This is Les Sables d’Olonne !!!

Posted in Europe, France

Once again, coming back from my road warrior trails in my belle France. This one is a first time as usually bypassed it south but glad finally stop by, its a gem, and we will be back, eventually,The town of Les Sables-d’Olonne is located in the Vendée department no, 85) in the Pays-de-la-Loire region of my belle France . Therefore, here is my take on this is Les Sables d’Olonne !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The town of Les Sables-d’Olonne was formed on January 1, 2019, from the merger of the towns of Château-d’Olonne, Olonne-sur-Mer, and Les Sables-d’Olonne. From Paris, via the A11, via Le Mans and Angers, and via the A87 via Cholet and La Roche-sur-Yon to Les Sables; from La Rochelle, via Luçon, via the D949. The town is 42 km from La Roche sur Yon (see posts) from where we came from this time along the D160 road to the port and grande plage or big beach where we found free off street parking that was actually illegal but got away with a nice cop for free!! Otherwise 135 euro fine lol!! The town is 95 km from La Rochelle ,114 km from Nantes, 190 km from Poitiers, and 252 km from my current town,

The Remblai or Embankment along promenades Lafargue and Clemenceau is home to many 19C villas facing the sea, the others being scattered throughout the town centre. Among the villas along the Embankment, one of the most emblematic is the Palazzo Clementina. Belonging to the seaside architecture of Les Sables-d’Olonne, The Palazzo Clementina at 10 promenade Lafargue, built on the Remblai in 1919, is emblematic of the extravagance of the villa architects. The architect joyfully mixed styles by superimposing machicolations, bay windows, roof terraces and Italian-style loggias! the palazzo is one of the castle-type villas since it borrows its eclecticism from Italian castles and palaces. On one side, the imposing façade gives the impression of a fortress, reinforced by the tower, watchtowers and arrow slits; on the other, various fanciful touches recall the holiday home. The seaside function is reinforced by the famous crenellated tower, similar to a lighthouse. Windows and terraces face the sea to give its occupants the enjoyment of an exceptional panorama. Another is the Villa Mirasol, consisting of four adjoining buildings, was built on the seafront in 1914. It features a luxurious apartment with reception areas, a smoking room, and a circular bedroom on the first floor overlooking the ocean. From the outset, the Mirasol building featured a commercial ground floor, notably occupied by a tea room. The servants’ entrances were separate from the main entrances overlooking Rue Travot. The six bay windows are framed by pilasters and feature a cartouche-shaped dormer window surrounded by plant ornaments, such as garlands of flowers, a shell, or a head of Neptune. The Mirasol appellation is inscribed on a large cartouche framed by interlacing flowers. A scene depicting grape harvesters adorns the side carriage entrance. Originally built to protect the city from the assaults of the sea and silting, the Remblai quickly became the flagship promenade of the Sables coastline. At the end of the 19C, a few architects gave free rein to their imagination with the creation of villas typical of seaside architecture. It did not take more to inaugurate the Remblai promenade on August 6, 1950. The work on the Remblai between 1949-1950 also included the creation of three semi-circular rotundas, between Place Foch and Promenade Joffre. These latter then served as bars or puppet theaters. Nowadays, these rotundas have become beach bars and restaurants, with a breathtaking view of the Bay of Sables and its beaches. Built on a former blockhouse, this four-sided, 8-meter-high clock tower or pendulum was inaugurated on July 1, 1956. Since then, it has been known as a must-see meeting place, easily spotted by all.

Some of the district zones of Les Sables d’Olonne are the Quartier des Sables or Sables district; Le Remblai (Lafargue and Clemenceau promenades) is home to many 19C villas facing the sea. And where we found our glorious parking for walks and eating, The Quartier de l’île Penotte or the Penotte Island district, pedestrian streets and facades decorated with shell mosaics. The Quartier d’Olonne or Olonne District.The Quartier du Château-d’Olonne  or the Château-d’Olonne district,  The village of Château-d’Olonne has the particularity of having both a sandy beach and a very jagged rocky coast. The village of Olonne-sur-Mer,was a very active port in the Middle Ages, located at the end of a sheltered bay.

A bit of history tell us that the foundation of Les Sables-d’Olonne dates back to 1218. In 1844, the law allocated to the city eighty-four hectares of marshy land located then in the village of Olonne on which the Place de la Liberté and the Cours Dupont would later be developed. The same year, the village of Château-d’Olonne gave the city sixty-one hectares of land located east of the Arago cemetery. Also to ensure the development of Les Sables, the village of Château-d’Olonne sold the mouth of the Tanchet to the city in 1875 and the Rudelière forest in 1913. The borders of these three villages would remain identical until 2019. From the 1930s, the city began to develop east of the Boulevard de Castelnau and south of the Avenue d’Aquitaine. This new residential area will have the Clemenceau school, the Saint-Pierre Church, the hospital and the Arago market which will give it its name. This development will continue towards the current Presidents’ district. In 2017, the community of towns merged with that of Auzance and Vertonne to form the urban community of Les Sables-d’Olonne, then it was the turn of the three villages of Les Olonnes to merge in 2019. A bit of chronological order starts in 1218 with the creation of the town of Les Sables d’Olonne name as we know it today, In the 17-18C the apogee of the Fishing Port , then in 1753 joining of Les Sables/La Chaume , in 1816 the first sea baths, in 1866 arrival of the train ! In 1956 redevelopment of the Embankment, long promenade along the beach. In 1989 the 1st Vendée Globe sailboat racing, and in 2019 the new town of Les Sables d’Olonne.

The town of Les Sables d’Olonne on its heritage : https://ville.lessablesdolonne.fr/culture-patrimoine/patrimoine/architecture/

The Les Sables d’Olonne tourist office on its heritage: https://www.destination-lessablesdolonne.co.uk/faites-le-plein-de-culture-aux-sables-dolonne/

The Vendée dept 85 tourist office on Les Sables d’Olonne :https://www.in-vendee.com/24-hours-les-sables-dolonne

There you go folks, again, another gem of my belle France ! This is real country off the beaten path trails, Again, nice opportunity to see the town again, good for the soul and memories forever, Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Les Sables d’Olonne !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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