With the advent of the railway in 1866, the seaside resort boomed, attracting the aristocracy and artistic elite of the day in a frenzy of pleasure. The emergence of the pleasure trains marked the start of a golden era, with large seaside villas springing up along the Remblai. The "bathing machines", hidden carriages for bathers, added a touch of mystery to the seaside experience.
Today, the picturesque rotundas still bear witness to this glorious era, when relaxation was the watchword on the sunny shores of Les Sables d'Olonne... Of course, that's still the case!
160 years of train travel: iron health
160 years ago, the first trains from La Roche sur Yon entered Les Sables d'Olonne station. Paris followed in 1868. A real revolution, when you consider that the journey from Olonne to Nantes took 2 days... by horse-drawn carriage. The SNCF and its restaurant wagons still had a long way to go, so why not press the fast-forward button?
- 1842: For the first time, a law regulates the French rail network from Paris.
- 1861: The Minister of Public Works authorises the construction of a line linking Napoléon Vendée (now La Roche sur Yon) to Les Sables d'Olonne.
- 1866: Petit fours and champagne, the line was inaugurated in the presence of Mr Béhic, Minister under Napoléon III. That's all there is to it.
- 1876: The town developed as a tourist destination, with posters advertising the most beautiful beach in Europe, and the Grand Casino de la Plage was built. Who built it? The company owned by a certain Gustave Eiffel.
The boom in bathing machines
In the Belle Époque, you could bathe without being seen!The "bathing machine" was a horse-drawn, canvas-covered, 4-wheeled carriage in the shape of a van. The carriage was usually plunged right up to the axle, allowing the bather to get into the water out of sight.
It was in 1825 that the merchant Pître Raguet set up 8 of these cabins on the beach, opposite the Place d'Armes (now the Place du Palais de Justice), for prudish bathers. Cover this bath that I cannot see!
* Source: municipal archives.
Plus belle la villa
The construction of large seaside villas in Les Sables d'Olonne, first on the seafront and then in the Dunes district, dates back to the end of the 19th century. And the least we can say is that there's something for everyone! Chalet, neo-Basque Art Deco or 1950s: each villa has its own architectural style. It's a joyful eclecticism that still adds to the resort's charm today.
Fancy a daydream along the beach?Take advantage of the Remblai's gentle slope and stroll along the large seaside villas designed by Charles Charrier (Palazzo Clementina) and Maurice Durand (Mirasol), two architects from Sabl.
* Source: municipal archives
Le Remblai, between heritage and modernity
Originally built to protect the town from the onslaught of the sea and silting, the Remblai quickly became the flagship walk along the Sablais coastline. At the end of the 19th century, a number of architects gave free rein to their imagination with the creation of villas typical of seaside architecture. The Remblai promenade was inaugurated on 6 August 1950.
Between 2008 and 2013, the Remblai underwent a complete makeover! A major event in the history of Les Sables d'Olonne. This new embankment is characterised by the priority given to pedestrians, bicycles, seaside vegetation (e.g. holm oak, pittosporum, tamarisk, etc.), shop terraces and architectural choices that are both bold and respectful of the history of the area.
The RotondesWork on the Remblai between 1949 and 1950 also included the creation of three semi-circular rotundas between Place Foch and Promenade Joffre. These were used as bars and puppet theatres. Souvenirs include the Bagatelle, the Tacot, the Canaris, the Casa Pépé and the Trianon. Memories, memories...
The PendulumNowadays, these rotundas have become beach bars and restaurants, with unbeatable views over the Baie des Sables and its beaches!
Built on a former blockhouse, this 8-metre-high, four-sided clock tower was inaugurated on 1 July 1956. Since then, it has become a popular meeting place, easily spotted by all.
The Remblai 1930
On the Remblai, the promenade bordering the Grande Plage, every step evokes the 1930s, when seaside architecture flourished in all its splendour! La Pendule, majestically standing on the remains of a blockhouse, reigns supreme, a reminder of the timeless elegance of that era in Sablais. Among the villas and hotels that have disappeared, a few buildings remain, silent witnesses to a glorious past. Strolling along the Remblai is like travelling through time, discovering the subtle nuances between yesterday and today. And don't miss the chance to read the various plaques recalling the architectural composition of the area in 1930!