Origin of la Grisse …
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La « Grisse », an original & strange name …
The name ” La Grisse ” is unique, it is found nowhere else, there are some other similar names like « Grissay » a Vendée motorway rest area close to les Essarts which is called after a nearby farm, and the « Fiefs des Grisses » on the small marsh close to Sables d’Olonne … Without any oral or writed explanation, we only can speculate : A simple explanation involves the colour of the local soil which is a grey (grise), which could have become “Grisse” over time. However if this was the case why don’t we find “Grise” ( or Grisse ) anywhere else in the surrounding area, all of which has the same grey clay soil … Another line of supposition could also involve this clayground which is so sticky that it is said to be “too much in love” with your feet ! … A sticky “grease” sound same than “grisse” in Vendean dialect could have evolved into “grisse” over time … ??? … It’s a bit far fetched”, but why not ? … Another more mysterious explanation could come from the location of the site … In the past, la Grisse was an isolated wasteland swamp of clay lost at the end of the world, and then, a fallow in french means “Friche” together with the colour of the grey clay in dialect could have been combined to become “griche” which over time could have evolved into “Grisse” in local language ! … Mmmm … Really twisted, isn’t it ??? … Yes it is, but why not ? … I like this option, because it sums up exactly the nature of the ground we have here, and that’s so much more original ! …
Origin of Vendée …
Who don’t know the Vendée in France ? …
Situated on the “Light Coast”, the Vendée is the only French Département to also be a “Région” …
Origin of name « Vendée » : The Vendée got his name from the river which flows through Fontenay le Comte ( situated into extreme South-east of actually Vendée ). The city was the original Capital of the Bas Poitou, a part of the old Poitou, and then, of the new Département created in 1790 at the time of the French Révolution ( the City of la Roche/Yon did not exist yet it was just an ordinaryy village in middle of the Bocage of no significance ) … Yet, the Vendée could have been called otherwise… Indeed, at the formation of each new French Département, the normal rule was to take the name of the main river which crossed the territory. So, the main river of the Vendee « le Lay », with two arms : « le Grand Lay » & « le Petit Lay » ( big & small Lay ). Logically the Vendée should have been called « Deux Lays » ( 2 Lays ), like his Poitevine neighbour the « Deux Sèvres » … But the story goes that the two representative of Bas Poitou, the deputies of the new National Assembly in 1790, one was small and the other tall … and also they had not been blessed with good looks ! … Of course, when they proposed the name of « Deux Lays » ( “Lay” sound like “ugly” in french ), all the assembly exploded in laughter ! … Then, the Président suggested they find another more pleasant name … So, the name « Vendée » was agreed, from the river which crossed the main City of that time Fontenay le Comte … Othewise, to continue the story, if la Roche/Yon had been the main City at this time like now, probably our Département would have the name of « Yon », the river which crosses this City … How main History want to nothing sometimes …
The Motto : « Utrique Fidelis », means « Both Faithful »
The Emblem : Red double Heart interlaced on white background … 
The heart surmounted by a cross is originally the symbol of the cult “sacred heart” of Jesus with Mary, under the evangelizer”Grignon de Montfort” of West France, at the beginning of XVIII century… But it was taken by Vendeans rebels of 1793 in it’s single form « Faithful to God & King » … Finally, this sign with double heart was taken in XX centuary to symbolize the two Vendées in unity restored : The White ( Royalist ) and the Blue ( Republican ) … « Both Faithful ! … »