Les Sables-d'Olonne

Les Sables-d'Olonne is where France's sailing obsession meets its surf culture—a beach town famous as the starting point for the Vendée Globe round-the-world race that also offers consistent Atlantic surf. The waves are beginner-to-intermediate friendly, with multiple peaks along the town beach. While it lacks the raw power of the Landes region to the south, the accessibility, facilities, and maritime culture make it a popular stop on Atlantic coast surf trips.