chef-lieu of the former canton of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, which had an area of hectares and contained 14 communes: L'Aiguillon-sur-Vie, Brem-sur-Mer, Bretignolles-sur-Mer, La Chaize-Giraud, Coëx, Commequiers, Le Fenouiller, Givrand, Landevieille, Notre-Dame-de-Riez, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Saint-Maixent-sur-Vie and Saint-Révérend. Climate The meteorological measurements began in 1877 in Saint-Gilles. The climate of the Vendée department is oceanic. The coast experiences significant rainfall in winter and a few storms. Under the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the climate is cool in summer. However, the Vendée is one of the sunniest departments of France in terms of the energy received, with 1268 kWh per m² per year. Population Culture Religion The town has two Catholic churches (one on either side of the river), the churches of Saint-Gilles et Sainte-Croix. Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is part of the diocese of Luçon, which is part of the Ecclesiastical province of Rennes. It is the seat of a deanery of four parishes: Sainte Anne de Riez (around the town of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez), Saint Jean du Gué Gorand (Coëx), Saint Nicolas de l'Océan (Bretignolles-sur-Mer), and Notre Dame de la Vie (Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie). The latter, Notre Dame de la Vie, has four bell towers—in the churches of Saint-Gilles and Sainte-Croix, as well as those of Fenouiller and Givrand. In the middle of the sixteenth century, a protestant church was founded in Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie; it was destroyed in November 1665, as one of seventeen protestant churches in the Bas-Poitou, the region that corresponds to today's Vendée. The Brotherhood of the Sardine The Brotherhood of the Sardine (Confrérie de la Sardine) was founded in 1991. Headed by a grandmaster, it is devoted to the promotion of the seaside resort and the celebration of products from the sea, especially the sardine, which has become a speciality of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. Notable "sympathizers" include sailor Michel Desjoyeaux, actress Isabel Otero, and the former Prime Minister of France François Fillon. Companies Beneteau – boat manufacturer, founded in 1884 in Croix-de-Vie Personalities Marcel Baudouin (1860–1941) -physician Narcisse Pelletier (1844–1894) -castaway Benjamin Bénéteau, founder of the commune in 1884. Marie de Beaucaire (1535–1613), Baronness of Rié. Did much to facilitate development into a town.,. Pierre Desproges (1939–1988), comedian Pierre Garcie-Ferrande, (1430–1520) cartographer. Charles Atamian (1872–1947) -painter, painted many scenes of the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie shore. Émile Goué (1904–1946), composer, composed Wanda (1934) situated in Croix-de-Vie. See also Communes of the Vendée department References Communes of Vendée Populated coastal places in France