A six-hectare public garden in the town centre and a state forest stretching over 11 kilometres show the different scales of Olonne-sur-Mer. There is also a protected wetland, two neighbouring beaches, a museum and a château. For your stay, you can consider nature, trails and culture as separate highlights: the signposted forest trails are suitable for hiking and cycling; the Marais des Loirs is closed to the public and can be viewed from two observation posts.
Forest and Wetland
Stretching between Brétignolles in the north and La Chaume in the south, the Forêt domaniale d’Olonne extends for 11 kilometres and covers 1,120 hectares. These two figures describe different scales: the kilometre figure indicates its north–south extent, while the hectare figure indicates its area. Signposted trails are suitable for hiking and cycling. This gives you two different ways to explore the forest: on foot or by bike.
The protected Site des Loirs wetland covers 120 hectares and lies within the Marais d’Olonne-sur-Mer. The Marais des Loirs is closed to the public, but can be viewed from two observation posts. If you plan to include this landscape in your itinerary, distinguish between viewing it from the posts and entering the closed area.
Beaches and Urban Green Space
Plage de Sauveterre is located in Olonne-sur-Mer, in the middle of the Forêt domaniale d’Olonne, and has retained its original, natural character. Plage des Granges adjoins Plage de Sauveterre. Both beaches can be reached by road and cycle path. When choosing between them, you can distinguish Sauveterre’s described natural character from the neighbouring location of Les Granges; the same access options are given for both beaches.
Parc de la Jarrie is a six-hectare public garden in the centre of Olonne-sur-Mer. It includes a playground for children aged 1 to 12. Compared with the 1,120-hectare Forêt domaniale d’Olonne, the garden is a much smaller green space in a central location. The age range can help you decide whether the playground is suitable for the children travelling with you.
Traditions and Heritage
The Musée des Traditions Populaires presents traditional crafts, costumes and headdresses, rural interiors, and salt workers’ tools across six exhibition rooms. Its themes range from clothing and rural domestic life to tools used in salt work. The museum is housed in a former school dating from 1891. Its collection, covering different aspects of everyday and working life, is thus combined with the building’s former use as a school.
For Château de Pierre-Levée, the focus is on its heritage protection status: it is fully protected, with part classified as a historic monument and part listed as a historic monument. Whereas the museum is defined by specific collection themes, the château’s cultural significance is conveyed by its different heritage protection statuses.
Seasonal Activities
Free seasonal activities are offered at the Parc Naturel Pédagogique du Marais d’Olonne to help visitors discover the park. As the activities are seasonal, check the dates for your travel period before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Treize-Vents, Commequiers, Les Landes-Genusson, La Jonchère, La Jaudonnière, Challans, Foussais-Payré, Sainte-Foy.
See the regional travel overview: Vendée.
