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,. This will be sort of an introduction to the town and in my black and white series, no pictures. Do read my other posts on the town in my blog. 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. 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 . 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 !!!
