The History of Camping Village de la Guyonnière
One of the very first
5-star campsites in the Vendée!
From an abandoned old farmhouse to a renowned 5-star campsite, the story of Camping Village de la Guyonnière was not written overnight. From 1990 to today, several chapters have shaped the life of this exceptional place.
The history of Camping Village de la Guyonnière is, above all, the story of a family: Pierre Jaspers, his wife, and their children. While today Thys (centre) and Piet (right) are at the helm of a renowned 5-star campsite, it is because in 1991, their father Pierre (left) fell in love with a ruined farmhouse.
Having left the Netherlands with his wife Annie in pursuit of a dream, they settled at La Guyonnière, won over by the charm of this green setting by the lake. Through their own hard work, they transformed the Guyonnière farm into a premier holiday destination in the Vendée.
October 1990: Pierre, with his pregnant wife Annie and their one-year-old son Thys, settled at the Guyonnière farm and began renovations. During the winter, the house was renovated. It accommodated the family and two guest rooms (chambres d’hôtes). The first field, "La Pointe," was prepared, and 6 pitches were created. Pierre insisted on keeping the original name of the plot, a rule that is still applied today. Pierre also chose to design large pitches, averaging 225m². This choice proved to be the driving force behind the campsite’s success—a commitment that still underpins its reputation today.
Summer 1991: The first season was launched as a “Farm Campsite”.
After this first season, work resumed. The house grew from 2 to 6 guest rooms, the barn was renovated to become the bar, and 30 new pitches were marked out at La Pointe. Bit by bit, through sheer effort, the campsite took shape. Some holidaymakers, having fallen in love with La Guyonnière, even returned in winter to help with the work.
1994: The number of pitches reached 30, and the campsite became an "Aire Naturelle" (Natural Area). Winter 1998: Construction of the swimming pool during the winter. The campsite expanded, and as space ran out at La Pointe, other plots were developed:
- « Le Quarteron »
- « Le Grand Pré »
- « Le Criquet »
- « Le Tournesol »
2000: In addition to the camping pitches, mobile homes were installed at "La Ruelle Basse" and offered for rent for the 2000 season.
Winter 2002: Construction of the indoor heated swimming pool.
2018: Pierre officially handed over the reins to his sons. Thys and Piet took over the management and asserted their vision. On the estate, the pool was renovated, and a brand-new aquatic area took shape. At the same time, the campsite’s entire identity was updated: a new logo, a new website, and a new way of communicating gave Camping Village de la Guyonnière fresh momentum. The campsite entered a new era.
During the summer of 2021, the campsite celebrated its 30th season. A photo exhibition was organised in the bar. It showed the Guyonnière farm still in ruins, and Pierre and his family during the renovations. It also showed the first holidaymakers, dinners shared at the guest table, the first tractor rides… Holiday memories and archives that retrace the evolution of the estate as the work progressed. The season was marked by this joyful anniversary, celebrated by everyone together.
Today, Camping Village de la Guyonnière is a haven of peace that welcomes holidaymakers from all walks of life every year. French, Dutch, Belgian, British, and Irish guests gather here in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Thys, Piet, and the whole team continue the adventure with the same ambition: to offer holidaymakers the best possible experience. Looking to the future, they are already imagining tomorrow’s developments and working, step by step, to write the next chapter of the campsite’s history.
To be continued…