Saint-Jean-de-Monts – Côte de Lumière
Saint-Jean-de-Monts is nestled on the Côte de Lumière (Coast of Light), so named in 2005, stretches from Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez to Les Sables-d’Olonne like a long ribbon of golden sand.
The once modest fishing village transformed into a lively seaside resort in the mid-19th century, fueled by the growing popularity of sea bathing.
It is today renowned for its eight kilometres of sandy coastline, and boasts superb beaches, three of which are supervised.
Saint-Jean-de-Monts is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Vendée region, not only for its fine sandy beaches but also because the ocean is generally calm, making it a perfect family resort.
The town is protected by the 500 hectares of the Pays de Monts forest.
This vast and beautiful pine forest bordering the dunes is crisscrossed by a network of picturesque footpaths and cycle tracks, seamlessly integrated into the Sentiers cyclables de la Vendée, which stretches over 500 kilometres from the Île de Noirmoutier to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, was created.
While the original village of Saint-Jean-de-Monts has retained its picturesque charm, clustered around its parish church, it has expanded harmoniously over time, both along its beautiful coastline and inland.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Saint-Jean-de-Monts undertook a vast restoration project to enhance its seafront.
To make tourists’ stays easier, parking areas adorned with lush flowerbeds and trees were created along the promenade that runs alongside the beach.
Art also has its place, with a sculpture by Henry Murail, La Baigneuse – The Bather, marking the end of Avenue de la Mer, the main thoroughfare along the coast. Another sculpture depicting three graceful birds was placed opposite the Tourist Office.
And as you stroll along the sea front, you’ll discover that the resort has seamlessly integrated the contemporary architecture of its new buildings with the Art Deco facades from older buildings.
Department of Vendée
Coordinates: Lat 46.793464 – Long -2.061786
Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Kev22 CC BY-SA 4.0
