Ho, Ho, Ho! Like every year, Santa Claus invites himself to the Land of Achards for the greatest pleasure of the locals, as well as the passing visitors. In his sack: a Christmas market (one of the oldest in Vendée, and the largest in the department!) and miniature villages that make young and old dream. For an immersion in the heart of the magic of Christmas, we take you for an afternoon to discover the Féerie des Santons, the animated shop windows and the Playmobil® exhibition. Ready to experience the magic of the end-of-year holidays? ✨
12:30 p.m.: Meet at the restaurant 😋
Before filling up on discoveries, we advise you to sit down at the Cafe des Arts. Please note: you will need to book a few days in advance to be sure of getting a place! Refined and full of flavors, the cuisine of chef Antoine Préteux has something to delight all palates.
📌 Are you coming to the Pays des Achards in a group during the Christmas period? We suggest you opt for the restaurant Le 140 ! Here, introduce yourself to the good taste of traditional cuisine with fresh, local products.
All the information on these restaurants
The Arts Café
2 post office street
85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
Restaurant The 140
2 Market Square
85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
14 p.m.: Head to the Féerie des Santons 👀
This is it, it's time. The time to push finally the doors of the Magic of the Santons with family! From the first room, you are immediately immersed in the atmosphere thanks to Anatole's voice. The santonnier takes you into his world of figurines, staged in 8 miniature villages… All at the heart of a sound and light scenographic journey!
As you progress through the museum, young and old alike will marvel at a magical spectacle, from the Vendée hamlets to the Provençal village, passing through Normandy landscapes and the Sinai desert. Children love it!
The fairy tale of the Santons, it is also (and above all!) a story of heritage.
Hand in hand, the villagers of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche have created this unique exhibition where the figurines seem to come to life. 100% local!
All the information on the Féerie des Santons
- Agenda: Every afternoon from November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025
- Schedule : From 14 p.m. to 18:30 p.m.
- Pricing : €7 for adults, €3 for children aged 10 to 14 and €1 for children aged 3 to 9
- Duration of the visit : About 1 hour
- Address : Church Square – 85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
Our advice for the visit :
- Children can enjoy the stories of the Féerie des Santons from the age of 4 or 5!
- Use a baby carrier as strollers are not allowed in the museum.
- Take advantage of a preferential rate by combining entry to the Féerie des Santons with that of the Playmobil® exhibition (-1€ per adult ticket purchased)!
15:30 p.m.: Travel through time with the Great Playmobil® Exhibition 👨🚒
After discovering the Féerie des Santons, head towards another exhibition, also with a multitude of figurines. Welcome to the world of Playmobil®! Over more than 300 m2, we discover different settings called “dioramas” (small miniature scenes). Princess castle or even pirate ship: sail from one universe to another during the visit… For the greatest pleasure of the children (and yours obviously!).
💎 As a bonus : if your little ones are restless, you will surely brighten up their visit with the game “Where’s Wally” according to the different dioramas!
All the information on the Playmobil exhibition
- Agenda: From November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and every day during the Christmas holidays (from December 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025)
- Schedule : From 14:30 p.m. to 18:30 p.m.
- Pricing : €3 for adults, €2 for children aged 10 to 14 and €1 for children aged 3 to 9
- Duration of the visit : Approximately 45 min / 1h
- Address : Workshop of the Goddess, 2 rue du Stade – 85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
17 p.m.: The illuminations ✨
Exit the big Parisian boutiques, direction the animated windows from Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche! From 15:30 p.m., a multitude of automatons and stuffed animals come to life and come to life as if by magic. Santa's house, the toy warehouse, Santa's workshop and his reindeer... Perhaps it's the magic of the end-of-year celebrations that manages to bring them to life? A must-have as Christmas approaches!
All the information on the animated windows of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche
- Agenda: Every day from November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025
- Schedule : From 15:30 p.m. to 20 p.m.
- Free
- Duration : About 1 hour (but it all depends on how much time you take to look at each window 😉
- Address : Town Center – 85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
The Christmas market of Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche
As every year, the opening of the Christmas market also marks the beginning of the end-of-year festivities in Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche ! Between jewelry, accessories, craft creations, toys and decorations, strolling from chalet to chalet is also an opportunity to stock up on pretty souvenirs to slip under the tree!
Attention all gourmets, young and old 😋: if this day of discoveries has whetted your appetite, let yourself be tempted by some delicacies. On the menu: grilled mogettes, mulled wine, oysters and pancakes for the whole family!
All the information on the Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche Christmas market
- Events : November 29, 30 and December 1, 2024
- Schedule : From 16 p.m. to 21 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 21 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m. on Sunday
- Address : Town center – 85190 BEAULIEU-SOUS-LA-ROCHE
A 100% magical night in Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche
Francine Fuentes Bed and Breakfast
Boëre Gîte
Casa Bellus Locus Gîte
The Three Mills Annex
Plantis Gîte
Old House Gite
Accommodation on the GR364
We answer frequently asked questions about the end-of-year festivities in Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche 🤔
🗓️ When does the Féerie des Santons begin?
In Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, the museum of The Magic of the Santons opens its doors at the same time as the Christmas market, the animated windows and the Playmobil® exhibition, from November 29, 2024. As the market weekend is very busy, we advise you to come back later to fully enjoy the Féerie des Santons and the exhibition.
🕐 What are the opening hours of the museum, the exhibition and the animated windows?
• The fairy tale of the Santons (Place de l'Eglise) is open every afternoon from November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025, from 14 p.m. to 18:30 p.m.
• The Playmobil® exhibition (workshop of the Goddess, route de Venansault) opens its doors from November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and every day during the Christmas holidays (from December 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025), from 14:30 p.m. to 18:30 p.m.
• Windows come alive every day from November 29, 2024 to January 12, 2025, from 15:30 p.m. to 20 p.m.
⌛ How long does the visit last?
It takes about 1 hour to visit the Féerie des Santons museum, between 45 minutes and 1 hour for the Playmobil® exhibition and 1 hour to tour the animated windows... But it all depends on the time you take to observe each diorama and each window! 😂
💶 What are the visit prices?
• The fairy tale of the Santons : €7 for adults, €3 for children aged 10 to 14 and €1 for children aged 3 to 9
• The Playmobil® exhibition : €3 for adults, €2 for children aged 10 to 14 and €1 for children aged 3 to 9
• GOOD TO KNOW : If you combine entry to the Féerie des Santons + Playmobil® Exhibition, you will benefit from a €1 discount on your adult ticket.
• Windows animated are free 🙂
👶 Can I visit everything with a stroller?
It is strongly recommended to use a baby carrier because there are stairs in the Museum of the Féerie des Santons and the Playmobil® exhibition. However, you can observe the windows with a stroller.
???? What are the different activities at the Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche Christmas market?
The Christmas market offers a multitude of activities for the whole family! Among them:
• The merry-go-round, Santa’s Chalet and the Barrel Organ continuously.
• Parades and animated mascots (Peluches et Grandes Oreilles, Compagnie La Folie de l'Ange with stilt walkers on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 15:30 p.m. and 18 p.m.).
• The Christmas photobooth for souvenir photos.
• Various exhibitions: animated windows, the Playmobil® exhibition and the Magic of the Santons.
🗺️ What is the access plan to the Christmas Market?
You can download the access map here.
• LVisitor coaches will be parked on the square in front of the Mille Club (P5 accessible from the Aizenay road).
• Motorhome parking is provided in the multi-purpose hall car park (P8 accessible from the Venansault road).
(I.e. Where are all the animated display cases located in relation to the museum and the exhibition?
You can download the location map here. You will find the approximate locations of the animated windows (some change a little over the years), the Féerie des Santons, the Playmobil® exhibition but also all the practical information with restaurants, parking lots and public toilets!
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