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Les Sables-d'Olonne

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Vendée

Les Sables-d'Olonne - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Vendée
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Situated on the Lumière coast (Coast of Light), the seaside resort of Les Sables-d'Olonne is a renowned destination presenting numerous attractions: a bustling seafront promenade lined with shops and cafés, a beautiful 3-kilometre long sandy beach that is very popular with summer tourists, a large marina, numerous events and sports activities, a casino and a thalassotherapy centre. Every four years, the seaside resort of Les Sables-d'Olonne hosts the departure of the Vendée Globe, the famous single-handed, round-the-world yacht race sailed non-stop and without assistance.

Additional information
Les Sables-d'Olonne

Les Sables-d'Olonne:

Les Sables-d'Olonne, the city of the Vendée Globe is the nautical capital of the Côte de Lumière, with 105 km² bordering the Atlantic coast. The town of Les Sables-d'Olonne, sub-prefecture of Vendée, is part of the Pays de la Loire region.

Tourism appeared with the fashion for sea bathing and the arrival of the railway in 1866 with the so-called "pleasure trains". The seaside villas are multiplying around the Remblai (seaside promenade), it is the Belle Epoque Sablaise. In 1936 with paid holidays and even more in the 1950s, we will witness the development of tourism.

Les Sables-d'Olonne, a city with distant roots! 1218-2018 the 800th anniversary of Les Sables...

Founded in 1218 by Savary de Mauléon, Prince of Talmondais, the city experienced a commercial boom under the impetus of Louis XI and his Councilor Philippe de Commines, thanks to whom the 1st port is created (trade in wine, salt, cereals). In the 17th century, it reached its peak with cod fishing on the banks of Newfoundland. More than 80 boats go cod fishing each year. Shipyards are experiencing a boom. Buildings or monuments are constructed such as the Notre-Dame de Bon Port church, classified as a Historic Monument.

This maritime tradition still continues today, Les Sables-d'Olonne is a city with 3 fishing, commercial and pleasure ports. The folklore group "le Nouch" through its dances and its songs tells this particular story, the district of La Chaume with its fishermen's houses, its quays, the piers, the lighthouses, the Saint-Nicolas priory testifies to this past turned towards the sea.

Served by the TGV all year round, Les Sables-d'Olonne promotes weekend tourism: the desire to recharge your batteries at the thalassotherapy centre, to stroll in the open air on the large beach, to visit a exhibition at the museum of the Sainte Croix Abbey, to attend a show, to treat yourself to a meal in one of the seafood restaurants in the city? Everything is possible: hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, residences are waiting for customers to help them enjoy Les Sables-d'Olonne from another angle.

The beach is the irresistible asset in high season for relaxation, well-being, games with a gentle slope, safe for children. A stone's throw from the beach, an exceptional environment composed of marshes, forest, wild coasts allows those who wish to walk or hike on foot, by bike or on horseback! In terms of leisure, water sports, sailing and also a wide range of activities are offered to visitors: golf, karting, yoga, horse riding, canoeing, parachute jumping, diving...

Winter and spring light and autumn to discover on the beach side, on the port side or on the ledges and wild coasts nearby!

Les Sables d'Olonne is labeled as a surf town and holder of the label "one of the most beautiful bays in the world".

Château-d'Olonne:

Château-d'Olonne is today a district of Les Sables-d'Olonne with an exceptional environment: wild coasts, beaches, woods conducive to walking and hiking.

It is a nautical destination with sliding sports, surf spots, sailing.

It has a preserved heritage: abbeys, churches, mills, a gastronomy focused on seafood with a fishing port ranked 3rd in France for the value of products landed.

Direct TGV access all year round Paris/Les Sables-d'Olonne.

The name Château d'Olonne comes from a fortified castle built in the Middle Ages, seat of the Barony of Olonne. This castle was dismantled by Richelieu during the Wars of Religion.

Olonne-sur-Mer:

Olonne-sur-Mer is also a district of Les Sables-d'Olonne located to the north.

It is the Green Lung of the city with a state forest of 1,100 hectares and 800 hectares of preserved marshes.

Pedestrian and horse-riding paths, cycle paths in a relaxing setting, large wild beaches near the dunes and the forest, various sports activities: water sports, horse-riding, canoeing, golf... a heritage trail to discover the town center.

TGV access all year round via Les Sables-d'Olonne station.

Things to see and do

Les Sables-d'Olonne:
Château-d'Olonne district:
Olonne-sur-Mer district:

Places of interest

Information points
Leisure centres
Monuments
Natural sites
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Les Sables-d'Olonne:

Detailed information

Vendée Globe
A legendary solo sailing race, with no stops or assistanceNovember 2020

Photos

Great beach of Les Sables-d'Olonne
Great beach of Les Sables-d'Olonne
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The central halls of Les Sables-d'Olonne
The central halls of Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Fishing port (© SPL-lsdo)
Fishing port (© SPL-lsdo)
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Canoeing in the marshes
Canoeing in the marshes
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Forest of Olonne (© SPLdlso)
Forest of Olonne (© SPLdlso)
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Abbaye-Saint-Jean-d'Orbestier (© SPLdlso)
Abbaye-Saint-Jean-d'Orbestier (© SPLdlso)
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Port Olona, marina (© SPLlsdo)
Port Olona, marina (© SPLlsdo)
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Anse aux moines - Former fisheries
Anse aux moines - Former fisheries
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Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of 'Olonne
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of 'Olonne
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Pier at Les Sables-d'Olonne
Pier at Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Marina in the heart of the town of Les Sables-d'Olonne
Marina in the heart of the town of Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Canal des Loirs
Olonne-sur-Mer - Canal des Loirs
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Château-d'Olonne - Corniche de Cayola
Château-d'Olonne - Corniche de Cayola
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Palazzo Clementina seaside architecture in Sables-d'Olonne
Palazzo Clementina seaside architecture in Sables-d'Olonne
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La Chaume in Les Sables-d'Olonne
La Chaume in Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Priory of Saint Nicolas in La Chaume
Priory of Saint Nicolas in La Chaume
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Remblai beach and swimming pool
Remblai beach and swimming pool
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Typical neighborhood, Île Penotte in Les Sables-d'Olonne
Typical neighborhood, Île Penotte in Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Le Remblai and La Pendule
Le Remblai and La Pendule
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Streets of Île Penotte next to La Pendule (Remblai)
Streets of Île Penotte next to La Pendule (Remblai)
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Discover Les Sables d'Olonne, the maritime, urban and nature
Discover Les Sables d'Olonne, the maritime, urban and nature
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Port Olona - Port de Plaisance - Les Sables-d'Olonne
Port Olona - Port de Plaisance - Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Grande Plage des Sables (© PBeltrami)
Grande Plage des Sables (© PBeltrami)
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MASC Museum - Les Sables-d'Olonne (© AntoineMartineau)
MASC Museum - Les Sables-d'Olonne (© AntoineMartineau)
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Paracou Beach (© OT les Sables d' Olonne)
Paracou Beach (© OT les Sables d' Olonne)
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Arundel Tower (© Alexandre Lamoureux)
Arundel Tower (© Alexandre Lamoureux)
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Arundel Tower (© Antoine Martineau)
Arundel Tower (© Antoine Martineau)
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Armandèche Lighthouse (© Antoine Martineau)
Armandèche Lighthouse (© Antoine Martineau)
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Salines
Salines
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Zoo des Sables d 'Olonne
Zoo des Sables d 'Olonne
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Fish spa
Fish spa
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Château-d'Olonne - Tanchet beach
Château-d'Olonne - Tanchet beach
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Château-d'Olonne - Locks
Château-d'Olonne - Locks
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Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church
Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church
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Château-d'Olonne - Sunset
Château-d'Olonne - Sunset
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Château-d'Olonne - Corniche du Puits d'Enfer
Château-d'Olonne - Corniche du Puits d'Enfer
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Château-d'Olonne - Cove
Château-d'Olonne - Cove
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Château-d'Olonne - Corniche du Château-d'Olonne
Château-d'Olonne - Corniche du Château-d'Olonne
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Château- d'Olonne - Wild coast
Château- d'Olonne - Wild coast
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Château-d'Olonne - Abbey of Saint-Jean d'Orbestier (1107)
Château-d'Olonne - Abbey of Saint-Jean d'Orbestier (1107)
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Château-d'Olonne - Bois Saint Jean
Château-d'Olonne - Bois Saint Jean
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Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church
Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church
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Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church, its choir, its apse, its nave
Château-d'Olonne - Saint-Hilaire church, its choir, its apse, its nave
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Château-d'Olonne - Some flowers of Château-d'Olonne
Château-d'Olonne - Some flowers of Château-d'Olonne
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Château-d'Olonne - Coup de tobacco in front of Château-d'Olonne
Château-d'Olonne - Coup de tobacco in front of Château-d'Olonne
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Château-d'Olonne - The sea is forming, a gale is approaching
Château-d'Olonne - The sea is forming, a gale is approaching
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Château-d'Olonne - In front of the creek, the village of Bois Saint Jean
Château-d'Olonne - In front of the creek, the village of Bois Saint Jean
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Château- d'Olonne - The bay of Cayola
Château- d'Olonne - The bay of Cayola
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Château-d'Olonne - Nothing but happiness on this coast!
Château-d'Olonne - Nothing but happiness on this coast!
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Château-d'Olonne - Following the cornice
Château-d'Olonne - Following the cornice
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Château-d'Olonne - Coast to be seen in heavy weather at high tide, magnificent!
Château-d'Olonne - Coast to be seen in heavy weather at high tide, magnificent!
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Château-d'Olonne - Bay of Cayola and customs footpath
Château-d'Olonne - Bay of Cayola and customs footpath
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Aerial view of Olonne
Olonne-sur-Mer - Aerial view of Olonne
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Mortière manor
Olonne-sur-Mer - Mortière manor
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Olonne-sur- Sea - Horseback riding in the marshes
Olonne-sur- Sea - Horseback riding in the marshes
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Bird observatory in the Loirs marsh
Olonne-sur-Mer - Bird observatory in the Loirs marsh
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Stained glass window in the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church
Olonne-sur-Mer - Stained glass window in the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church
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Olonne -sur-Mer - Washhouse
Olonne -sur-Mer - Washhouse
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Tourist Office
Olonne-sur-Mer - Tourist Office
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Along the heritage trail...
Olonne-sur-Mer - Along the heritage trail...
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Notre-Dame d'Olonne from the 11th century
Olonne-sur-Mer - Notre-Dame d'Olonne from the 11th century
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Museum of popular traditions
Olonne-sur-Mer - Museum of popular traditions
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Pierre-Levée castle
Olonne-sur-Mer - Pierre-Levée castle
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Bike rides
Olonne-sur-Mer - Bike rides
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Raised stones
Olonne-sur-Mer - Raised stones
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Grand canal through the marshes
Olonne-sur-Mer - Grand canal through the marshes
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Walk in the dunes
Olonne-sur-Mer - Walk in the dunes
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Some beautiful bike rides
Olonne-sur-Mer - Some beautiful bike rides
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Walk in the forest
Olonne-sur-Mer - Walk in the forest
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Olonne-sur-Mer - Magic Festival
Olonne-sur-Mer - Magic Festival
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Les Sables - Trendy bar on the port
Les Sables - Trendy bar on the port
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

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