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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. | |
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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The Vendée Globe yacht race, which takes place every four years, starts and ends at the Sables-d'Olonne.
The town is the birthplace of pirate François l'Olonnais.
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).
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.
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a sister town of
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