port for American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Germany occupied Les Sables d'Olonne during World War II and, upon evacuation of that army at war's end, the German army made an effort to destroy the port, and mined the harbor. Population The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Les Sables-d'Olonne proper, in its geography at the given years. The populations of Olonne-sur-Mer and Château-d'Olonne, absorbed in 2019, are not included. Interests and events The Vendée Globe yacht race, which takes place every four years, starts and ends at Les Sables-d'Olonne. The Musée de l'Abbaye Sainte-Croix is a municipal museum situated in a 17th-century building that is devoted to modern and contemporary art, and that has "Musée de France" status. It includes works of Gaston Chaissac (1910–1964) and Victor Brauner (1903–1966). Les Sables-d'Olonne is the setting for 1948 novel , by Georges Simenon. The town is the birthplace of pirate François l'Olonnais. Twin towns – sister cities Les Sables-d'Olonne is twinned with: Niceville, Florida, United States Gourcy, Burkina Faso A Laracha, Spain Murat, France Schwabach, Germany Worthing, England, United Kingdom Gallery See also Communes of the Vendée department References External links Official website Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendee Globe Race (in English) Les Sables-d'Olonne Tourist Board Communes of Vendée Subprefectures in France Port cities and towns on the French Atlantic coast Poitou Vendée communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia