes and channels. The first remarkable site in the département to be designated, in 2007, it is part of the Natura 2000 network. The neighbouring wood is a holm oak forest, well known along the Atlantic coast. Together with Jard-sur-Mer, the town has launched a Grand Site project. Further south, La Mine beach in Jard-sur-Mer also holds the Blue Flag.
In summer 2026, free nature activities, often requiring advance booking, were held there on Thursdays in July and August.
Visitors’ favourite
The dinosaur footprints spotted on the guided walks in summer 2026.
Practical information
- Blue Flag status, awarded since 2014
- No animals allowed from 1 April to 15 October
- Facilities for people with reduced mobility, with Tiralo or Hippocampe amphibious chairs
- No smoking during supervised bathing
- Tide pool tank and games box available to borrow
Port Bourgenay, 650 deep-water berths
To the south-west of the town, Port Bourgenay opened on 1 April 1985. The harbour now has 650 berths on pontoons, in deep water. It is managed by the Communauté de communes Vendée Grand Littoral. In July and August, evening stalls liven up the quays on Wednesday nights.
Visitors’ favourite
On a summer Wednesday evening, when the stalls set up along the quays at dusk.
Practical information
- 650 berths on pontoons, in deep water
- Harbour office open on weekdays and Saturday mornings, from late September to December
- Fuel available 24 hours a day, Wi-Fi and toilets
The markets of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
The covered market is held at the halles on place du Payré.
It opens on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 08:00 to 13:30. Eleven traders and producers are there all year round.
Good to know
The Guittière oyster basin, in the estuary, is home to around twenty oyster farmers. Together they produce nearly 500 tonnes of oysters a year. Three salt makers also harvest salt there.
More stalls join in during the summer season:
| Stalls | Days and location |
|---|---|
| Covered market | Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 08:00–13:30, all year round |
| Local producers | Saturday, 08:30–13:00, around the halles, from May to September |
| Harbour night market | Wednesday evening, from 17:00 or 18:00 depending on the source, Port Bourgenay, in July and August |
| Soirée de Bourgenay | Tuesday, 18:30–22:30, Pierre & Vacances village square, from 7 July to 25 August 2026 |
Forest, marshes and footpaths
Several walking routes criss-cross the area. The customs officers’ path follows the coast, with four variations ranging from 3.9 to 13.4 km. The marais de la Guittière trail is 10.8 km long. The Ria du Payré route runs from 3.4 to 11.4 km. If you prefer to cycle, the cycle paths link up with La Vélodyssée, shown on the Vendée Grand Littoral cycling map. This route continues to Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard and the neighbouring villages. The “Ça roule avec Richard Cœur de Lion” loop covers 28.5 km and is a great way to discover the local heritage. At the Chapelle lake, a fitness trail has 12 exercise stations along 1,050 m.
Aquarium, museum and days out around Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
The Talmont-Saint-Hilaire aquarium is on avenue de la Mine. It is open every day until 31 December 2026, except 25 December. On the D949, the Vendée car museum displays more than 150 vintage vehicles across 3,300 m².
Les Sables-d’Olonne is 18 km away, less than twenty minutes by car. Our guide to visiting Les Sables-d’Olonne lists ten ideas for days out. La Roche-sur-Yon, the county town of the Vendée département, is 30 km away.
To stay on the Côte de Lumière, the campsite near Les Sables-d’Olonne is in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez.
A tip from the campsite team
From 17 October to 1 November, the castle doesn’t open until 14:00. That leaves the morning free for the covered market, which is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Your questions about Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Where is Talmont-Saint-Hilaire?
On the Vendée coast, 18 km by road east of Les Sables-d’Olonne. The town is also 30 km from La Roche-sur-Yon.
Is Talmont Castle open at the moment?
It reopens from 17 October to 1 November 2026, from 14:00 to 19:00. It is closed on 31 October, except for the escape games. It then reopens from 18 to 20 December for Christmas.
Which days is the Talmont-Saint-Hilaire market held?
On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, at the covered market in the town centre. Local producers join in on Saturdays from May to September.
Which is the main beach in the town?
Le Veillon, a Blue Flag beach. Pets are not allowed there from 1 April to 15 October.
How much does it cost to visit the castle?
€7 for an adult, from 17 October to 1 November 2026. Tickets are €5 for ages 13 to 17 and €3.50 for ages 4 to 12.
Who wrote this article?
Article written by the team at Flower Camping Au Bois des Biches, a 4-star campsite in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, in the Vendée. Information checked on 9 October 2026 with the town, the castle, the tourist offices and official bodies. Opening times may change. Sources consulted:
- Talmont Castle, homepage (chateaudetalmont.com)
- Talmont Castle, 2026 opening times and prices (chateaudetalmont.com)
- Château de Talmont, Autumn holidays (chateaudetalmont.com)
- Château de Talmont, Summer at the château (chateaudetalmont.com)
- Château de Talmont, 1,000 years of history (chateaudetalmont.com)
- Ministry of Culture, Mérimée database entry PA00110275 (pop.culture.gouv.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Le Veillon (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Veillon nature activities 2026 (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Port Bourgenay (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, La Guittière (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Markets (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Town of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, Cycle paths and walking trails (talmont-saint-hilaire.fr)
- Destination Vendée Grand Littoral, Markets (destination-vendeegrandlittoral.com)
- Destination Vendée Grand Littoral, Beaches (destination-vendeegrandlittoral.com)
- Destination Vendée Grand Littoral, Walks (destination-vendeegrandlittoral.com)
- Atlantic Loire Valley, Port Bourgenay, harbour master’s office (atlantic-loire-valley.com)
- Pays de la Loire Region, En Pays de la Loire, Aquarium de Vendée (enpaysdelaloire.com)
- France Vélo Tourisme, La Vélodyssée from Les Sables-d’Olonne to La Tranche-sur-Mer (francevelotourisme.com)
- Musée de l’automobile de Vendée, overview (musee-auto-vendee.com)
- Blue Flag, map of award-winning beaches (pavillonbleu.org)
- Insee, full report, population and housing in Talmont-Saint-Hilaire (insee.fr)
