Les Sables-d'Olonne, Coastal resort in Vendée, France
Description
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a coastal town in Vendée with a three-kilometer sandy beach lined by a promenade and nineteenth-century villas. The town has a marina holding around 1,500 boat berths and sits directly on the Atlantic shoreline.
History
The town was founded in 1218 and became France's largest cod-fishing port in the seventeenth century. This fishing heritage shaped the town's economic and social development for generations.
Culture
The Musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix displays modern art in a seventeenth-century building and shapes the town's cultural identity today. Visitors encounter works by local and international artists that reflect the region's approach to contemporary creativity.
Practical
The train station connects the town directly to Paris, making it easy to reach. The marina and wide beach promenade invite leisurely walking, and the flat landscape suits cycling well.
Did you know?
Every four years the Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo sailing race around the world, departs from here and turns the port into a gathering place for sailing enthusiasts. This event starting in 1989 brought international attention and draws visitors from around the globe.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Vendée).
Vendée is a place where water, history, and nature meet in simple ways. The area stretches from the Atlantic coast through farmland and large marshes with water channels winding between grassy banks. As you cross Vendée, you move from one kind of world to another; from a beach or island to the...
L'ile Penote
150 m
Parc zoologique des Sables d'Olonnes
2.6 km
L'Armendèche lighthouse
1.7 km
Les salines
2.7 km
Château de Pierre-Levée
4.4 km
La Tour d'Arundel
887 m
Muséum du Coquillage
169 m
Hospital Blockhouse Museum
583 m
Musée Sainte-Croix
595 m
Villa Mirasol
169 m
Phare de la Potence
1.2 km
Château Saint-Clair
897 m
Villa Blanche
166 m
Plage de la Paracou
2.8 km
Pierres jumelles d'Olonne-sur-Mer
4.5 km
Villa Sans Souci
626 m
Poissonnerie Pilote
191 m
Le Ptit Natien
464 m
Église Sainte-Marie d'Olonne-sur-Mer
4.6 km
Prieuré Sainte-Croix
610 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port des Sables-d'Olonne
118 m
Les Sables-d'Olonne West Jetty light
1.2 km
Plage de l'Aubraie
3.1 km
Les Sables-d'Olonne East Jetty Light
836 m
Immeuble 1, 3, 5, 7 rue Travot, 4, 4bis place Maréchal-Foch
149 m
Abbatiale Saint-Jean de l'abbaye Saint-Jean d'Orbestier
3.9 km
Église Sainte-Marie-des-Olonnes des Sables-d'Olonne
234 m
Chapelle du prieuré Saint-Nicolas des Sables-d'Olonne
1 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes