The Vendée division of west France has lengthy been the nation retreat of Parisians. It’s a various and historic panorama with woodlands, wetlands, and gorgeous seashores. And proper on the coronary heart of the Vendée coast and the Côte de Lumière, is the bustling, sandy and sunny city of Les Sables d’Olonne says native and author Lucy Pitts.
What to see and do in Les Sables d’Olonne
You arrive to three km of sandy seaside within the type of the Grand Plage and a large seafront promenade (Le Remblai) the place cafés and eating places spill onto the pavement and seaside. Regardless of being on the Atlantic coast, it’s received a barely Mediterranean really feel and also you solely should stroll a brief distance from the seafront to seek out your self misplaced in slender backstreets, yacht watching in certainly one of its three marinas or resting within the shade of one of many city’s many fascinating buildings.
The city dates again to 1218 though folks lived within the space lengthy earlier than that. Salt marshes and vineyards have been developed within the surrounding countryside 2,000 years in the past and to the north of the place Les Sables now stands, was the city of Olonne Sur Mer. It was occupied by the Romans, had a bustling port and was actually the birthplace of the Pays d’Olonne. The harbour of Sables d’Olonne was developed within the 13th century and was bustling with merchants promoting or transporting fish, wine and salt. By the 15th century, Louis XI had commanded the creation of a fishing harbour which was to turn into France’s largest port for cod.
Within the 19th century, with the arrival of the practice, Les Sables began to draw vacationers for sea bathing and the modern and rich of the day flocked to the coast to take pleasure in this stylish and classy new resort with its on line casino. Most of the gorgeous buildings that you simply see now have been constructed throughout this Belle Epoque.
One of the best ways to get your bearings in Les Sables is with a stroll alongside Le Remblai and the Grand Plage. There are dozens of magnificent buildings and villas, spot the Statute of Ulysses (put in in 2024) on a rocky part of the seaside and L’Estacade, a lighthouse in-built 1874, certainly one of a number of within the city.
As you wander, look out for Rue de l’Enfer (Hell Road), formally the narrowest road on the planet, and L’île Penotte, a sequence of slender streets the place the homes and partitions have been embellished with dozens of seashell mosaics impressed by mythology, fairy tales and folklore.
A essential cause for visiting this a part of France is the gorgeous seashores, and if the three km of the sheltered, south-facing Grand Plage isn’t sufficient you, there are dozens of different seashores inside straightforward attain. There are many water sports activities from wave strolling, to browsing, kayaking, jet-skiing, kite browsing, crusing and paddle boarding, and in the summertime, you’ll be able to rent seaside tents and deck chairs. There are additionally eating places on the seaside if you wish to spend the entire day sunbathing and mucking about within the sea.
When you want a break from the solar, there may be lots to discover within the city together with the Musée du Coquillage, devoted to shellfish and the Museum of Trendy and Modern Artwork, which is housed within the former Sainte-Croix Benedictine priory based in 1622.
There are dozens of locations to eat, many not surprisingly specialising within the freshest of seafood. It’s undoubtedly price attempting to get a desk at one of many eating places proper on the seaside alongside Le Remblai for the complete Les Sables expertise.
Catch a water ferry throughout the harbour entrance to La Chaume which is the previous fishing quarter with slender limewashed streets. Right here you will see Prieure-St-Nicolas, a restored 11th century church and former fortress instantly overlooking the ocean. Legend has it that the chapel was constructed by a sailor who survived a shipwreck and who devoted it to St Nicolas, the patron saint of fishermen. There’s a walkway throughout the watery rocks to the lighthouse, and nice views of the 15th century Arundel Tower and Saint-Clair Fort, now dwelling to the city’s Sea and Fishing Museum.
If you wish to head out of the city, locations to go to embrace L’Ile d’Olonne – an historic salt staff village and the encompassing salt marshes dotted with windmills, historic church buildings and forest walks. Head across the bay to go to the Chateau de Talmont St Hilaire, in-built 1020 it’s one of many oldest castles in France.
Les Sables d’Olonne has that joyful mixture of a wealthy historical past, stunning structure and a laid again, sunny, seaside Vendée vibe. With tons for the lively to discover, it additionally supplies an ideal probability to chill, absorb the solar and unwind.
by Lucy Pitts, journey author and editor of Sussex Unique
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