GITES WITH POOLS
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Towns and Villages of the Vendee
Jard-sur-Mer
The town
now 2kms from the coast has had an active if small port which shelters
in the hollow of the Conchette cove, today a modern marina has taken
its place with plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and gift shops as one
would expect ofa busy holiday resort. There are small beaches on either
side of the harbour
With the opening of the railway from Lucon to Les Sables d'Olonne in 1930 saw great expansion of the town as it developed accommodation for the holiday industry.
With the opening of the railway from Lucon to Les Sables d'Olonne in 1930 saw great expansion of the town as it developed accommodation for the holiday industry.
The
Church of St Radegunds which dates from the 11th Century with additions
in the 12th century and a Gothic porch sits more or less on a
roundabout on the D21. Inside the is a 17th century painting of the
siege of La Rochelle there is also a statue of St.Radegonde recalling
that in 732 the Benedictine monks of St-Croix de Poitiers took refuge
in Jard while fleeing from the Saracens.
The narrow streets of the old town with its small white washed houses contrast with the modern more bland houses that have sprung up everywhere.
The narrow streets of the old town with its small white washed houses contrast with the modern more bland houses that have sprung up everywhere.
3
Kilometers west of Jard nestling between the pine forest and the
marshes near to the pointe-du-Payre is the Abbey,
Notre-Dame-de-Liue-Dieu. Founded by Richard the Lion-heart in 1190 it
suffered badly during the Hundred years war,was sacked in the 16th
century by the protestants. The Premonstratensians added the first
floor and the octagenal watch towers to the corners before being sold
to a merchant in 1791 who used much of the stone to build villas at Les
Sables d'Olonne. The Charter house 12-14th Century now houses a museum,
its roof has interesting intersecting ribs.
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