Les Sables d’Olonne

Les Sables d’Olonne is a major seaside resort on the Vendée coast.

You’ll find plenty of places to visit. First, you can visit the shell museum, with a private collection unique in Europe for the quality of its 45,000 pieces of extraordinary shapes and shimmering colors. You can take a tour of the zoo at Les Sables, home to 360 animals belonging to some 50 endangered species. Then take a 2-hour guided boat trip through the salt marshes of Olonne. Cayola Bay, between Talmont Saint Hilaire and Les Sables d’Olonne on the Corniche road, offers magnificent panoramic views.

Shortly afterwards, the Puits De L’enfer (Hell’s Well) awaits you, a deep fault in the cliff where the sea crashes in at high tide. Finally, you can visit the La Chaume district, the oldest part of town. Not forgetting the famous Vendée Globe every 4 years, a legendary solo round-the-world sailing race with no stopovers or assistance. The next edition will take place in 2024, and around 35 boats are expected to take part.