Les Sables d’Olonne Property Insight

Overview

Les Sables d’Olonne is a trendy coastal resort, located in the Vendée department and part of the Pays de la Loire region. The French commune accounts for 15,600 inhabitants and is very renowned amongst Frenchmen for its spectacular views over the Atlantic and as a summer resort.

Les Sables d’Olonne is a town oriented towards the sea. Its past and present history has been made possible thanks to the access to the sea. Nowadays, the French town is a great seaside resort for people in search for seasonal rental opportunities within a stone’s throw from gorgeous sandy beaches. The very asset of Les Sables is also their being so welcoming for families.

As in other towns of Vendée, activities for every child are offered, such as many sports, clubs, bowling, cinemas, zoos, beaches and so on. Nature-related activities are also numerous, with nature reserves, marshlands and forests to discover nearby. For the parents, there are restaurants, cafés and an interesting nightlife ideal after a day spent enjoying the sea.

When it comes to real estate, Les Sables d’Olonne can be considered as expensive town but the return on investment is quite fast, specially if you plan to buy-to-let or if your future business is related to tourism (guest house, etc.).

Les Sables d'Olonne Immobilier & Property Market Trends

In 2009, properties in a seaside resort such as Les Sables d’Olonne, which is quite sought-after, are rarely offered at bargain prices. This drawback is however compensated by the excellent surplus value if you wish to sell the property later, by the constant and strong demand for rentals and quality of life in the French town.

A property in France costs €3,197 /square metre on average. In Les Sables, the average price of a property is €3,621 /square metre. Below is a table of comparison for property prices in the sector of Les Sables d’Olonne. From the table we notice the difference in prices between the departmental, regional and national values. However, property in Les Sables d’Olonne is still affordable if you take time to find your ideal house or apartment.

House Prices - 2009

To get updated info about property prices in Vendée, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Les Sables d'Olonne

• Transport links: the French commune is accessed through Nantes or La Rochelle’s airports thanks to budget airlines mainly. By road, from Paris, you can access the town in 4hrs. By train, 3h20 from Paris to Les Sables d'Olonne with high-speed train.

• Well equipped: Les Sables d’Olonne is very well equipped, with all amenities you could wish to see and even more. The town centre offers nice shops and there is a street market organized every day. The town is only 1h from Nantes if whenever you need something unusual. This is a very asset of the area.

• Good food: the area’s food and wine are renowned such as the local liqueurs (Kamok), wine (Troussepinette) and many pastries (the most famous is the Préfou). Seafood is the local delight, such as the Loubine fish, sole and sardines, oysters… all cooked in the local style to create unique casseroles. The local speciality is the Gâche Sablaise, also called Fouace, is a medieval brioche with a bread shape. It was orignally cooked for celebrations only. Made from eggs, vanilla and sugar, it is a delightful speciality.

• Tourism – sights: this town is one of the most attrctiv of the whole French Atlantic coastline. It is renowned for its harbour, its lovely town centre, its long sandy beaches and very pleasant lifestyle. Views over the sea are breathtaking and we can feel that the locals love the sea. Ithe sustained demand for property and rentals makes it very easy to rent or sell property in Les Sables d’Olonne.

• Activities: there is more to Les Sables d'Olonne than the sandy beaches and active nightlife. Yachting and other waterports are a favourite activity of the locals. The first step of the world renowned yacht race called the Vendée Globe takes place each year in the harbour town. A very spectacular show for lovers of the sea.

Property Styles and Architecture in Les Sables d'olonne

The French town is home to a number of quarters, each boasting their own character. The Chaume quarter is typical and is made up of picturesque narrow streets home to the fishermen. Most probably the oldest quarter of the town, it feature s many stone-built town houses.

The Passage quarter features many fishermen’s houses and armateurs properties. The rue de l’enfer is the narrowest street in the world, according to the Guinness book of Records. Eventually, the Ile Penotte quarter is honeycombed with houses whose front façades are decorated with multi-coloured shells. Houses in the Remblai quarters are also very typical, with gorgeous balconies and original stone-built villas dating back to the late 19th century. The whole town is a must-see.

• Fishermen’s houses: Maisons de pêcheur in Les Sables d’Olonne are much different from those you could see in Brittany for instance. They are often renovated and modernized. However, these properties have kept the simple, pleasant layout and lifestyle they offered centuries ago. With modest dimensions (less than 80 sq m usually) and making use of wood (stairs, cupboards, wood paneling, shutters), they make an ideal holiday home or a rental house very easy to let in this sought-after resort.

• Armateurs houses: in ancient times, the town was the first harbour in France for cod. Some shipowners quickly became wealthy and built grand, prestigious properties to show their social success. You will see some of these houses in the town centre.

Click here for more info about the Architecture in Pays de la Loire.

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