The best road cycling routes around Les Sables-D'Olonne

La Pierre Levée von Soubise (also called Pierre du Diable) is a dolmen on Rue du Dolmen near the D38 road between Brem-sur-Mer and Bretignolles-sur-Mer in the Vendée department in France. Until 2005 it lay on a large open grassland, then it was moved to the vicinity of the roundabout on the D38. The simple dolmen – dolmen is the generic term in France for megalithic structures of all kinds (see: French nomenclature) – with its 2.5 by 2.0 meter, 45 cm thick quartzite capstone resting on three supporting stones, lies on private land. Further stones lay scattered on the remains of the burial mound. The shape, unusual for France, with the capstone resting obliquely, is reminiscent of the Portal Tombs in the British Isles. In 1901, the remains of three corpses were found. The dolmen, around which several legends are told, is one of several erratic boulders, menhirs or stone tables named Pierre du Diable (e.g. in Allinges, Arq, Artas, Beuvry, Jambes, Haillot, Lécluse – also in plural as „Les Pierres“) in Belgium, France and Switzerland. Likewise, there are a number of dolmens in France called La Pierre Levée (see Dolmen de la Pierre Levée). https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Pierre_Lev%C3%A9e_von_Soubise

The Château de Noirmoutier is a castle on the Île de Noirmoutier in the Vendée département of France. It dominates the town of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île with its almost 20-metre-high (66 ft) keep. The castle is very well preserved and a fine example of 12th-century medieval architecture. The first traces of the castle appeared in 830 with the construction of a castrum by the abbot Hilbold, from the monastery of Saint-Philbert. It served to defend the monks and the island's population from the Vikings. The castle was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century by the feudal power who was trying to stabilise the region, notably by preventing Norman pillaging. The island at that time was under the control of the barons of La Garnache. The keep was built by Pierre IV of La Garnache, then an enclosure equipped with towers was built around the lower courtyard. In the 16th century, the castle was held by the La Trémoille family, then viscounts of Thouars. The castle resisted numerous attacks: the English in 1342 and 1360, and again in 1386 under the command of the Earl of Arundel the Spanish in 1524 and 1588 but in 1674, it was taken by the Dutch troops of Admiral Cornelis Tromp. The castle was sold in 1720 to Louis IV Henri de Bourbon-Condé, who resold it in 1767 to Louis XV. During the French Revolution, the castle was used as a military prison. During the 19th century, it was used as a barracks. In 1871, during the Paris Commune, insurgents were imprisoned there. The castle was used to intern German nationals during the First World War. In 1690, a house was built within the castle grounds by the governor of the island and the castle. Today, the keep houses the Noirmoutier Museum. The keep at the centre of the castle is solid and rectangular. Built of rubble, it has three floors, with the lords' residence at the top. The keep has numerous murder holes and defensive turrets at the corners. The rectangular fortification consists of two towers, a single gate and two watch turrets in the four corners. At the beginning of the 18th century, the towers were reconstructed and the keep adapted for artillery. Property of the commune, the Château de Noirmoutier is listed as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Noirmoutier

a harmonious mix of pedestrians and cyclists, all without cars; you can walk straight from the town to the beach

Beautiful beach and good restaurant.

Excellent run to the mine and back. In the cool of the early morning

Great for walking, running or cycling 👍 the nearby Müllenbourg marsh will also delight young and old 😉

Numerous bars, perfect for taking a break in the summer!

see this landscape, the dry salt beautiful place full of good vibes