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 Sables-d'Olonne sub-prefecture of Vendée, is part of the Pays de la Loire region.
Tourism appears with the fashion of the sea baths and the arrival of the railway in 1866 with the so-called "trains" of pleasure. The seaside villas are multiplying around the Embankment (promenade of the sea), it is the Belle Epoque Sablaise. In 1936 with paid holidays and more in the 1950s, we will witness the development of tourism.
Les Sables-d'Olonne, a city with distant roots! 1218-2018 800 years of Sands...
Founded in 1218 by Savary de Mauléon, prince of Talmondais, the city knows a commercial development under the impulse of Louis XI and his Councilor Philippe de Commines, thanks to which is created the 1st port (trade of the wine, the salt, the cereals). In the 17th century, it reached its peak with the cod fishery on the banks of Newfoundland. More than 80 boats leave each year for cod fishing. Shipbuilding yards are flourishing. Buildings or monuments are built like the Notre-Dame de Bon Port church, listed as a historical monument.
This maritime tradition still continues today, Les Sables-d'Olonne is a city with 3 ports fishing, trade and pleasure. The folk group "Nouch" through its dances and songs recounts this particular story, the district of La Chaume with its fishermen's houses, its quays, the jetties, the lighthouses, the Priory Saint-Nicolas testifies of this past turned towards the sea. An association "La Grande Bordée" regularly revives the tradition of seafarers with a festive animation on a weekend: folk costumes, old trades, sea songs, parade of old rigging in the channel...
Served by the TGV all year, Les Sables-d'Olonne promotes weekend tourism: want to relax at the thalassotherapy center, to walk in the great outdoors on the beach, to visit an exhibition at the museum of the Abbey Sainte Croix, to attend a show, to have a meal in one of the city's seafood restaurants? Everything is possible: hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, residences wait for the customers to make them take advantage of 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 few steps from the beach, an exceptional environment composed of marshes, forest, wild coast allows those who wish to walk or hike on foot, bike or horse! For leisure, water sports, sailing but also a wide range of activities are offered to visitors: golf, karting, yoga, horseback riding, canoeing, parachute jumping, diving...
Winter, spring and autumn light to discover side beach, port side or cornices and wild coasts nearby!
Château-d'Olonne:
The commune of Château-d'Olonne is part of the Destination les Sables-d'Olonne.
Seaside destination with an exceptional environment: wild coasts, beaches, wood conducive to the ride and the hike.
Nautical destination with sliding sports, surf spots, sailing.
A preserved heritage: abbeys, churches, mills.
Gastronomy from seafood, a fishing port ranked 4th in France for the value of landed products.
Direct TGV access all year Paris / Les Sables-d'Olonne.
The town takes its name from a castle built in the Middle Ages which was the seat of the Baronnie d'Olonne. This castle was dismantled by Richelieu during the Wars of Religion.
Olonne-sur-Mer:
The town of Olonne-sur-Mer is part of the agglomeration of Sables-d'Olonne, it is ideally located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, 5 km from Les Sables-d'Olonne.
It is called "Olonne-sur-Mer", the Green Lung of the Pays des Olonnes and the Vendée Coast because it has a national forest of 1,200 hectares and 800 ha of preserved marshes.
Hiking trails, horseback riding, bike 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 course to discover the town center.
TGV access all year round via the Sables-d'Olonne station.
