saint gilles croix de vie

Discover Saint Gilles Croix de Vie

Famous for its beaches, its fishing port and its marina, the seaside resort of St Gilles Croix de Vie welcomes every year its share of tourists who come to discover the coastal life.

Classified since 1982, admire the charming houses while exploring the streets and alleys of the city. Continue to the fishing harbor and cross the Vie River to reach the marina where multiple boats of all sizes are moored.

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, it is also an emblem : the sardine, the first wild fish to have obtained the distinction ” Label Rouge “. Learn more by walking the Sardine Trail. Follow the blue fish painted on the ground and walk through the maritime city on your own through 14 points of historical interest around this emblem. Continue the experience by visiting the Sardine Workshop. It retraces the know-how and history of the last cannery in Vendée through an interactive museum. End the visit with a tasting in the store or an aperitif on the terrace. Food lovers will be able to leave with delicious souvenirs.

Try one of the many water activities or get out in the fresh air by exploring the miles of bike paths and hiking trails.

Saint Gilles is a city on the move, and all year round ! Stroll through the markets and taste the specialties for which the region is famous. After a good tasting, there is nothing like a digestive stroll on the fine sand of the Grande Plage. With a bit of luck, you may be able to see the Ile d’Yeu on the horizon. If you are patient, sit on the terrace of a restaurant on the embankment or over a picnic on the beach and watch the sun set over the ocean. A landscape worthy of the most beautiful postcards.

Take a walk in the dunes or enjoy a good swim with your family. Enter the water smoothly without being surprised by a steep descent that can be encountered on some other beaches. The sand is soft and flat which makes walking very pleasant. The Grande Plage is known for its safety thanks to the lifeguards present from the end of June to the beginning of September.

Program idea for a successful day at the Great Beach of St Gilles :

Fishing with pine nuts in the morning,
Seafood platter for lunch,
Wave jumping and sand castle contest in the afternoon,
Ice cream for the four hours,
Buckwheat pancakes and crepes for dinner,
Stroll and attractions at the port fair in the evening.