Visiting by boat

Port Olona is one of France's biggest marinas, with over 1,500 berths on pontoons open year-round, 24/7 — so you can pull in at any hour without stress. It sits right on the luminous Atlantic waterfront of Les Sables-d'Olonne, a town famous for being the starting point of the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race, which gives the whole place a serious offshore sailing energy. The south-facing bay, long sandy beach, and active fishing port are all within easy reach once you're tied up.