Les Sables-d'Olonne

• Embankment, seaside promenade: On the ground, the plates with imprints of the hands or feet of the skippers winners of all editions of the Vendée Globe. Indicative signs represent the seaside architectural evolution: villas and hotels as they were at their construction and the dwellings of today.
• The large sandy beach of 3 km, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
• The beach of Paracou, wilder: near dunes and forest.
• Saltworks of the Aubraie: Salt adventure course, guided tour of salt marshes, show "Terre du Petit Saulnier" (with demonstration of salt harvesting), history of harvesting techniques... (boat trip in the marshes) follow the course on foot).
• Port Olona, ​​marina, point of departure and arrival of many nautical races such as the Vendée Globe (sailing around the world solo sailing non-stop and without assistance).
• The museum of the Sainte-Croix abbey (the MASC), museum of modern and contemporary art, one of the most important in France for its collection of works: Chaissac, Brauner, Albert Marquet, Baselitz...
• The Ecozoo des Sables-d'Olonne, committed to the preservation of species and biodiversity. It is home to more than 400 animals: giraffes, red pandas, lions, surricates, penguins, wolves...
• Districts :

• La Chaume: Fishermen's Quarters. To see, the Priory Saint-Nicolas overlooking the Bay of Sands, place of exhibitions or concerts.
• The Lighthouses: Tour d'Arundel (visit in season, exceptional panoramic view at the top of the city), the lighthouse Armandèche.
• The Museum of Sea and Fishing in the Château St Clair: models of fishing boats, objects of navigation... The fresco in trompe-l'oeil (atmosphere of the district) at the foot of the Sainte-Anne church.
• The passage district: the oldest district on the Sands. To see, the old logis of shipowners, the houses of fishermen, the narrow lanes as the street of Hell, listed in the Guiness Book of Records in 1986 (40 cm wide in the narrowest part).
• The Penotte Island district: Danièle Arnaud Aubin creates shell frescos on the facades of houses.

• The pedestrian center: for shopping + the market of Les Halles centrale, in the style of Pavillon Baltard.
• The religious heritage: Chapel of Our Lady of Good Hope, Church of Our Lady of Good Port (style of reform), Church of St. Peter (Byzantine Roman style).
• The fishing port: 4th fishing port of France for the value of landed products. Specialties fished: sole, bar, hake. To see, the boats, the pontoon of the Heritage Ships, the auction (possibility to register with the Tourist Office for a guided tour).
• The smuggler: maritime bus that connects the quays of the passage and stub areas (crossing the channel).
• Leisure, entertainment: 2 casinos, 1 bowling alley, 1 multiplex cinema.
• Facilities: 1 congress center, 1 racecourse, 1 aerodrome (links with the island of Yeu), theaters, 1 golf course.
• Activities: all water sports, the city holds the label city of surfing. Sliding sports, long coast, sailing... Sea trips aboard exceptional sailboats such as the South Goelette Vendée, Diva or aboard the traditional Messalina. Exit at sea aboard a trawler Kifanlo, in the company of fishermen.
• Aquatic centers, 1 pool of heated seawater discovered on the embankment.
• The museum of shellfish, the Museum Blockhaus Hospital (the history of the region of Les Sables d'Olonne from 1939 to D-Day, with illustrated explanatory panels, an educational film, models and life-size scenes, manikins in period costume: an authentic hospital bunker with its operating room in action in August 1944).
• In high season: animations on the embankment, at night or during the day (craftsmen market). A beach animation point in the center of the large sandy beach. Beach clubs for children...
• Fish spa: The fish pedicure is a moment of relaxation during which you dive your feet in water at 28 ° while small fish strive to make your feet soft. The fish, called "Garra Rufa", will rid you of the dead skin on your feet. Treat yourself to a natural and relaxing pedicure thanks to the fish spa!

• Visit to the Abbey of Saint-Jean d'Orbestier (12th century): It testifies to what was an important Benedictine monastery between the 12th and 18th centuries. Founded in the twelfth century by William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou, the abbey was burned several times and destroyed in 1659 during the Wars of Religion. Transformed into a farm and then sold as a national asset in 1791, the abbey served successively in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries bitter ships, preventorium and school. It remains today only the church and the home of the Abbot who dates from the fifteenth century. In the process of being restored since 1992, the abbey has become a meeting place and cultural event.
• Church Saint-Hilaire: It would have been built on the remains of a castle. Although its date of creation remains an enigma, it was enlarged under Louis XV.
• Discovery walks: The foreshore in the company of a passionate marine (during all school holidays). Playful and educational walk on the rocks with explanations on the fauna and the flora of the shore.
• Guided tours by the Heritage Service with discovery of the coastal path, the small heritage, the St Jean wood, the Well of Hell, the fish locks, the Bay of Cayola: several visits.
• Walks on the coastal cycle paths: the Corniche du Puits d'Enfer, Cayola, hiking on the trails.
• Geological curiosity: the Well of Hell, a deep fault in the cliff where the sea rushes with a crash at high tide.
• Bois Saint-Jean: magnificent panorama and bird's eye view of Cayola bay.
• Stone fishermen near the Abbey of Saint-Jean d'Orbestier. At low tide, these old fish locks are visible. They testify to an ancient fishing technique, fishing on foot.
• Activities: karting, skate track, aerial walks from the airfield, horse riding...
• The Tourist Office of Château-d'Olonne located at 4 avenue Pas du Bois, is part of the Tourist Office Destination Sands Olonne Cat I. It is open: From January to March and October to December: Monday to Thursday from 9h to 12h30, Friday from 14h to 17h30. From February 10th to March 31st: Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm. Closed on January 1st, November 1st, December 24th, 25th and 31st. From April to June and September, Monday to Saturday from 10h to 12h30 and from 14h to 18h - Public holidays: from 10h to 12h30. July-August: Monday to Sunday noon from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm - Public holidays: 9.30am to 12.30pm. Such. : +33 (0) 2 51 96 85 85 - Email: info@lessablesdolonne-tourisme.com

• The wild coast has 8 km of beaches, with two supervised beaches, Sauveterre and Granges, both suitable for swimming and water sports such as surfing (2 clubs) or many activities, but also rocky areas for fishing enthusiasts.
• It also offers many hiking trails, equestrian and more than 50 km of bike paths nestling between sea, dune, forest and marsh, the latter representing 800 hectares. Moreover, to explore every nook and cranny, nothing beats a canoe trip from the base of the Loirs, rue du Halage!
• Heritage: the church of Notre-Dame d'Olonne, the oldest building in the Pays des Olonnes or the Pierre-Levée castle, inspired by the Petit Trianon of Versailles, highlighted in August through the scenography of Pierre Levée who brings together 200 actors
• The Museum of Popular Traditions presents the daily life in the early twentieth century inhabitants of the country of Olonne.

• March: Festival of magic. Sail Race Solo Master Cock. Grand Prix Diam 24 des Olonnes (the Diam 24 is a trimaran, sailboat support of the Tour de France sailing which is a step in Sables-d'Olonne odd years - race in the bay).
• April: Nautical Race 1000 miles: 1000 mile AR race between Les Sables-d'Olonne and Fastnet Lighthouse in Southern Ireland - open to boats over 39 feet (12 m).
• May: Race of Polynesian Pirogues "Vendée Va'a" with crews from Brazil, Polynesia, Easter Island, United States... 3 days of race and 4 days of activities around Polynesian traditions: cooking, religion, dance, folklore, crafts, Tahitian pearls...
• June: Simenon Festival. Ocean Festival Sables-d'Olonne: local boating festival, free access to water sports of your choice - a great concert.
• July: The Golden Globe Race. Celtilonne Music Festival.
• August: Summer animations of the embankment. Scenography of Pierre-Levée Castle. Comedy Festival the Arundel Blower. Yoga Festival of the world. Grande Bordée: concert-animations. Elite youth trophy at the Golf des Sables d'Olonne.
• September: Abracadabulles - Comic Strip Festival. European Heritage Days. "To us the beautiful English", parade of old cars.
• October: French Longe Coast Championship.

• Olonnes chips.
• Olonne by bike.
• Abracadabulles Comic Book Festival in September.
• More information on the website of the Tourist Office of Sables-d'Olonne.

Aquarium the 7th continent in Bourgenay, underwater escape, plunge your eyes in the seas of the globe, change of scenery guaranteed, more than 500 species in 60 magical spaces. Discover the abyss, a luminescent universe to discover surprising animals.

Hippodrome, direction Talmont-Saint-Hilaire: come live horse racing live and come to vibrate and share with family pure sensations from June to October.

A few minutes from the beaches of Sables-d'Olonne, discover the hinterland, on Île-d'Olonne, discover the marshes and the bird observatory, located on the migration path of the coast With the aid of telescopes, observe the avocets, egrets, raptors, shelducks. Take the height of the top of the steeple of Île-d'Olonne in summer, an exceptional view of the marshes and surrounding towns awaits you! In Vairé and Sainte-Foy, hikes in the countryside to relax and do not forget to stop at the Pôle Equestre Vendéen, where many horse animations are organized, all year round.

The "must-see" Vendee sites are the Puy du Fou with its incredible shows that immerse you in the moving history of the Vendée. The island of Yeu will enchant you for a day by its natural and wild purity. This island is often visited by bike.