Seafront at Les Sables-d'Olonne

From the small jetty to the Puits d'Enfer, discover the seafront of Les Sables-d'Olonne.

Details

2368
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 5 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 11 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the seafront (at the small jetty), walk along the embankment past the 'Les Atlantes' casino (Tourist Office) and around the left side of the swimming pool. Stay on the embankment, which has been redesigned for pedestrians (phase 2 of the project underway in 2012).

(1) Next, you will pass the Promenade de l'Amiral Lafargue, then the Promenade Georges Clémenceau and the Promenade Georges Godet.

(2) When you reach Promenade John Fitzgerald Kennedy (at the junction with Avenue Aristide Briand and Avenue Paul Doumer), take the footpath on the right, along the beach, which separates you from the seafront road.

(3) A little further on, it leads to Promenade John Fitzgerald Kennedy: turn right, then immediately afterwards, take the footpath on the right. Further on, you will come back to the coastal road.

(4) You will pass between Lac de Tanchet (thalassotherapy) and the beach of the same name.

(5) Further on, when you reach a car park, take the footpath/cycle path that goes around it on the right. Continue along the seafront (on a footpath only). You will find a mixed footpath/cycle path just before another car park. Continue on the footpath after this car park.

(6) You will then come to the Puits d'Enfer car park - a fault in the cliff opposite the car park entrance.

The return journey is the same, but feel free to go down to the beach (there are several access points) and/or the rocks (if the tide allows) on both the outward and return journeys.
This will take you back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Seaside resort
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 6 m - Admiral Lafargue Promenade
  3. 2 : km 2.09 - alt. 7 m - Footpath on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.51 - alt. 10 m - John Fitzgerald Kennedy Walk
  5. 4 : km 2.9 - alt. 6 m - Lake Tanchet
  6. 5 : km 3.56 - alt. 11 m - Footpath/cycle path
  7. 6 : km 4.94 - alt. 10 m - Puits d'Enfer car park
  8. S/E : km 9.68 - alt. 6 m - Seaside resort

Notes

No special equipment is required, but comfortable shoes are recommended given the distance.
Essential : a purse or wallet to enjoy some homemade ice cream or a waffle (street vendors on the embankment during the summer months).

Worth a visit

Lots to do and see, including:
- numerous restaurants and brasseries on the embankment and on the quays of the port (special mention for the restaurant 'Les Charmettes' with its panoramic dining room upstairs and refined cuisine - undergoing renovation in early 2012).
- Les Sables Zoo (Avenue du Lac, street that branches off to the left after Lac de Tanchet).
- Aquarium.
- Palazzo Clémentina (1919) on the embankment.
- Green lighthouse at the end of the small jetty.
- Rue de l'Enfer: the narrowest street in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
- La Chaume: Saint-Nicolas lighthouse (red), Saint-Nicolas priory, Arundel Tower. You can reach La Chaume, on the other side of the port, by taking the 'La Sablaise' shuttle boat from Quai de Guiné: €0.90 per crossing, every day from 6am to midnight.

See the website: lessablesdolonne-tourisme.com for other ideas.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
deforge
deforge

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A post-lunch stroll with a large crowd on a Sunday afternoon

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Plume123
Plume123

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Friendly. Beautiful beaches.

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fredech
fredech

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An interesting and easy route for exploring the coastline of Les Sables-d'Olonne. Best done early in the morning during the summer to avoid the heat and the presence of bicycles on certain sections.
You can start the hike anywhere, as it is a round trip, which means you can park outside the town.

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martine martine
martine martine

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant and easy hike

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alainc5939
alainc5939

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant, easy walk along the coast with beautiful little secluded beaches.

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Sevre Luberon
Sevre Luberon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant, easy walk by the sea

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Chrsitine Chefson
Chrsitine Chefson

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A wonderful discovery in Les Sables d'Olonne.

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kissmy
kissmy

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Thank you, Pierre.

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POULIN Gérard
POULIN Gérard ★
• Edited:

How about posting your first hike? Thank you anyway, Patrick M3, for your comment. It's encouraging.

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Patrick M3.
Patrick M3.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice parish-specific to Brittany. Thank you, Visorando. I will use the site again for future walking adventures.

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Patrick M3.
Patrick M3.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2015
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice parish-specific to Brittany. Thank you, Visorando. I will use the site again for future walking adventures.

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