Les Rulieres

Les Rulières is located in Saint-Valérien, a small town in the southern Vendée between plain and bocage, in the Pays de l’Hermenault. The site is rated 3 stars and spreads around three bodies of water, which gives the place its peaceful countryside feel. The Marais poitevin is very close, while the beaches of La Tranche-sur-Mer and L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer are about fifty minutes away by road and those of Les Sables-d’Olonne one hour.

The campsite offers pitches for tents and caravans, mobile homes, chalets with two or three bedrooms for 4 to 7 people and a wooden caravan. It is VACAF approved and holds the Accommodation Pêche label awarded by Vendée Expansion. Pets are allowed for a supplement, on pitches and in some of the rentals, subject to identification and up-to-date vaccinations; category 1 and 2 dogs are not accepted.

On the opening period, the campsite states that it remains accessible all year round. Long-term rentals are reserved for the off-season, from September to April, and are aimed, according to the website, at seasonal workers, students or people between homes; it is best to ask for a quote, as prices and facilities vary from year to year. The indoor pool operates from April to October, with variable hours outside the season.

Fishing on three ponds by reservation, walks in the Marais poitevin, visits to the abbeys of Maillezais and Nieul-sur-l’Autise, strolls along the Les Sables-d’Olonne coast.

Services are simple and practical. A launderette near reception provides two washing machines, at €3 per machine. A bakery delivers bread and pastries directly to the terrace of your accommodation: just order at reception before noon the day before.

The snack bar offers artisan pizzas, burgers, nuggets and chips, as well as ice creams and waffles for an afternoon treat, on site or to take away. It opens every evening except Wednesday and Saturday; exact dates vary by season and should be checked before arrival. A masseuse is among the new features announced for 2026.

The water area consists of a heated indoor pool measuring 13 m by 6 m, entered through reception after passing through a footbath. It is open from April to October, from 10am to 12.30pm then from 2pm to 7.30pm in season, closing earlier at 7pm at the start and end of the season; off-season, hours depend on attendance. The rules require swim trunks: swim shorts and burkinis are not allowed. At reception, payment can be made in cash, by cheque, by bank card or with holiday vouchers.

Fishing is the flagship activity: three ponds accessible by car are suitable for no-kill fishing, with carp, young carp, black bass and roach. Access requires a prior reservation, with a fee of €20 a week for an adult and €10 for under-16s, or €17 and €10 for a weekend.

For children, the campsite has a bouncy castle and a club on Wednesday afternoons from the last week of July to the end of August, limited to ten children by registration. Every Tuesday evening in July and August, a themed evening brings the site to life, and a pétanque court is free for campers to use.

Around the campsite, the Marais poitevin can be explored by boat, canoe, on foot or by bike, and the campsite offers discounts for the Maillezais abbey landing stage. You can also visit Nieul-sur-l’Autise abbey, the villages of Thiré, L’Hermenault and Mouzeuil-Saint-Martin, as well as Fontenay-le-Comte, Mervent and Vouvant. Further afield, La Rochelle, the Île de Ré, the Puy du Fou or the Futuroscope are among the suggested outings.

Off-season, the ocean shows another face: the website mentions storms on the Les Sables-d’Olonne coast, where the seafront promenade can be walked or cycled, and the neighbouring fishing ports. The pool stays open from April to October.