Editing Vendée

{{short description|Department of France}}
{{about|the [[departments of France|French department]]|the singer|Venbee}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                     = Vendée
| native_name              = 
| native_name_lang         = fr<!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| type                     = [[Departments of France|Department of France]]
| image_skyline            = Hôtel de préfecture de la Vendée - La Roche-sur-Yon.jpg
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] building in [[La Roche-sur-Yon]]
| image_flag               = Flag of Vendée.svg
| flag_alt                 = 
| image_shield             = Blason département fr Vendée.svg
| shield_alt               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = Vendée-Position.svg
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of Vendée in France
| pushpin_map              = 
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| coordinates              = {{coord|46|40|14|N|1|25|36|W|region:FR_type:adm2nd_scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = 
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = [[France]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of France|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Pays de la Loire]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| founder                  = 
| seat_type                = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]]
| seat                     = [[La Roche-sur-Yon]]
| parts_type               = [[Subprefectures in France|Subprefectures]]
| parts_style              = para
| p1                       = [[Fontenay-le-Comte]]<br/>[[Les Sables-d'Olonne]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = [[List of presidents of departmental councils (France)|President of the Departmental Council]]
| leader_name              = Alain Lebœuf<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les conseillers départementaux|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/601ef073-d986-4582-8e1a-ed14dc857fba|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=4 May 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
| unit_pref                = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_footnotes           = {{ref|area|1}}
| area_total_km2           = 6720
| area_note                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_min_m          = 
| elevation_max_m          = 
| population_total         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_as_of         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes     = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes2}}
| population_rank          = [[List of French departments by population|35th]]
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_demonym       = 
| population_note          = 
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Departments of France|Department number]]
| blank_info_sec1          = 85
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Arrondissements of France|Arrondissements]]
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Arrondissements of the Vendée department|3]]
| blank1_name_sec2         = [[Cantons in France|Cantons]]
| blank1_info_sec2         = [[Cantons of the Vendée department|17]]
| blank2_name_sec2         = [[Communes in France|Communes]]
| blank2_info_sec2         = [[Communes of the Vendée department|255]]
| timezone1                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1              = +1
| timezone1_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type         = 
| postal_code              = 
| area_code_type           = 
| area_code                = 
| iso_code                 = 
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = {{note|area|1}} French Land Register data, which exclude estuaries and lakes, ponds and glaciers larger than 1 km<sup>2</sup>
}}
'''Vendée''' ({{IPA|fr|vɑ̃de|-|Vendee.ogg}}) is a [[Departments of France|department]] in the [[Pays de la Loire]] [[Regions of France|region]] in Western [[France]], on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast. In 2019, it had a population of 685,442.<ref name=pop2019>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/6011060/dep85.pdf Populations légales 2019: 85 Vendée], INSEE</ref> Its [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]] is [[La Roche-sur-Yon]].

==History==
The area today called the Vendée was originally known as the ''Bas-Poitou'' and is part of the former province of [[Poitou]].

In the southeast corner, the village of [[Nieul-sur-l'Autise]] is believed to be the birthplace of [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]] (1122–1204). Eleanor's son, [[Richard I of England|Richard the Lionheart]] often had his base in [[Talmont-Saint-Hilaire|Talmont]]. The [[Hundred Years' War]]  (1337–1453) turned much of the Vendée into a battleground.

Since the Vendée held a considerable number of influential [[Protestantism|Protestants]], including control by [[Jeanne d'Albret]] mother of Henry IV of France, the region was greatly affected by the [[French Wars of Religion]] which broke out in 1562 and continued until 1598. In April of that year [[Henry IV of France|King Henri IV]] issued the [[Edict of Nantes]] and the Wars came to an end. The revocation of the [[Edict of Nantes]] in 1685 caused many [[Huguenots]] to flee from the Vendée. In the void, the region became rigorously Catholic due to the influence of a preacher and Marian missionary [[Louis de Montfort]] who radically changed the spirituality of the region. Many attribute the effect of his preaching to prepare the Vendeans for their revolt against the French Revolution.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=Michael |title=For Altar and Throne |date=1997 |publisher=Remnant Press |location=St. Paul, MN |isbn=1890740004 |page=98}}</ref>

The [[War in the Vendée|Vendeans revolted]] against the [[French Revolution|Revolutionary]] government in 1793. They resented the harsh oppression imposed on the [[Catholic Church]] by the provisions of the [[Civil Constitution of the Clergy]] act (1790) and broke into open revolt after the Revolutionary government's imposition of military [[conscription]]. A massacre of Republicans at [[First Massacre of Machecoul|Machecoul]] in March was followed by [[guerrilla warfare]], led at the outset by peasants who were chosen in each locale, and cost more than 240,000 lives before it ended in 1796 (190,000 Vendeans who were republicans or royalists and 50,000 non-Vendean republican soldiers; according to the Jacques Hussenet and Centre Vendéen de Recherche Historique's book ''Détruisez la Vendée''). 

The Revolt in the Vendée must not be confused with the revolt of the [[Chouannerie|Chouans]], which took place at the same time in Maine and [[Brittany]]. The revolt was led by able officers, mostly aristocrats with some commoners. England provided funds and weapons but various plans for military support were thwarted or cancelled, such as the ill-fated 1795 [[Invasion of France (1795)|Quiberon Expedition]]. In 1804, [[Napoleon I]] chose [[La Roche-sur-Yon]] to be the capital of the [[Departments of France|department]]. At the time, most of La Roche had been eradicated in the [[War in the Vendée|Vendée Revolt]] (1793–96); the renamed Napoléonville was laid out and a fresh population of soldiers and civil servants was brought in. Napoléonville had a square-grid street network and was designed to accommodate 15,000 people.<ref>Graham Robb, ''The Discovery of France'', Picador, London (2007), pp257-8</ref>

In 1815, when Napoleon escaped exile on [[Elba]] for his [[Hundred Days]], the Vendée refused to recognise him and stayed loyal to King [[Louis XVIII]]. General [[Jean Maximilien Lamarque|Lamarque]] led 10,000 men into the Vendée to pacify the region.<ref name=EB1911WC>[[Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition]] Waterloo Campaign</ref> A [[:fr:Guerre de Vendée et Chouannerie de 1832|failed rebellion in the Vendée in 1832]] in support of [[Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Sicile, duchess de Berry]], the former [[Charles X of France|King Charles X]]'s widowed daughter-in-law, was an unsuccessful attempt to restore the [[Legitimist]] Bourbon dynasty during the reign of the [[Orléanist]] monarch, King [[Louis Philippe I of France|Louis Philippe]] of the French (1830–1848).

In 1850, [[England|English]] author [[Anthony Trollope]] published his book ''La Vendée'', detailing the history of the region and the war. In the preface he pays tribute to [[Victoire de Donnissan de La Rochejaquelein|Madame de la Rochejaquelein]], on whose memoirs of the war he based his story.

==Etymology==
The name ''Vendée'' is taken from the river [[Vendée (river)|Vendée]] which runs through the southeastern part of the department. The river is attested as ''Fluvium Vendre'' in the 10th century, and as ''Flumen Vendee'' and ''Vendeia'' by the 11th century. According to Pierre-Henri Billy, the name ultimately derives from the [[Celtic toponymy#Frequent elements|Celtic toponym]] ''*vindo-'' meaning white or brilliant in a sacred context (as in the [[Modern Welsh]] ''gwyn/wyn''). The name likely originates in [[Proto-Celtic]] or [[Gaulish]], but may also have originated in the [[Gallo language|Gallo]] or [[Old Breton]] languages.<ref>Pierre-Henri Billy, ''Dictionnaire des noms de lieux de la France'', éditions Errance, 640 pages, 2011 {{ISBN|978-2-87772-449-4}}, {{p.|561}}.</ref>

==Geography==
[[Image:Carte generale de la Vendée.svg|400x400px|thumb|Map of the department]]

Vendée's highest point is Puy-Crapaud (295 m).

The department is crossed by four rivers: the Sèvre Nantaise ({{convert|135|km}} long), the Vendée ({{convert|70|km}}), the Lay ({{convert|110|km}}) and the Sèvre Niortaise ({{convert|150|km}}).

==Demographics==

Vendée's inhabitants are referred to as ''Vendeans'' ([[French language|French]] ''Vendéens'' {{IPA|fr|vɑ̃.de.ɛ̃|pron}}).
{{historical populations
|cols=2|align=none|percentages=pagr|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://splaf.free.fr/85his.html|title=Historique de la Vendée|website=Le SPLAF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4176909?geo=DEP-85|title=Évolution et structure de la population en 2016|publisher=INSEE}}</ref>|graph-pos=bottom
|1801|243426|1821|316587|1831|330350|1841|356453|1851|383734|1861|395695|1872|401446|1881|421642|1891|442355|1901|441311|1911|438520|1921|397292|1931|390396|1936|389211|1946|393787|1954|395641|1962|408928|1968|421250|1975|450641|1982|483027|1990|509356|1999|539664|2006|597185|2011|641657|2016|670597}}

===Principal towns===

The most populous commune is [[La Roche-sur-Yon]], the prefecture. As of 2019, there are 7 communes with more than 10,000 inhabitants. The 10 most populous communes are:<ref name=pop2019/>

{| class=wikitable
! Commune
! Population (2019)
|-
| [[La Roche-sur-Yon]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 55,147
|-
| [[Les Sables-d'Olonne]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 45,030
|-
| [[Challans]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 21,322
|-
| [[Montaigu-Vendée]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 20,424
|-
| [[Les Herbiers]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 16,250
|-
| [[Fontenay-le-Comte]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 13,235
|-
| [[Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 11,297
|-
| [[Aizenay]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 9,881
|-
| [[Luçon]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 9,554
|-
| [[Essarts-en-Bocage]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 9,174
|}

==Higher education==

The main University of this department is the [[Catholic Institute of Higher Studies - ICES]]<ref>Institut Catholique d'Études Supérieures [http://www.ices.fr Official Website]</ref> in La Roche-sur-Yon. The main goal of this institute is to achieve academic excellence through an enhancement of the Christian and human dimension in seven areas of study. Founded in 1989, [[Catholic Institute of Higher Studies - ICES]] has pioneered a new concept in higher education, that of the "University School": halfway between the French Grande École and the traditional state university.

==Economy==
The primary factors of the Vendéen economy are:

*Tourism
*Agriculture
*Food Processing
*Light/Medium Industry

The Vendée has been cited as the most economically dynamic department in France by L'Express magazine in a 2006 survey.<ref>[http://www.lexpress.fr/info/france/dossier/departement/departement.asp?id=515504 L'Express 2006 Survey Results] - in French</ref> Its economy is characterised by a low rate of unemployment (around 7% in late 2006 compared to more than 9% nationally) and a very high proportion of small and medium-sized businesses (one business for every 14 inhabitants).

===Tourism===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2012}}
The coast of the Vendée extends over {{convert|200|km}} of mostly sandy beaches. Tourists from overseas and locally frequent them. Some resorts include [[Les Sables-d'Olonne]], La Tranche-sur-Mer and [[Saint-Jean-de-Monts]]. Some beaches are certified for the [[Foundation for Environmental Education|FEE]] [[Blue Flag beach|Blue Flag]] for cleanliness.

With more than {{convert|100|mi|order=flip}}{{clarify|note that this claim conflicts with the one above. Need citation to settle this|date=November 2011}} of sandy beaches edged with dunes and pine woods. There are several [[nude beach]]es including just south of La Faute sur Mer on the Pointe d'Arçay. The department also has churches and abbeys, museums, and—for nature lovers—thousands of marked footpaths, a signposted bicycle route running along the coastal mudflats, and marshes that attract unusual birds. There is fishing in the Vendée's rivers and lakes.

Inland, the chief attractions include the [[Marais Poitevin]] (an area of marshlands famed for wildlife), the forested area around the village of Mervent and the rolling countryside of the Bocage. In the north of the department, the historical theme park [[Puy du Fou]] attracts more than 1.45 million of visitors per year.
<gallery>
File:Eglise Saint-Louis de La Roche-sur-Yon depuis la voûte.JPG|Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
File:Eglise Saint-Louis de La Roche-sur-Yon depuis la tribune haute.JPG|Saint Louis Church of La Roche-sur-Yon
File:Place Napoléon de La Roche-sur-Yon depuis l'église.jpg|[[La Roche-sur-Yon]], [[Napoleon I]]'s city
File:MaraisPoitevin.jpg|[[Marais Poitevin]]
File:Windmühle auf der Île de Noirmoutier.jpg|Windmill on the [[Noirmoutier (island)|Noirmoutier island]]
File:Maillezais - Cathedrale Saint-Pierre 02.jpg|[[Maillezais Cathedral]]
File:F07.Vouvant.0012.JPG|[[Vouvant]]
File:Puy-du-Fou-3.JPG|Medieval show at [[Puy du Fou]] themepark.
File:Lucon Vendée.JPG|[[Luçon Cathedral|Cathedral of Notre Dame]], episcopal seat of the [[Diocese of Luçon]] (comprising the Vendée)
</gallery>

===Agriculture===

Agriculture remains a significant source of employment in the Vendée. Among departments, it has the second highest level of revenue from agriculture in France. The major arable crops grown are maize, [[colza]], wheat and sunflowers. Meat and dairy production also feature, as does the offshore farming of shellfish (oysters and mussels). Poultry from Challans is highly regarded nationwide as is lamb produced from the salt marshes in the North of the Vendée.

Demonstrating its support for the agricultural sector, the Conseil Général of the Vendée has a stated policy to promote the construction of irrigation reservoirs to reduce dependence on ground water during key summer growing seasons.

===Food processing and manufacturing===

The Vendée is home to a number of food processing firms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleurymichon.fr/ensemble-pour-manger-mieux-venez-verifier|title=Ensemble pour manger mieux : venez vérifier|website=Fleury Michon}}</ref> A manufacturer of ready-meals and [[charcuterie]] employs the majority of its workforce (some 3000 people) at local plants. Other employers include bakeries and biscuit producers.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

The department also has some speciality products, including [[brioche]] (''Label Rouge'') and a raw cured ham (''Jambon de Vendée'') similar in flavour to bacon.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

Wine is also produced in the area around the communes of Vix, Brem, Pissotte and Mareuil-sur-Lay, and is marketed under the "Fiefs Vendéens" designation. Production quality has improved markedly over recent years, and, having already achieved the classification [[Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure]] (VDQS), the wines are on their way towards A.O.C status ([[Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mareuiltourisme.com/fiefsmareuillais.htm|title=_room dividers ceiling mount_sugar free muffins and scones packaged|website=www.mareuiltourisme.com}}</ref>

===Industry===

Much of the manufacturing industry in the Vendée reflects its status as a major tourist destination. Mobile homes are manufactured at plants in [[Luçon]] and the building of motor and sail yachts takes place at locations all over the department. The service sector too is strongly inclined towards tourism with campsites, restaurants and other tourism businesses being important sources of revenue and employment.

== Culture ==
The [[War in the Vendée]] is the subject of ''[[Ninety-Three]]'' (''Quatrevingt-treize''), the last novel by the French writer [[Victor Hugo]], an episode in ''[[Mr. Midshipman Hornblower]]'' and also the backdrop of ''[[Les Chouans]]'' by [[Balzac]].

In the writings of [[Karl Marx]] regarding revolutionary struggles in various countries, he uses the term "a Vendée" as meaning "a focus of persistent counter-revolutionary activities". [[Vladimir Lenin]], when speaking about [[Cossacks]] as potential counter-revolutionary opposition, identified them as ''Russian Vendée''.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xxGttzFXqaYC  |title=Lenin's Terror: The Ideological Origins of Early Soviet State Violence |author=James Ryan |year=2012|isbn=9780415673969 }}</ref>[[Image:vignebrem.JPG|thumb|300x300px|right|A vine in [[Brem-sur-Mer]].]]

===Cuisine===

*''Jambon-mogettes'' (ham and white beans) is the most famous Vendean dish.
*The department is the largest brioche producer in France, with the ''Brioche de Vendée'' made in the [[Bocage]].
*In the Plain of [[Luçon]], [[préfou]] is a garlic bread that can be served as an [[aperitif]].
*In the [[marshland]] of the North-West, the ''poultry of Challans'', especially [[duck]], is well known in the gastronomic world.
*The department has several small [[vineyard]]s, around [[Brem-sur-Mer]], [[Mareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais]], [[Vix, Vendée|Vix]], and [[Pissotte]].

==Government==

In the Vendée, 31 members, elected through [[universal suffrage]], govern the affairs of the [[department of France|department]], with 26 members on the [[right-wing]] and 5 members on the [[left-wing]].

The [[Prefect (France)|Prefect]] represents the [[Cabinet of France|French State]] in the [[department of France|department]].

==Politics==
The president of the Departmental Council is Alain Lebœuf, elected in July 2021. Previous Presidents were [[Bruno Retailleau]] and [[Philippe de Villiers]]. 

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!colspan=2| Party || seats
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Miscellaneous Right}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>
|Miscellaneous Right ||align="right"| 14
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Movement for France}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>
|[[Movement for France]] ||align="right"| 10
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (France)}}" |
|[[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] ||align="right"| 4
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Union for a Popular Movement}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>
|[[Union for a Popular Movement]] ||align="right"| 2
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Miscellaneous Left}}" |
|Miscellaneous Left ||align="right"| 1
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|New Centre}}" |<span style="color:white; font-size:190%;">•</span>
|[[New Centre]] ||align="right"| 1
|-
|}

===Current National Assembly Representatives===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member<ref name=":0" />!!Party
|-
|style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 1st constituency]]
| [[Philippe Latombe]]
|[[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Horizons (political party)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Béatrice Bellamy]]
|[[Horizons (political party)|H]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Renaissance (French political party)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 3rd constituency]]
|[[Stéphane Buchou]]
|[[Renaissance (French political party)|RE]]
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Miscellaneous right}};" |
| [[Vendée's 4th constituency]]
| [[Véronique Besse]]
|[[Miscellaneous right|DVD]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Renaissance (French political party)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 5th constituency]]
| [[Pierre Henriet]]
|[[Renaissance (French political party)|RE]]
|}

=== National Assembly Representatives (2017 to 2022) ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" |Constituency!!Member<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/|title=Assemblée nationale ~ Les députés, le vote de la loi, le Parlement français|first=Assemblée|last=Nationale|website=Assemblée nationale}}</ref>!!Party
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 1st constituency]]
| [[Philippe Latombe]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Movement (France)}}" |
| [[Vendée's 2nd constituency]]
| [[Patrick Loiseau]]
| [[Democratic Movement (France)|MoDem]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|La République En Marche!}}" |
| [[Vendée's 3rd constituency]]
| [[Stéphane Buchou]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|La République En Marche!}}" |
| [[Vendée's 4th constituency]]
| [[Martine Leguille-Balloy]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|La République En Marche!}}" |
| [[Vendée's 5th constituency]]
| [[Pierre Henriet]]
| [[La République En Marche!]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Cantons of the Vendée department]]
*[[Communes of the Vendée department]]
*[[Arrondissements of the Vendée department]]
*[[Vendée Globe]]
*[[Julien Le Blant]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Vendée}}
{{Wiktionary|Vendée}}
* {{in lang|fr}} [https://www.vendee.fr/ Departmental council website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.vendee.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website]
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.vendee-tourisme.com Vendee Tourist Board]

{{Seaside resorts in Vendée}}
{{Departments of France}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vendee}}
[[Category:Vendée| ]]
[[Category:Departments of Pays de la Loire]]
[[Category:Poitou]]