At the beginning, there were two communes: Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie (the oldest) and Croix-de-Vie. They were united into one (Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie) in 1967. Its site, at the confluence of the Vie and Jaunay rivers, is very significant. For a long time, the Vie river was a real separation between the populations, a border between Protestants and Catholics at first, then between whites and blues during the Vendée wars... In the Middle Ages, Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie was an important navigation center which welcomed hundred-ton boats. A bridge (1835) was built over the Vie river and a train station was built for the arrival of the railroad (1861). Croix-de-Vie only appeared in the 16th century, to receive the sailors of Saint-Gilles. In 1610, it experienced a great expansion thanks to Marie de Beaucaire, baroness of Riez, who had the large pier and the new quay of Madame (today's Adon Bay) built, as well as the chapel which was the church of Croix-de-Vie until 1896, the year of the construction of the current church. Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie has a fishing port and a marina, anchored in the heart of the city. It has kept its colors, its old districts and its traditions. Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is the only French harbor labeled Remarkable Site of Taste. This distinction was awarded in 1998 for the sardine. It is one of the largest sardine ports in France. In 2018, the sardine fishery of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie has been registered in the inventory of intangible cultural heritage of France!

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Pictures and images Saint-Gilles-Croix-De-Vie

Quai du Port Fidèle Linda CASTAGNIE
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie RICHARD MATEO - FOTOLIA
Port de Saint-Gilles-Crois-de-Vie. Linda CASTAGNIE

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