Coeur de Vendee Tohapi Review

Pool complex

The pool complex is only a small one, but this is only a small site. It features a retractable covered rectangular pool with a sectioned off shallow area and a larger, deeper area. There is also a fun blue slide. As I was on my own at the beginning, I didn’t let my 2 year old go down it this time, but the 5 year old did and loved it.

But mostly, they both loved jumping in the deep pool and practicing their “mermaid jumps” and swimming to the other side. The pool area was clean, had lots of sun loungers and was ridiculously peaceful considering it’s the school summer holidays. We were there at 2pm and I counted 12 people total in the pools and that included us!

There are no lifeguards on duty and it is completely unsupervised. Whilst the tight lycra swimwear rule and wristbands rule is in place, nobody was actually surveilling the pool to enforce it, though I did see a security camera there. 

Swimwear rule

The swimwear rule is enforced here so you should wear your jammers, though many of the people at the pool were not adhering to the rule. 

Fishing Pond

The campsite has a no kill fishing pond where you can fish for a range of fresh water fish. It’s very popular here with lots of shady areas around the large perimeter. The whole pond area is fenced up ensuring its safety, though some people would leave the safety gates open. 

Campsite Facilities

We were surprised how much there is to do for a small site.

Receptions, Customer Services and Check in

We arrived at 7.30pm on the 23rd of July and the reception desk was closed. Outside the office they had left our map, keys and instructions to properly check in the next morning. The next day we headed to reception and the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming. I absolutely fluffed up my French skills (yes, I know I live here, but we all have those days) and they spoke amazing English, probably better than many English people I know. They were so friendly with me and my daughters and generally showed an interest in our holiday and what plans we had while we were here and suggested many other days out for us too. 

Even though we booked through Eurocamp, everything is done through the Tohapi office as it is a sister company to Eurocamp. 

Play Areas & Sports Field 

I love that there is a grassy sports area here, it meant me and my girls could play frisbee, practice balance bikes and just generally run about in nature.

Play park

The first morning of our stay we decided to go for a bike/run with no plans as to where we were going, we soon came across a little park with a swing, slide and solo seesaw. It was a perfect break, after only 5 minutes of pushchair jogging! 

Other Play Park

After we finished at the first park, we carried on and soon came by the second park. This had just a slide and climbing frame, but I’m not a massive fan of big extravagant parks. I much prefer many small, dotted around parks.

Table tennis & Petanque

Of course, there are plenty of table tennis tables here as well as the family favourite petanque courts (also known as Boules in the UK).

Mini golf

We recently bought our own mini golf sets. For one club and 4 balls from our favourite Action (dutch shop all over Europe). They cost us around 1e50 each and we put them to good use on this massive mini golf course. Although we only managed a couple of holes and absolutely none of us followed the rules. 

Football field

I don’t think there was a designated football field, but the green space is large enough to create your own pitch and there is also a multi-sports area.

Multi sports area

Near the first park we came across was a large multi-sports area which can be used for football, basketball, netball and other ball games.

Volleyball & Badminton

There was a sanded volleyball court and a hard floored badminton court near the swimming pool and multi sports area.

BMX track

Our 5 year old loves testing out the BMX tracks with her normal childrens bike and this was a great area to try. It had many hills, some with trees on and steep drops. The 2 year old even attempted it on her balance bike

Arcade/Games Room

We attempted to enter the games room at around 3pm but it was locked up. I think it might run to the same hours as the snack bar. There are only a couple of games in there but it’s something else to do.

Mini Farm

The campsite has a cute mini farm with ponies & a noisy donkey. I noticed in other pens some goats and sheep too. There are also chickens roaming free and by night 2 we’d already had our neighbour's kitten and another neighbour's dog on our decking area to say hi. This is a very animal friendly site. 

Animation and entertainment for kids and adults

There was a surprising amount of teenagers on the site and entertainment seemed to be geared towards them. The mini disco was at 9.15pm, lasted 15 minutes and most of the “children” dancing were at least 13. Our littles felt a bit too young.

The mini disco was only on twice during the week, however there was some form of entertainment every night except for Saturday. Evening entertainment included things like loto, dance nights and quizzes. The entertainment team seemed very friendly and they also ran the kids club. We did try and attend the kids club, but I think they only open it if there is enough interest. We didn’t register in advance so it wasn’t open when we tried to visit.

Bars, Restaurants and Takeaway

The snack bar on-site is open to the general public and is run by very friendly staff. They are open from breakfast till after lunch and then re-open from 4.30pm. It made a great place to go for coffee, ice cream, evening drinks and dinner. The menu is very snack esque, but it was more than enough for us. We had pizza and chips for takeaway on our last night and it was tasty.

Campsite Shop

There is no shop on-site, the nearest big shop is a 15 minute drive away in Montaigu. There is a small Proxi shop 7 minutes drive away at La Boissière-de-Montaigu. However, I would definitely head to a larger shop for everything you need.

Communal BBQ’s

Whilst we had a gas bbq on our decking there were also 2 communal bbq areas available where you could use charcoal. These areas usually had many holiday makers there and they were quite a social area. The smells coming from them were delicious. 

WIFI

I had a very bad phone signal there so I had to pay for Wifi. For 2 nights I paid 10euros and had to add a 3rd night for another 5 euros. It was pretty fast and could handle the downloading of TV shows to tablets for our drive home – so it gets a win from me. You can buy it online by connecting to the network and then choosing which package you want.

Bike Hire

There was bike hire available on the campsite from the main reception. I am unsure on the prices but there were many bikes available and a few cycle tracks in the area.

Pets

Le Coeur de vendee was a very pet friendly site. Our neighbours who owned accommodation on site had 2 cats, one a very cute young kitten and our other neigbours had a bet dog. Many of the holiday makers had dogs and there were lots of bags & signs available for picking up dog poo, however – not everyone listend and unfortunately our 5 year old managed to stand in a massive pile of it in the park.

Shower blocks & Laundry

As we stayed in a mobile home we didn’t need to use these though I did have a pek in to see the washing machines and use the toilet. They aren’t the best. They are very old fashioned and smell very drainy. The washing machines are wifi ones, though you can also use your card.

Day Trips 

The main attractions to this campsite is its proximity to the amazing Puy du Fou theme park.

Puy du Fou

This theme park is epic. Whilst there aren’t any rides or amusements in the traditional sense, it’s full of live action shows that will blow your socks off. The immersive live shows cover major periods and legends in French and European history and I 100% recommend seeing the Romans gladiators, Vikings and musketeers shows.

Le Grand Defi

Our 5 year olds favourite day out in the Vendee. This adventure and outdoor activity park is known for its extensive treetop rope courses, paintball, disc golf, and a variety of family-friendly activities. It’s particularly well-suited for energetic families like ours and they even allow 2 year olds on the rope courses.

Maison de la Rivière

A scenic ecological park on the river, offering walking paths, boat rides, interactive exhibitions, and nature activities. It’s excellent for a peaceful day in nature, birdwatching, picnics, and family outings in a relaxed setting.

O'Gliss Park

One of the largest water parks in the region, featuring slides, pools, lazy rivers, and splash zones. It’s a popular summer destination for families who enjoy aquatic activities and has areas designed for children, teens, and adults.

Le Château des Aventuriers

This attraction blends a historic château with adventure trails, including pirate-themed and dinosaur-themed routes, interactive games, escape rooms, and playgrounds. It’s reviewed as an excellent stop for families, especially those with children aged 3–12.

Vendée Miniature

A model village acclaimed for its detailed recreation of rural life and architecture in Vendée as it was in the early 20th century.

Available Accommodation

We stayed in a 2 bedroom comfort XL and booked with Eurocamp. Our holiday home was exactly what we expected. It was spacious enough and comfortable, though I would have liked a little more kitchen space. 

There were many other accommodation options available like premiums, holiday homes with lounges, as well as classics and camping emplacements.

If we were to book again, I’d definitely go for a lounge accommodation. 

How to book

Booking Camping Tohapi Coeur de Vendée through Eurocamp is a straightforward online process:

• Click here to head to the campsites page
• Choose your dates, accommodation type and quantity of guests
• Add your extras like linen packs, baby equipment, or travel arrangements (ferry, Eurotunnel)
• Fill in the required personal information for your party.
• Pay – Secure your reservation with a deposit if booking in advance or full payment if your holiday is within 10 weeks
• Save your booking confirmation.

Do You Need A Car To Get Round?

Yes. This site is very rural. You would need a car to get to the shop and to explore the surrounding area and days out. There is nothing within walking distance of the site.

How To Get To The Campsite

To get to Coeur de Vendee from the UK these are your best options. 

• Brittany ferry route from Portsmouth or Poole to Caen or St malo
• DFDS or P&o Ferries to Dieppe or Calais (though this will be a lot further to drive)
• Fly to Nantes airport and hire a car

Driving Directions

Address: 

Bois de la Raillère, 85600 La Boissière-de-Montaigu

GPS:

46.938355, -1.218996

• From Nantes, take the N137 towards La Roche-sur-Yon.
• About 7km south of Montaigu and 30km north of Chantonnay, look for signs for the campsite.
• At the tourist office, take the D62 northeast for 5km, passing through Le Pont Lege, then follow signs for “Camping Coeur de Vendée.”

Cleanliness and Maintenance

The site was very well looked after and clean. Whilst facilities were fairly slim they were all well maintained, albeit fairly rustic and wooden. The site is in nature, it’s very green and shaded. 

Family Friendliness

There were a lot more teenagers here than I expected but as it’s a small site I imagine it’s somewhere they can have a reasonable amount of independence. I also felt the facilities were good for our young children, though there was nothing that made it specifically good for any age group alone.

Pricing and Value for Money

This was the cheapest Eurocamp holiday for the dates we could find and we were pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t terrible. We thought we’d end up on a holiday from hell booking the cheapest thing available but actually it was lovely, the clientele were nice although pretty much all French. We paid 250euros for 4 nights in the July school holidays.

Review Conclusion & Our Experience

Budget Eurocamp Holiday

“

We had a really lovely few days at Coeur de Vendee. Mike would describe the site as boring but I would say relaxing. I enjoyed that it wasn’t a big resort and I felt the calming effects of the gorgeous nature around us. I liked that the parks were small and that our children made there own fun at the park or with the mini golf. Nothing was too much effort and I enjoyed the greenery. The bar area had a nice calm atmosphere until the entertainment started and the pool was also much calmer than we are used to. I counted only 12 people including us in the pool at 2pm on our first day, it was lovely. Most campsites at this time of year are swimming pool soup. SO yes. We had a lovely stay at this rustic Tohapi campsite. 

“

FAMILY CAMPING EUROPE SCORE

8

FAQ’s