Camping Municipal La Rivière

La Rivière municipal campsite is in Sainte-Cécile, in the Vendée, in the Petit Lay valley, at the foot of the Moulin des Bois hill, known for its cycling races. The Puy du Fou is about 25 km away, roughly thirty minutes by road, and Les Essarts 5.5 km. The site is a municipal 2-star holiday site, on the riverbank and human in scale.

It has 22 grassy, semi-shaded pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, with a 16 A electric hook-up option and a waste disposal point, plus ten chalets: nine of 36 m², terrace included, for 4 to 6 people, and one 44 m² chalet fitted out for guests with reduced mobility, for 4 people. Each terrace is equipped with a garden table and chairs.

The opening rule is clear: the chalets can be booked throughout the year, from two nights, while the pitches operate only from 27 April to 13 September for the 2026 season. Outside those dates, only the rental accommodation welcomes passing guests. A chalet’s inventory mentions a radiator in the bedroom, and the site states that some municipal leisure facilities close to the campsite remain open to all year round.

The setting is hedgerow countryside: hedges, wet meadows, windmills, waymarked paths and small villages make up the surroundings.

Nine walking circuits from 6 to 25.5 km, cycling on routes 24 and 25, municipal sports facilities open all year round, Chantonnay water centre 11.7 km away.

The campsite relies on basic facilities rather than commercial services. The pitches have a 16-amp electricity option, a waste disposal point for motorhomes and a modern washroom block. No restaurant, snack bar or shop is listed on the site: it is best to do your shopping before arriving.

The chalets come with a furnished terrace, a fitted kitchen and a detailed inventory of crockery and bedding. Bed linen, towels and cleaning products are not provided, and end-of-stay cleaning is an optional paid extra. Arrival is from 3pm for chalets and from 2pm for pitches. The stay includes access to the children’s play area and the loan of equipment and games.

The pool consists of a 6 m by 13 m pool, 0.80 to 1.60 m deep, and a 4 m by 4 m paddling pool. It is announced as heated and open from 1 July to 31 August, from 10am to 7:30pm until 23 August and then from 10am to 5:30pm. Access is reserved for guests staying at the campsite, with no lifeguard: parents remain responsible for their children. Outside summer, the O’dyss water centre, 11.7 km away in Chantonnay, is an alternative for swimming.

On site, the children’s play area sits alongside a table tennis table, a floodlit pétanque court and a beach volleyball court. Right next door, the municipality provides a tennis court, a football pitch, a basketball court, a multisport court, a pump track and a zip line, open to all, including non-campers, and accessible all year round.

Walking is a strong point: nine waymarked circuits, from 6 to 25.5 km, criss-cross the commune of Sainte-Cécile, with information boards on the local heritage, and Vendée cycle routes 24 and 25 pass through the village. The campsite offers a Rando Vélo package at a special rate. You can also see the church, the windmills and the La Tricherie leisure area, where swimming, fishing, canoeing and picnics are possible.

Family outings are spread within a 35 km radius: escape game in Les Essarts at 5.5 km, Les Essarts castle at 10.4 km, Labyrinthe de Vendrennes at 12.2 km, the feudal castle of Les Sigournais at 13.4 km, the Puy du Fou at about 25 km, the Haras de la Vendée near La Roche-sur-Yon and the castle of Tiffauges. Off-season, the walking circuits, cycling, the municipal sports facilities and the Chantonnay water centre remain the simplest options.