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.
