Is there any greater happiness than having a drink with your feet in the sand??? At any time of the day, don't hesitate to enjoy these little moments of relaxation with your ears in a shell, your gaze lost in the ocean…

Find all the rotundas and huts on the Grande Plage des Sables for convivial moments:

1. Beach Bikini

Located near the Remblai's swimming pool, Bikini Beach, as its name suggests, is a bar-restaurant where customers find themselves with their feet in the sand, to their delight! "Here, it's a chill atmosphere. I wanted a place where I would feel good if I was a customer! It's a beach and holiday spirit," shares manager Grégory Carli.

A traditional slate service is offered at lunchtime and tapas are à la carte in the evening. Entertainment is regularly on the programme with singers and DJs. Possibility to rent a sunbed, tents or cabins.

2. The Bathers

Less than 100 meters away, you will find Les Baigneuses, a well-known restaurant in Les Sables with its beautiful rotunda and terrace on stilts. Open from 10 a.m. until sunset, the establishment offers traditional cuisine with simple and fresh products. Two services are offered every day, in the morning and in the evening.

The rest of the day, you can sip a cocktail with an ice cream or a bowl thanks to the snacking offer and its non-stop service. A brunch is available on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

3. The Sandbox

Just opposite Place Navarin, the Bacon à Sable also has a rotunda. The establishment is similar to a brasserie that offers fresh products, meat and fish. "People come a lot for the cuisine, the setting and the calm of the sea," says one of the managers, Christophe Duprat. As for the bar, the Bac à Sable also has a wide choice of drinks and cocktails.

4. The Cabin

Still opposite the Place Navarin, but not very visible from the Remblai, we find the bar La Cabane with its chairs with its feet in the sand. A traditional service is offered at lunchtime with dishes of French products.

In the evening, the establishment goes into aperitif-dinner mode with many choices of tapas. Music from the 50s, 80s or rock… Theme evenings are often on the programme. "It's a relaxing atmosphere, a little straw hut on the beach… It's Les Sables-d'Olonne!  Jean Queruel, one of the owners of La Cabane, smiles.

5. The Moai

Hidden below on the Grande Plage, Le Moaï is a bar-restaurant. He is the only one to offer sofas on the sand. "People love it!  says manager François Moinardeau, who also likes to add a little musical background music during the day. On the menu, you will find traditional cuisine: meat, fish… But also tapas. There is also a breakfast formula for those who would like to have a small pastry with their feet in the sand.

6. The Landmark

Another rotunda! On the Promenade de l'Amiral Lafargue, Le Repère is a semi-gastronomic restaurant with dinner and lunch service. The rest of the day, it is of course possible to have a drink and contemplate the breathtaking view of the bay of Les Sables-d'Olonne.

7. The Béchette

He's the new kid on the block. Not far from the Pendule, La Béchette opened this year in June. The establishment offers a service in the evening and at lunchtime. The cuisine is homemade and the fish on the menu is fresh and depends on the arrival of the day!

8. The P'tit Bar

It is easily spotted thanks to the pink and blue cabins next to it. Le P'tit Bar is an establishment in Les Sables-d'Olonne. For many years, he has been offering "serious cuisine with fresh products", explains the owner Christophe Bonnaudet before adding "and what's more, I'm really nice!  He laughs.

During the day, the establishment also offers ice cream, platters and oysters. The P'tit Bar has a panoramic terrace "technically adapted to the hot or cold weather of the Atlantic," he says.

Between Anse aux Moines and Cayola, the Bois Saint-Jean belongs to private owners and partly to the Conservatoire du littoral et des rivages lacustres. 24 hectares are open to walking, but exclusively walking.

As the City and the National Forestry Office oversee their management and maintenance, the site is particularly preserved.

Located in the Château d'Olonne district, on the immediate edge of the sea, on a dune perched on a rocky cliff between Anse aux Moines and Cayola Bay, it extends over more than 800 m of coastline, and is made up of holm oaks and maritime pines.

The coastal path offers a magnificent panorama of the Bay of Cayola, the remains of old fish locks and allows access to the old blockhouses of the Second World War.

"This small wood is the last vestige of a vast forest. In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the lords of Talmont. When the Abbey of Saint Jean d'Orbestier was founded in 1107, the forest became part of the domain and the rights of the monastery, hence its current name of wood "Saint Jean". This game-filled forest was a privileged place where Richard the Lionheart liked to hunt. He had an aula built where he regularly stayed during hunting trips. The place called "La Salle-le-Roy" and the traces of an old docking pontoon in the bay of Cayola, remind us of King Richard's passage through the region. Over the centuries, wood was the subject of many disagreements between the monks of Orbestier and the lords of Talmont.

Some were in charge of its management while others wanted to benefit from this hunting area. According to the vagaries of history, the forest was slowly dismantled and broken up into several lots that became the possession of several private owners.

Today, the Bois Saint-Jean still belongs, in part, to private owners.

However, 24 hectares were acquired by the Conservatoire du Littoral in 1979.

The Bois Saint Jean has benefited from the Forestry Regime since 1983.

The City of Les Sables d'Olonne and the National Forestry Office oversee the management and maintenance of the Bois Saint Jean.

The site is particularly preserved: it is constantly open for walking, but only for walking.

By taking its winding paths between holm oaks and maritime pines, you will find the coastal path which runs along the ocean for 800 m and whose view is exceptional.

There, you can still see, nestled on the cliff, several remains of the Atlantic Wall: 5 blockhouses semi-buried in the sand.

They were built by the Todt Organization and are part of the powerful defense system known as the "Atlantic Wall."

They are now converted into lookouts and offer remarkable views of Cayola Bay and the remains of old fish locks." Source Speaker guide Priscilla Giboteau"

The rocky coast & the Puits d'Enfer with its coastal paths: breathtaking views of the ocean!

Extending the beach of Les Sables d'Olonne to the south, located on the rocky coast of the Château d'Olonne, you can discover the Puits d'Enfer, a deep fault in the cliff where the sea rushes in with a roar at high tide.

A news item from the 40s tells that a bloody trunk was found in this rift, containing the body of a man murdered by his domestic worker.

Our partner Super U offers you a brioche for all purchases over 50.00 € and on presentation of the campsite bracelet.

Your Super U store welcomes you in the town of the castle of olonne, in the department of Vendée (85).

Super U is proud to offer you a wide range of products that are responsible, quality and at low prices.

The Remblai is the name of this long promenade bordering the beach of Les Sables d'Olonne.

It is in fact a succession of promenades originally built to protect the city against the onslaught of the sea and silting. It will gradually become the seafront promenade.

You will discover the clock of Les Sables d'Olonne, the footprints of the skippers, frescoes and an incomparable view of the bay...

Did you know?

Why is the seafront promenade called the Remblay?

If it evokes the famous Spanish walks, the reality is a little less exotic.

Originally, it was a simple protective wall erected at the foot of the dune between 1541 and 1543, it was originally 4 m thick and extended over 300 m between the current Place du Tribunal and Rue Travot.

Battered by the onslaught of the sea, it had to be rebuilt in the middle of the 18th century.

It was therefore backfilled with relief stones in order to reinforce it. This large space facing the sea was then used by net weavers or rope factories to hang their equipment.

This small district was known during the Revolution as the "Lost Island". The name Penotte, whose origin remains mysterious, appeared in the nineteenth century to designate a street that has now disappeared.

This pretty, picturesque and fun pedestrian district is named after an island, even though it is nestled in the city centre, behind the Remblai, at the bend of narrow and crooked streets.

In the middle of hollyhocks, the houses are decorated with mosaics made of multicolored shells.

All these decorations are the work of a resident and local artist Danièle Arnaud-Aubin: the "Lady of the Shells".

She is inspired by mythology, fairy tales, fantastic tales... She makes them with shellfish: whelks and periwinkles, oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and exotic shellfish.

Located at the southern end of the large bay of Les Sables d'Olonne, it is renowned for the practice of board sports.

Surf spot:

Steering: Right and Left

Type: rocky reef and beach break

Experience: all surfers.

Tobacco-free beach from 1 April to 30 September.

From April 1st to September 30th, access is strictly forbidden to our dog friends and other animals even on a leash, except if they are escort dogs for blind people.

The beach of Tanchet du Château d'Olonne is located to the north of the resort on the border with Les Sables d'Olonne opposite the Ocean Sport Institute. It is the southern area that is the most frequented with a beautiful stretch of sand and the presence of a lifeguard station in summer. There are also a few kiosks with a restaurant service and the possibility of renting sun loungers. On the right, the beach becomes very rocky and is a popular playground for children at low tide. To the north, there is a magnificent panorama of Les Sables d'Olonne.

This beach is a landmark for surfers, many competitions take place there.

To get to this beach from Les Sables d'Olonne, head south along the seaside (D32A). At the end of Lake Tanchet, there is access to the beach (opposite the thalasso centre). Paid parking.

Facing south, whatever the season, one of the most beautiful sandy beaches offers itself without restraint; iodine fragrances, marine caresses, unexpected nuances, it will make you lose your bearings.

The exceptional sunshine colours the landscapes all year round with a warm and intense light.

A favourite stadium for all beach sports, water tracks that are constantly renewed with the tides.

Tobacco-free beach from 1 April to 30 September.

Our animal friends:

From April 1st to September 30th, access is strictly forbidden to our dog friends and other animals even on a leash, except if they are escort dogs for blind people.

Surf spot:

Type: sandbank - beach protected from N.W. and N. winds

Experience: all surfers.

Along the rocky coast of La Chaume, a 2 km seafront promenade is available to you.

Fishing on foot is a very popular leisure activity in the Vendée. But not everyone can improvise as a fisherman! Here are some useful and practical tips to make your fishing trip in Vendée a success.

Where to fish in Les Sables-d'Olonne?

If you spend your camping holiday in Les Sables d'Olonne, here are some places where it is impossible to leave empty-handed:

• The beach of Les Granges at the tip of La Chaume
• Paracou beach, a small cove located in the Chaume district, along the wild coast.
• Tanchet beach at Château d'Olonne, at the southern end of the large bay of Les Sables d'Olonne.

IMPORTANT: Before going fishing on foot, it is very important to consult the tide coefficients and timings. Leave 1h30 before low tide and leave at least 30 minutes before the tide starts to rise.

What is fished on the beaches of Vendée?

At low tide, when the sea recedes, the foreshore becomes a vast playground and discovery. You can fish for all kinds of shellfish and crustaceans: cockles, clams, tellines (or pine nuts), mussels, razor clams, periwinkles, wild oysters, crabs, shrimps... It is also an opportunity to discover other marine animals (without culinary interest) such as tiny fish, anemones, starfish or nudibranchs (sea slugs).

The essential equipment of the fisherman on foot

To go fishing on foot in the Vendée, you will first need a bucket to store your shellfish. You will also need a haveneau or a landing net to catch the small crabs and shrimps; a tablespoon to flush out cockles and clams buried in the sand; a small knife to unhook the barnacles on the rocks. Be careful, certain tools such as shovels, forks and rakes are prohibited. You can find cheap fishing kits, for about ten euros, in major stores such as Decathlon.

As for the fisherman's dress code, you will have to adapt your clothing according to the weather conditions: cap, sunglasses and tube of sunscreen in summer; windbreaker, oilskin, and warm clothing in cold or rainy weather. In any case, bring a good pair of rubber boots to wade in the mud, non-slip plastic sandals or old sneakers. And above all, don't walk barefoot, to avoid slipping on the rocks or cutting yourself on the shells.

Regulation

Recreational shellfish gathering is subject to certain rules to protect the resource:

For responsible fishing, only pick up what you can eat. Withdrawals are limited to family consumption. The harvest must not exceed 5 kg for individuals.

Respect the minimum regulatory sizes. You have to release individuals that are too small and let them grow. To check the size of your catches, rulers are available from the tourist offices.

Put back in place the pebbles or rocks that you have turned over, so as not to disturb the coastal ecosystem.

Consult more information on the regulations on the website of the APLAV (Association Pêche de Loisir Atlantique Vendée).

Consumption

Wash the harvested shellfish before cooking them.

Keep only live shells. The fruit of your peach should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten quickly, preferably the same day.

Remove open or chipped shells, as well as those whose color or smell seems suspicious, at the risk of getting sick.

Bans

Fishing on foot is prohibited from sunset to sunrise.

It is forbidden to fish within 25 metres of marine culture concessions (oyster beds, bouchots, fish locks, etc.).

Recreational shellfish gathering is intended for personal consumption. The fishery product cannot be sold.

Some fishing sites may be subject to temporary bans, due to a health risk. These prohibitions are posted in town halls and fishing areas.

After these few tips, it remains for us to wish you a pleasant outing and good fishing!

A stone's throw from the city centre, the fishing port lives at all hours of the day and night, to the rhythm of the tides. Along the Franqueville quay, you can observe at leisure the incessant comings and goings of boats with multicolored hulls and flags, and the activity of fishermen unloading their cargo or maintaining their boats, all punctuated by the shrill cries of seagulls.

Colourful boats with names that make you dream, boats with names evocative of distant or exotic horizons: Paradisio, L'Eden, Moby Dick, L'Astrolabe, Alizé, Caroyanchris, Azcaban, Trafalgar, Minaki or Pierres Noires. Female names to think of the companions left behind: La Marie-Galante II, La Santa Maria, Melissa III, Nausicaa, L'Estrella, Malva or Anaïs Tiffany. Or more masculine ones that reflect, perhaps, the personality of their owner: The Predator, The Corsican, The Scout or The Vagabonds. And then Boxter, L'Hexagone, Le Spacial, Félin, Yoann-Jordan, Landolya, Aries, Stesy, Amdoric, Ptit Loprena, L'abri du marin or L'abri côtier, just repainted.

The rue de l'Enfer was once associated with the rue du Paradis (now rue Manuel). Since May 28, 1986, the narrowest street in the world (40 cm wide on the ground and 46.5 cm at 1 m from the ground) has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

The Green Lighthouse of the small pier

Built of granite at the end of the nineteenth century, it is used by sailors to enter the channel of the port.

In 1944, German troops blew up the small jetty, which caused the dike to crack from which the sand, on which the base of the lighthouse rests, escaped.

Its now leaning structure has earned it the nickname "the little tower of Pisa".

Otherwise known as The Skippers' Pier, the small jetty pays tribute to the skippers classified in the Vendée Globe (all editions combined), 113 plaques are placed on the low wall of the Petite Jetée (green lighthouse), and constitute a timeline of 178 metres, where 2 metres represent 1 day. Each plaque bears the name of the skipper, the boat, its classification, the edition, and its time. Look at how browser performance has changed over the past thirty years!

The large "Saint Nicolas" pier and the red lighthouse

The Saint Nicolas pier was sketched out in 1764 and completed in 1910 with the construction of the lighthouse.

The construction of the lighthouse on the pier of the large pier was completed in December 1910. With a height of 12.50 m, it is made of granite ashlar.

Originally, the fire was operated by mineral oil without a permanent guard and with an electric rotation device.

Port Olona is the 1st marina on the entire Vendée coast. Since its construction in 1979, it has hosted many nautical events, including the legendary round the world race Le Vendée Globe, La Figaro, Les Sables-Horta. Boat enthusiasts and tourists enjoy all the comfort and safety necessary for yachting activities.

The reception is located at the Harbour Master's Office, it is open all year round 7 days a week and 24 hours a day except on days with south-east and south-west winds of force 8 to 9 B. The port has more than 1,100 berths afloat and 110 berths for visitors.

Our partner Vendée Escape Parachuting offers you a discount of €15.00 on the jump and €20.00 on the souvenir on presentation of the camping bracelet.

Make your dream come true and fill up on emotions in complete safety: we will make you skydive over the magnificent bay of Les Sables d'Olonne!

Adrenaline and thrills guaranteed! Never forget this moment, you will be able to relive it endlessly and share it with your loved ones thanks to photo and/or video memories, and even the VIP option where another skydiver will jump in front of you to immortalize it.

According to legend, the chapel was built in the eleventh century, in La Chaume, by a sailor or a fisherman saved from a shipwreck. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen.

In reality, it was the monks of Sainte Croix de Talmont who undertook the construction of the building. The Priory was used as a church at the time. In 1779, the monument was ceded to the Army and transformed into a military bastion. Abandoned, the City acquired it in 1976.

Since 1997, the municipality has been committed to the restoration and embellishment of the fort, while respecting the military architecture of Bas-Poitou. The fort overlooks the entrance to the channel, and the bay of Les Sables d'Olonne is visible from the top of the esplanade.

Completely renovated in 2004, the Priory is now a place dedicated to culture and events.

Located on the Côte Sauvage in La Chaume, a natural seawater basin nestled among the coves of the rocky coast. Access via the Corniche du Nouch.

From April 1st to September 30th, access is strictly forbidden to our dog friends and other animals even on a leash, except if they are escort dogs for blind people.

Our partner the Zoo des Sables offers you a €1 discount per person (adult and child) on presentation of a camping bracelet.

With more than 400 animals of about fifty different species, the Zoo des Sables offers themed days throughout the year as well as meal entertainment.

The Zoo des Sables Practice of actions EcoZoo which will also make you aware of the environment and the conservation of the local fauna and flora.

Supervised swimming from mid-June to mid-September from 1:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Public toilets
• Picnic area

The beach of the Mine de Jard sur Mer is located to the west of the seaside resort between the cliffs of Saint Nicolas and the beach of Ragounite. This beautiful sandy beach (unlike the adjacent beaches which are very rocky) offers a large area for basking in the sun. Even at low tide swimming is possible (very few rocks in the main area). The environment is totally preserved and is free of construction. In summer, there is a small snack bar. It also has a surveillance post. On the east side, there is a surf spot. Several campsites nearby, very popular beach in summer.

To get to this beach from Jard sur Mer, you have to join the Route de la Payré (via the rue de l'Abbaye du Lieu Dieu). After 1.5 km, turn left onto Chemin de la Mine. Free parking near the beach.

In the commune of Talmont Saint Hilaire, there is the Anse de la Mine on the edge of the Bois de la Mine. This part of the coast is very rocky, but there are a few spaces to lay your towel in the middle of the rocks and pebbles.

In Olonne sur Mer, hidden in the middle of the national forest, it has kept its little wild side.

Famous surf spot in the Vendée:

Direction: Right and left - intermediate waves

Type: beach break

Experience: all surfers.

Accessible by road and cycle path.

Free parking.

Dogs are tolerated and kept on a leash, their baths are forbidden in supervised areas.

Located in the north-western part of the territory, the Lac du Jaunay is an emblematic place of the Pays des Achards in the Vendée. A real jewel in a green setting, it offers unspoilt nature on 114 hectares.

Many activities can be practiced on and around the banks. The trails are a delight for hiking enthusiasts (12 km), but you can also practice fishing, geocaching and water activities. It is also a privileged place for events and entertainment, especially in the summer.