Blog
Les Sables-d’Olonne, the flagship resort of the Vendée coast, combines a large town-centre beach, a legendary racing harbour and a hinterland of marshes and forest. Knowing what to do in Les Sables-d’Olonne means juggling swimming, maritime heritage and nature walks, often only minutes apart.
Here are our 9 highlights to plan your stay from your luxury campsite!
The Remblai sets the tone from the moment you arrive. This pedestrian promenade runs alongside the Grande Plage for over a kilometre, lined with Belle Époque façades and terraces overlooking the ocean. Facing due south, the fine sand beach shelves gently, which reassures families with young children. In the morning, people jog or cycle here before the crowds arrive; in the evening, they stroll towards the sunset. It is the beating heart of the resort, both an urban beach and a place to live.
Visitors’ favourite: the wide view over the bay at sunset, from the benches of the Remblai facing the ocean.
Île Penotte hides one of the town’s most photographed curiosities. Along its narrow lanes, the façades are covered in murals made entirely of seashells, patiently created by a local artist, Danièle Arnaud-Aubin, known as the Shell Lady. Mermaids, suns and sea creatures decorate the walls as you wander. The walk is free, short and perfect with children. Look up: every wall holds a surprise.
Did you know? The Shell Lady spent years decorating these façades, sticking thousands of shells on by hand.
Across the channel, La Chaume keeps the maritime soul of Les Sables-d’Olonne alive. This fishing village has preserved its low, lime-washed white houses along quiet lanes. You can visit the Saint-Nicolas priory, the oldest building in the town, raised by monks in the 11th century and later converted into a fort. Further on, the Arundel tower and its 127 steps reveal a 360-degree view over the bay, the marshes and the ocean. A ferryman links the two banks in a few minutes.
Our tip: climb the Arundel tower at the end of the day, when the low light makes the 360-degree panorama over the bay even more striking.
If you’re wondering what to do in Les Sables-d’Olonne with children, the Écozoo tops the list. On the edge of the forest, the zoo delights young and old alike. The park is home to more than 500 animals from some sixty species, from lions to giraffes, in a wooded setting dedicated to protecting endangered species. Ranked as the second most visited tourist site in the Vendée, it offers shows and commentated feeding sessions throughout the day. Allow half a day to enjoy it without rushing.
Families’ favourite: the commentated feeding sessions, which bring you close to the keepers and show what their work involves.
South of the town, the coastal road leads to an impressive geological curiosity. The Puits d’Enfer is an open fissure in the granite, around ten metres deep, some 50 metres long and 3 metres wide. Erosion by wind and waves shaped this chasm, which a footbridge crosses. Below, the ocean rushes in and rumbles in rough weather. The site, surrounded by legends, offers a fine panorama of the wild coastline of Les Sables-d’Olonne.
The story behind it: the name Puits d’Enfer comes from local legends born of the ocean’s rumble as it surges into the fissure in rough weather.
Les Sables-d’Olonne lives to the rhythm of the sea, and Port Olona is its showcase. The first marina on the Vendée coast holds hundreds of sailing boats along its pontoons. Every four years, the Vendée Globe skippers set off from here on the round-the-world sailing race, solo and non-stop. The channel leading to the start line then fills with a huge crowd. Outside race time, you can wander between fishing boats, leisure craft and lively terraces.
Did you know? The Vendée Globe start draws several hundred thousand spectators lining the channel.
To escape the bustle of the beach, the Olonne forest offers a shady retreat. This dune pine forest can be explored on foot or by bike along numerous trails, between ocean and marsh. To the south, Lake Tanchet borders a beach popular with surfers, facing a stretch of water suited to paddleboarding and light sailing. The area combines swimming, watersports and a nature walk within a few hectares. A good way to vary the pleasures in a single day.
Our tip: come and walk or surf at Tanchet beach at daybreak, one of the resort’s best spots, still quiet at that hour.
What to do in Les Sables-d’Olonne if you love traditional crafts? Head to the salt marshes, dating back to the Middle Ages. On these water basins criss-crossed by dykes, the salt workers still harvest fleur de sel by hand, using techniques handed down through generations. Guided tours explain the salt cycle and the role of this ecosystem for birds. Flat and easy to reach, it immerses you in a bright, peaceful setting, far from crowded beaches.
Visitors’ favourite: meeting a salt worker, who shares the secrets of the fleur de sel harvest.
To taste the Vendée on your plate, the Halles centrales are a must. This covered market brings together fishmongers, market gardeners and producers every morning under a lively hall. Fresh sardines, coastal oysters, Vendée brioche and garlic-scented préfou make up the ideal shopping basket for your stay. Around it, the pedestrian quarter is lined with cafés and small shops. Buy here for a beach picnic, or sit down to taste fresh seafood on the spot.
Gourmet tip: take away a préfou straight from the oven, this garlicky Vendée speciality that is shared at aperitif time.
How do you combine the Grande Plage, the Vendée Globe harbour and the salt marshes without rushing? Everything depends on where you stay. On our site, you can find our 4 and 5-star campsites in Les Sables-d’Olonne in a few clicks, with pools, spas and premium services. Book the spot that will set the rhythm of your holiday in the Vendée!
