Les Sables d’Olonne is a busy resort in the summer but in winter and early spring it is sleepier.  The marina is large and is completely sheltered.  It is in essence part of a separate town of La Chaume.  There are numerous restaurants but the best are across the harbour on the Quai E. Garnier and Quai Franqueville which are inland and overlook the main fishing and commercial harbour.  A ferry runs across the harbour but finishes early in winter i.e. before Easter.  

La Chaume has its own character with many old, fishermen’s cottages and very narrow streets – it even has its very own Ormeau Road, which is also the name of a main thoroughfare in Belfast.

It seems that there are no restaurants on “the front” of Les Sables d’Olonne, overlooking the sea and the principal bay, other than lunchtime cafés.  The marina itself, Port Olona, has a number of decent restaurants and bars.  There is a satisfactory hotel (L’Admiral) at the marina which has served as our base.

We had enjoyed our visits to Les Sables d’Olonne and were going to be a little sad to leave and not be returning for sometime.  However, there was also excitement in the air.