Vendée

The Vendée is a department in the Pays de la Loire region of western France, located on the Atlantic coast. It is part of the historical region of Poitou and is known for its rural character, though its urban centers have grown. The region's economy is dominated by animal husbandry, with significant production of milk, beef, pork, and poultry. Viticulture is also present, particularly for the production of muscadet wine.

The Vendée was a significant site of the counterrevolutionary peasant uprisings known as the Wars of the Vendée (1793–96), which were sparked by conscription acts and opposition to the French Revolution's policies regarding the Catholic Church. Despite the historical unrest, the area has seen demographic growth, particularly in the Loire River valley and metropolitan areas like Nantes. The capital of the Vendée department is La Roche-sur-Yon, established by Napoleon as an administrative and military town.123