7 - The Sables d'Olonne

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Since the Middle Ages, the Sables d'Olonne has been a popular port. It was an important point of trade for salt and wine in the fifteenth century and also for the yacht race of Vendée Globe, which still takes place annually. Since 1866, when it was linked directly to Paris via rail, its reputation as a port has pushed it to develop; the port is now a well-known tourist destination. Easier access meant the Sables became a prised place to holiday. It soon became the largest seaside resort of the Vendée region. And easy access isn't its only attribute: its three kilometres of south-facing sandy beaches. What more could one wish for? Perhaps some natural surroundings could be thrown in, but the length of wild coastline as well as the 1,200 hectares of forest that surround the Sables, give a surprising panorama. The Remblai, which is a succession of promenades, were originally built to protect the city from erosion and also make for a beautiful place to stop. From the beach, the promenades, dotted with villas, provide a view that is hard to rival. The port itself is the centre of the action. With its colours and smells, the trawlermen bring in fresh cuttlefish, sole, hake, langoustines, are then sold at the Halles Centrales. La Chaume, a nearby area, was the birth place of the city and is a must-visit. The fishermen's houses give way to a lively maritime atmosphere and for a funny anecdote to tell back home, have a stroll through the rue de l'Enfer, (the road of Hell, in English); the narrowest street in the world, it measures 40 centimetres at its narrowest point!

La Baule The Ile-de-Ré