Olonne – Sauveterre

Les Sables-d'Olonne · Vendée · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Olonne – Sauveterre (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/sauveterre.

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Sauveterre is a dune-backed beach in the Forêt d'Olonne with a mix of sand and rock, a few kilometres south of La Sauzaie. Its main peaks are reefs: an outer reef called the pic du large, a second one known as the pic du phoque, and the Pierres Noires rock slab right in front of the car park, which is for experienced surfers only. To the right of the slab the beach is a harmless sand break, and the beach break near the old bunker can also be good. It works at all tides and with most swell directions, and locals describe the reefs as properly powerful when swell and wind line up.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard for the reef peaks, anything from a longboard up for the beach.

When it works

✓ A west to north-west swell of one to two metres with a north-east to east wind; any stage of the tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Strong onshore wind, or a swell too small to reach the reefs.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • reef
  • rips

Best months

January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Beginners should stick to the sand to the right of the Pierres Noires slab and leave the reefs to experienced surfers. Locals tend to favour the left side of the beach, where the waves are stronger than on the softer right side. Watch for rips around the rocks, and note that weekends get busy when it is good.

Getting there

Take the D80 from Olonne towards Brétignolles, turn left on the Route de la Mer just past La Loubine campsite, then right to the large free car park at the forest edge. The first path leads straight to the Pierres Noires end (no lifeguards, swimming banned); the lifeguarded beach is about 800 metres north along a marked dune path.

Travel notes

How often it works
Surf-forecast rates it fairly consistent, and it can work at any time of year. The mix of reefs and sand gives options at every tide.
Crowd and vibe
Weekdays are quiet, but weekends get crowded when it is good. Locals tend to sit on the stronger left side of the beach; beginners should stay on the sand to the right.
Camping and vans
La Loubine campsite is on the access road, about 3 km away. Camping Bois Soleil and Domaine de l'Orée in Olonne are a similar distance. Nearest campsite about 3 km away.
Facilities
There is a summer lifeguard post on the main beach and a small buvette selling drinks and sandwiches, but no lifeguards at the Pierres Noires end.
Water quality
We found no recent official results for Sauveterre. The beach lies in the Olonne state forest, far from harbours and rivers.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1–2.2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–ESE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
WSW (256°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Vendée · All spots

Sources