Les Sables-d'Olonne
Encyclopedia
Les Sables-d'Olonne (French
meaning: "the sands of Olonne") is a seaside town in western France, by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Vendée
department.
yacht race, which takes place every four years, starts and ends at the Sables-d'Olonne.
Two principal artists represented : Gaston Chaissac (1910–1964) and Victor Brauner
(1903–1966).
and prince of Talmont.
of
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
meaning: "the sands of Olonne") is a seaside town in western France, by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
department.
Events
The Vendée GlobeVendée Globe
The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years....
yacht race, which takes place every four years, starts and ends at the Sables-d'Olonne.
Musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix
Situated in a 17th century building, the museum is devoted to modern and contemporary art. This municipal museum has "Musée de France" status.Two principal artists represented : Gaston Chaissac (1910–1964) and Victor Brauner
Victor Brauner
Victor Brauner was a Romanian Jewish painter of surrealistic images.-Early life:He was born in Piatra Neamţ, the son of a timber manufacturer who subsequently settled in Vienna with his family for a few years. It is there that young Victor attended elementary school...
(1903–1966).
History
The history of Sables-d'Olonne has been linked with the sea ever since its foundation in 1218 from Havre (harbor) d'Olonne by Savary I de Mauléon, the lord of Mauléon, Sénéchal of PoitouPoitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
and prince of Talmont.
- In 1472, Louis XILouis XI of FranceLouis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
separated Les Sables d'Olonne from the town of Olonne. - In the 17th century, the port of Les Sables d'Olonne was the largest cod-fishng port in France, with 14,000 inhabitants.
- During the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, the city supported the Republic, unlike the surrounding VendéeVendéeThe Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
. Thus it was often besieged, but unsuccessfully, thanks to its port. - Its first bathing establishments were started in 1825, intitiating the local tourism industry.
- On 29 December 1866, the railroad, on the line from La Roche-sur-YonLa Roche-sur-YonLa Roche-sur-Yon is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.It is the capital of the department. Its inhabitants are called Yonnais.-History:...
, BressuireBressuireBressuire is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in France. The town is situated on an eminence overlooking the Dolo, a tributary of the Argenton.-Notable buildings:...
, SaumurSaumurSaumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
, and ToursToursTours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, reached Les Sables. Express service to Paris would arrive in 1971. - During the night of 27 August 1944, the occupying German army, upon evacuation, destroyed the port and mined the harbor.
Twin towns
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a sister townTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
of
SchwabachSchwabachSchwabach is a German town of about 40,000 inhabitants near Nuremberg, in the center of the region of Franconia in the North of Bavaria. The city is an autonomous administrative district . Schwabach is also the name of a river which runs through the city prior joining the Rednitz.Schwabach is...
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, United Kingdom since 1998
See also
- Communes of the Vendée department
- The town is where Les Vacances de Maigret by Georges Simenon took place.