Les Sables-d'Olonne, Coastal resort in Vendée, France
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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