Les Sables-d'Olonne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Subprefecture and commune
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View of Les Sables-d'Olonne
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| Motto(s):
Advocata nostra, ora pro nobis
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 Les Sables-d'Olonne
Location in France
Les Sables-d'Olonne
Location in Pays de la Loire
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Pays de la Loire | |
| Department | Vendée | |
| Arrondissement | Les Sables-d'Olonne | |
| Canton | Les Sables-d'Olonne | |
| Intercommunality | Les Sables d'Olonne Agglomération | |
| Area
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86.07 km2 (33.23 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2021)
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48,402 | |
| • Density | 562.36/km2 (1,456.50/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| INSEE/Postal code |
85194 /85100, 85340, 85180
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| Elevation | 0–59 m (0–194 ft) | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a lively town on the Atlantic coast of western France. Its name means "The Sands of Olonne" in French. It's a popular seaside resort and a busy port. This town is part of the Vendée area in France.
On January 1, 2019, three towns joined together to form the new Les Sables-d'Olonne. These were Olonne-sur-Mer, Château-d'Olonne, and the original Les Sables-d'Olonne. The new, larger town kept the name Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Contents
Where is Les Sables-d'Olonne?
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a coastal town in western France. It sits right on the Atlantic Ocean. You can find it between the cities of La Rochelle and Saint-Nazaire.
The town is easy to reach by road. A major highway, the A87, connects it to nearby cities like La Roche-sur-Yon, Cholet, and Angers. The closest big city is Nantes, which is about 105 kilometers (65 miles) north.
You can also get to Les Sables-d'Olonne by train. The local train station has connections to Paris, La Roche-sur-Yon, and Nantes.
What's the Weather Like?
Les Sables-d'Olonne has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild temperatures and rain throughout the year. It's a bit like a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
The average temperature for the whole year is about 13.2°C (55.8°F). July is usually the warmest month, with temperatures around 19.8°C (67.6°F). January is the coldest, averaging about 7.0°C (44.6°F).
The town gets about 746.7 millimeters (29.4 inches) of rain each year. November is typically the wettest month. The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.5°C (104.9°F) in July 2022. The lowest was -8.3°C (17.1°F) in February 2012.
A Look at History
Les Sables-d'Olonne was founded in 1218. A powerful lord named Savary I de Mauléon started the town. Its history is deeply connected to the ocean. It has always been an important port for trade and shipping.
In 1472, King Louis XI made Les Sables-d'Olonne a separate town from nearby Olonne. By the 1600s, it became France's biggest port for cod fishing. About 14,000 people lived there at that time.
During the French Revolution, the city supported the new Republic. This was different from the surrounding Vendée region. Because of its strong port, the city was often attacked but never captured.
People started coming to Les Sables for beach holidays in 1825. This was the beginning of its tourism industry. Train service arrived in 1866, making it easier for visitors to come.
During World War I, the port was used by American forces. In World War II, Germany occupied Les Sables-d'Olonne. When they left, they tried to destroy the port and planted mines in the harbor.
How Many People Live Here?
The numbers below show how the population of Les Sables-d'Olonne has changed over time. These figures are for the original town before it merged with Olonne-sur-Mer and Château-d'Olonne in 2019.
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| Source: EHESS and INSEE (2007-2017) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fun Things to See and Do
Les Sables-d'Olonne is famous for several exciting events and interesting places.
Vendée Globe Race
The town is the starting and finishing point for the Vendée Globe yacht race. This is a very challenging sailing race that happens every four years. Sailors race solo around the world without stopping!
Vendée Air Show
The Vendée Air Show is a cool event held on "La Grande Plage," the main beach. Airplanes perform amazing stunts in the sky. It has been held in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
Musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix
This museum is in a 17th-century building. It focuses on modern and contemporary art. It has special status as a "Musée de France." You can see works by artists like Gaston Chaissac and Victor Brauner here.
Other Interesting Facts
The town is also the setting for a 1948 novel called Les Vacances de Maigret by Georges Simenon. Les Sables-d'Olonne is also known as the birthplace of the famous pirate François l'Olonnais.
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Les Sables-d'Olonne has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities."
Niceville, Florida, United States
Gourcy, Burkina Faso
A Laracha, Spain
Murat, France
Schwabach, Germany
Worthing, England, United Kingdom
Gallery
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The channel, view from the tower St-Clair
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The channel, from the west dock
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Promenade de l'Amiral Lafargue
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The priory St-Nicolas
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The tower St-Clair
