Les Sables-d'Olonne
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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the French Wikipedia. (December 2008) Click [show] on the right for instructions.
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Les Sables-d'Olonne |
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 Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Location within Pays de la Loire region
Les Sables-d'Olonne
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Pays de la Loire |
| Department | Vendée |
| Arrondissement | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
| Canton | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
| Intercommunality | Olonnes |
| Mayor | Louis Guédon (2004–2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0–26 m (0–85 ft) |
| Land area1 | 8.83 km2 (3.41 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 16,105 (2006) |
| - Density | 1,824 /km2 (4,720 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 85194/ 85100 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 46°29′50″N 1°47′00″W / 46.4972°N 1.7833°W
Les Sables-d'Olonne (pronounced: [lɛ sabl dolɔn]) (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.
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[edit] Events
The Vendée Globe yacht race, which takes place every four years, starts and ends at the Sables-d'Olonne.
[edit] Personalities
The town is the birthplace of pirate François l'Olonnais.
[edit] Points of interest
[edit] 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 (1903–1966).[why?]
[edit] 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 Poitou and prince of Talmont.
- In 1472, Louis XI 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 Revolution, the city supported the Republic, unlike the surrounding Vendée. 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-Yon, Bressuire, Saumur, and Tours, 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.
[edit] Twin towns
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a sister town of
Schwabach, Germany since 1975
Sliema, Malta since 2005
Trapani, Italy
Worthing, United Kingdom since 1998
[edit] See also
- Communes of the Vendée department
- The town is where Les Vacances de Maigret[clarification needed] by Georges Simenon took place.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- City council website (French)
- Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendee Globe Race (in English)
- Les Sables-d'Olonne Tourist Board (French)
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