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| 2561 The Vendée Coast (1) |
Posted on 17.05.2016, 05.09.2016
The Vendée department is located in west-central France, on the Atlantic Ocean, and its coast (Le Littoral as the French call it) extends over 200km. About 140km of this are fine sandy beaches which slope gently in to the Atlantic Ocean. The beautiful Vendéen coast, the mild micro climate which produces one of the sunniest climates in France and the clear blue Atlantic make the Vendee a favourite holiday destination, not only for the French but for people from around the world.
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| 2736 The Vendée Coast (2) |
The Vendéen coast is however not just strewn with purpose built holiday resorts, it is also a working coast and there are picturesque fishing ports, full of life and interest, where all manner of fish are landed. There are also many areas of shellfish farming and there are many ports where mussels and oysters are brought in and it is possible to buy them from the quayside. There are also modern marina ports and quiet coastal communities, all offering different types of accommodation and life styles.
In the Vendée the long stretches of sandy beaches, most of which are awarded the blue flag for cleanliness, are invariably backed by large sand dunes. These were planted in the 19th century with forests of pine trees, although Holm Oaks were also planted. The coast is not all sandy beaches, to the north along the coast of the Baie de Bourgneuf the Marais Breton is guarded by a large stone digue (dike) outside of which are mudflats the territory of birds and oyster farmers.
The same is true in the south where earthen Digues were built in the late 18th century; these protect the Marais Poitevin from Flooding. Elsewhere there are stretches of low cliffs with sandy beaches and small coves especially from Sion-sur-l'Océan to the mouth of the River Vie at St. Gilles Croix de Vie and from just south of Les Sables d'Olonne to Le Rocher in the commune of Longville-sur-Mer. Behind the dunes there are the areas of marshland which were drained by the Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages.
About the stamps
On the postcard 2561
About the first stamp I wrote here. The second stamp is part of the series France History, about which I wrote here.
The last stamp is part of the series of definitive stamps Marianne de Béquet, issued since January 2, 1971 to replace Marianne de Cheffer, and removed from sale on July 7, 1978 to make way for the Sabine de Gandon. These stamps show a small portrait of Marianne wearing a Phrygian cap, the words "Post" and "French Republic" and basically the face value, all on a colored background.
On the postcard 2736
About the first stamp, issued by France as part of the Europe Stamp 1972, I wrote here. About the second, issued by France as part of the Europe Stamp 1973 - stylised Post horn, I wrote here.
References
The Coast and Islands of the Vendée - Vendee Guide
Sender 2561: Jean-Yves Gerlat
Sent from Montbonnot-Saint-Martin (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes / France), on 23.04.2016
Sender 2736: Rodolphe
Sent from Grenoble (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes / France), on 28.12.2015
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