On the Côte de Lumière in Vendée, explore Les Sables d'Olonne, the most famous seaside resort in the department and one of the most beautiful on the Atlantic coast! Les Sables d'Olonne is now classified as a new town, and currently includes Le Château d'Olonne, L'Île-d'Olonne and Les Sables d'Olonne. Les Sables d'Olonne is the leading tourist centre in Vendée, recognised for its history, environment, beaches, facilities, fishing and marina, and has some great surprises in store for you!
The team at the Bel Air 5-star Campsite in Les Sables d'Olonne will tell you about the best things to do and see in Les Sables d'Olonne, during your holiday or weekend in Vendée.
Must-see places in Les Sables d'Olonne
Just passing through Les Sables d'Olonne for a few days? Find out about the must-sees you absolutely must do during your stay!
The grande plage and the remblai des Sables d'Olonne
How can we talk about Les Sables d'Olonne without mentioning the Grande Plage and the Remblai, the embankment that runs along it? It is the main beach of the seaside resort and is almost 3 km long, offering numerous possibilities: water activities, activities on the beach, swimming or simply sunbathing. This immense beach is very popular as soon as it starts to get hot, and can accommodate a large number of holidaymakers and locals. Handy if you know that the number of inhabitants increases greatly in summer to almost 200,000 people!
The famous Remblai des Sables embankment, which follows the curve of the beach, will offer you a beautiful walk by the sea with numerous shops and restaurants for you to have a wonderful time.
© Remblai and Grande Plage of Les Sables d’Olonne | A. Lamoureux
The Penotte island district
Les Sables d'Olonne is full of beautiful streets and typical districts, but there is especially one that you shouldn't miss! We are of course talking about the Penotte Island district, a series of picturesque streets where you can find many houses decorated with shells and mosaics which are magnificent. It was Danièle Arnaud-Aubin, an inhabitant of Les Sables d'Olonne, who had the wonderful idea of decorating her native district with exotic shells since 1997 and who gave it its current charm. And every year new decorations appear in this open-air museum.
A fun and entertaining stroll that is not to be missed!
© Penotte Island district | A. Lamoureux
The best beaches in Les Sables d'Olonne
- Grande Plage, the main beach of Les Sables d'Olonne, perfect for sitting down after a walk on the embankment
- Tanchet beach, between Le Château d'Olonne and Les Sables d'Olonne, is a popular place for surfers, but also a beach liked by families
- Sauveterre beach, in Olonne sur Mer, is also a popular place for surfers thanks to its beautiful waves, but is still a good place to relax.
- Presidents Beach, following on from the Grande Plage, is the ideal place to relax, sunbathe and swim peacefully
- Paracou beach, a more distant and quieter beach, perfect for beautiful walks and fishing from the shore.
© Sauveterre Beach | A. Lamoureux
The wild Vendée coast
From the Veillon beach in Talmont Saint Hilaire to Les Sables-d'Olonne, the coast offers you 5 km of breathtaking landscapes. They are very varied and unusual, and will make your walks spectacular, especially when the ocean crashes against the cliffs and rocks. You will be amazed by the many distinctive features of the environment, including the forest, cliffs and dunes etc. The Puits d'Enfer crevasse and the Cayola pebble dune provide a perfect example.
Cultural heritage of Les Sables d'Olonne
Renowned for its relaxing and sporting activities, the town of Les Sables d'Olonne also does not lack character and history. Over the centuries, numerous monuments have become part of the town's heritage.
Facing the sea, near our campsite in Les Sables d'Olonne, you will find the Abbey of Saint Jean d'Orbestier on the coast, one of the highlights of the cultural heritage. Formerly part of a Benedictine monastery that knew periods of success and prosperity before being destroyed, the abbey is now open to the public all year round.
We strongly recommend the Prieuré Saint Nicolas, an 11th century church overlooking the entrance to the port of Les Sables and providing a superb view of the embankment. And at the same time, visit the Arundel Tower and the Château Saint-Clair, on the other side of the entrance to the port. The top of the tower also offers an exceptional view of the bay of Les Sables d'Olonne.
Things to do in Les Sables d'Olonne
There's no shortage of things to do in Les Sables d'Olonne! Whether you're into water sports, family activities or walking, there's something for everyone.
Water activities
As it is right next to the ocean, and due to its numerous and varied beaches, Les Sables d'Olonne provides a huge playground for lovers of all kinds of water activities. From surfing to canoeing, sailing and even jet-skiing, there is something for everyone! Do not hesitate to inquire at the Tourist Office of Les Sables d'Olonne to find out where you can do each activity.
Fun activities for every taste
For those who want to stay on dry land, don't worry, there is no shortage of fun and rewarding activities! For example, you can go to the famous zoo in Les Sables, a short distance from the beach, to discover hundreds of species from all over the world. For those who like gambling, go to one of the two casinos in the town for a novel little outing. And finally, for those interested in history, we strongly recommend the Hospital Blockhouse Museum, a modern-style building which will enable you to discover the history of the region during the Second World War.
© Zoo of Les Sables | A. Lamoureux
Hiking in les sables d’olonne
The coastal scenery of Les Sables d'Olonne are best enjoyed on foot or by bike. The coast has been enhanced through nature protection and access for walkers to the countryside. To the delight of rollerbladers, joggers, hikers and cyclists!
5 hiking paths enable you to explore the hinterland of Les Sables d'Olonne where the scenery is divided between farming and bocage landscapes. Discover the paths:
- Tanchet path
- L’Épinette path
- Saint-Jean d'Orbestier path
- Moulin Saint-Jean path
- Rampart walk
To find out more about these and the many other paths, visit the website of the Tourist Office of Les Sables d'Olonne.
Life of the town
Markets in Les Sables d'Olonne
The Vendée's gastronomic heritage cannot be outdone. Visit the market to taste and savour the local products of our artisans. Have you tasted fine sea salt? Samphire? The honey and cheeses of the region? Also savour our seafood products freshly landed from the morning catch at the fish market in Les Sables!
The Marché des Halles Central, a covered market in the town centre of Les Sables d'Olonne is held every week from Tuesday to Sunday.
© Marché des Halles | A. Lamoureux
Les Sables d'Olonne, world capital of solo ocean racing, the Vendée Globe!
Vendée and Les Sables d'Olonne are known worldwide for being the starting point of many legendary races. Many skippers have set sail from the marina between Les Sables d'Olonne and La Chaume, for the ocean and the waters of the whole world! Les Sables d'Olonne is in particular the meeting place for the biggest sailing race in the world, the Vendée Globe, which takes place there every 4 years. When it is held, you can see the start and finish of the race at the port or else visit the Vendée Globe Village.
Many other races also take place in Les Sables such as the Golden Globe Race!
Also discover the places to visit in Vendée, a little further from Les Sables d'Olonne, as well as ideas for things to do near Les Sables (sports outings, family outings, etc.) during your holiday!
Accommodation in Les Sables d’Olonne
You want to have a great holiday in Les Sables d’Olonne in Vendée? Stay at Le Bel Air 5-star Campsite, a few minutes from the Remblai and 500m from the sea (the rocky coast)! A wide range of rental accommodation in Les Sables d'Olonne is available for a holiday with all modern conveniences, in particular with a superb water park!
