Saint-Julien-des-Landes, Vendée
La Bretonnière campsite, a family story in Saint-Julien-des-Landes
Opened in 1985 by Josette and Joël, 10 minutes from the beaches of Brétignolles-sur-Mer.
La Bretonnière campsite covers 6 hectares in Saint-Julien-des-Landes, in the Vendée. It has been a 4-star campsite in the Vendée since 2010, has belonged to Camping Paradis since 2020 and is open from 10 April to 12 September 2027.
The 80 rental accommodations are mobile homes for 4 to 8 people, and chalets.
The story of the campsite
There was no campsite at first. Josette and Joël, who were farmers, rented out a gîte on their farm. One day a Belgian traveller, looking for just one night, asked whether he could park his van on their land. That night gave them the idea of a farm campsite.
- 1985
The farm campsite opens with 6 pitches.
- 2005
The land is rezoned from agricultural to leisure use. Within eighteen months the campsite gains around a hundred pitches.
- Then
Next come the heated, covered swimming pool and a proper reception building. Josette and Joël also decide to stop farming and live from the campsite alone.
- 2006
Their daughter Aline comes back to work at the campsite. She signs up for one season to open the pizzeria and ends up staying.
- 2010
Régis joins and runs the bar at first. The campsite is awarded its 4-star rating.
- 2015
Aline and Régis buy the campsite.
- 2020
The campsite joins Camping Paradis.
Aline and Régis
Before the campsite, Aline worked in retail. The plan to take over dates from 2007. When they bought the campsite, Aline and Régis wanted to keep the soul of the place, where guests come as they are and feel at home.
The welcome drink is a ritual at the campsite.
A day in July
- The bar till, emails and bookings.
- Reception opens, with the bread, and the first staff arrive at 9 am for the briefing.
- Aline welcomes guests and answers the phone, often both at once.
- Aline drops by the bar to lend the team a hand, then checks on the snack bar to make sure all is well.
- Lights out. Tomorrow, it starts again.
Aline likes days that are never the same. She also likes working with younger people, who give her energy.
The team
Zoé runs the kids’ club. A student, she works at the campsite during the seasons. Emma left the campsite to gain experience elsewhere after her Bachelor’s degree in tourism (2023, outdoor accommodation). She comes back from time to time to help, for the winter shutdown and some weekends.
The values of the campsite
Aline describes her campsite as family-friendly and calm, with nature all around.
It’s exactly how I imagined it, or even better.The sentence Aline wants to hear from every guest. She does not want anyone to be disappointed.
Families for 40 years
Some families have been coming since the very beginning.
A birthday celebrated together
Every 14 July, the campsite celebrates Aline’s birthday with its guests over a drink, in a family atmosphere.
Entertainment and services
The campsite runs an entertainment programme all season long, with services on site.
Entertainment
- A kids’ club
- Concerts in the evening
- Disco nights
- Bingo nights
Services
- A laundry room
- A bread and pastry service
- A small grocery shop
- Hire of sheets, towels, baby kits and bikes
A campsite rooted in Saint-Julien-des-Landes
The campsite works with the bakery in Saint-Julien and with Maison Louis Marcel for wine. Aline and Régis also eat at the village restaurant and shop at its convenience store.
Ideas for days out are on the tourism in the Vendée page, and what happens at the campsite is on the activities page.
- Brétignolles-sur-Mer beaches, 10 minutes away
- Saint-Jean-de-Monts
- Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
- Les Sables d’Olonne
- Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Nature at the campsite
Nothing at the campsite is artificial. The grounds have their own trees, including oaks, pines and buddleias, the butterfly bushes from the campsite’s old logo.
The pitches are lined with trees and shrubs. The shrubs are mulched and waste is sorted.
Your reviews
The reviews that touch Aline most say that guests feel at home there, on holiday, and thank the team.
A big thank you to the managers and the team, who are lovely, available and always ready to listen.Ophelie, Google review (translated from French)
Thank you to the staff, who do everything to make our stay a pleasant one.Celine, Google review (translated from French)
Come and see for yourself
We welcome you from 10 April to 12 September 2027, and bookings are made online. For any question, call us on +33 2 51 46 62 44 or write to us at info@la-bretonniere.com.