Les Sables-d'Olonne
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Sables d'Olonne

The area around LES SABLES-D'OLONNE and northwards has been heavily developed with Costa-style apartment blocks. If you're passing through, though, it's worth having a look at the surprisingly good modern art section in the Musée de l'Abbaye Ste-Croix on rue Verdun (mid-June to mid-Sept Tues–Sun 10am–noon & 2–6.30pm; mid-Sept to mid-June guided visits by arrangement only; tel 02.51.32.01.16; €4.57, free Sun) and a collection of classic autos at the Musée d'Automobile, 8km southeast of town on the road to Talmont (mid-March to June & Sept daily 9.30am–noon & 2–6pm; July & Aug daily 9.30am–7pm; Oct to mid-March Sat & Sun only 9.30am–noon & 2–6pm; €5.49). The main reason to stay, though, is the town's vast curve of clean, beautiful beach, which lures hordes in the summer.

Hotels get booked up well in advance for July and August, but a couple worth trying are Le Merle Blanc, near the beach at 59 av Aristide-Briand (tel 02.51.32.00.35; €40–55), and Hôtel les Olonnes, 25 rue de la Patrie (tel 02.51.32.04.12, fax 02.51.23.72.63; €40–55), with a restaurant (closed Sun evening & Mon). Budget options include a beachside HI hostel, 3km from the centre at 92 rue du Sémaphore (tel 02.51.95.76.21, fax 02.40.20.08.94; closed Oct–March), a bus #2 ride away in the direction of "Côte Sauvage" (stop "Armandèche"); a municipal campsite (tel 02.51.95.10.42, fax 02.51.33.94.04; closed Dec–March) on rue des Roses, 400m from the beach; and several more campsites in the Pironnière district, 3km south of town on the D949. For more accommodation options, ask at the tourist office on 1 promenade Joffre (June & Sept Mon–Sat 9am–12.15pm & 2–6.30pm, Sun 10am–12.30pm; July & Aug daily 9am–7pm; tel 02.51.96.85.85, fax 02.51.96.85.71).