The Château Saint-Clair – Tour d’Arundel of 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 the Château Saint-Clair – Tour d’Arundel of 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. 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 252 km from my current town.

The Château Saint-Clair located at 6 Quai des Boucaniers, houses at the top of its dungeon, the lighthouse known as Tour d’Arundel ,near the Chaume jetty, The best-known element of this castle is the Arundel Tower, which supports the Chaume lighthouse. It was built in its current state around the 14-15C by the princes of Talmont, but the fortress is basically older, dating from the 12C. The so-called Arundel Tower, square in shape and with machicolations on fairly rare trilobed arches, was the castle’s dungeon in the 14C. Its construction dates back to the end of the 15C, probably under the impetus of the princes of Talmont. Spared by Richelieu, it was dismantled on the orders of Louvois in 1689, who had the castle walls and enclosure razed. At the end of the 18C, the La Chaume lighthouse was the only lighthouse in Vendée. It was not until the end of the 18C that the Arundel Tower was mentioned. Between 1855 and 1857, the lighthouse was completely restored. It is ongoing new renovations 

Very little historical and architectural information is provided. But one can imagine, given the ovoid shape of the enclosure, as well as the time of the beginnings of construction (12C), that the castle in the 12C consisted of this enclosure equipped with very few towers, which is called a “shell-keep”. The lords of Talmont would probably have improved it a few centuries later.

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 the château Saint Clair : https://www.lessablesdolonne.fr/sit/la-tour-darundel-le-chateau-saint-clair-pcupdl085v50h3j8/

The Vendée dept 85 tourist office on the castle and tower: https://www.vendee-tourisme.com/la-tour-darundel-le-chateau-saint-clair/les-sables-dolonne/pcupdl085v50h3j8

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 , good for the soul, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Château Saint-Clair – Tour d’Arundel of 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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