Pornic, a town full of history 2

In 1783, the priest-engineer Galipaud (who was the first to raise the idea of a canal from Nantes to Pornic) had a staircase dug (by unemployed Pornicans) linking the upper town to the Sables district, thus facilitating exchanges between the different parts of the town.

Between 1793 and 1796, the Vendée war went through several phases, ending with over 200,000 dead and much destruction. Pornic was attacked, recaptured and then lost by the Vendean insurgents (over 200 dead in the March battle), who finally lost control of the town at the end of April and set fire to it.

From 1800 onwards, Pornic changed its face and became a popular holiday resort, appreciated for its gentle way of life. The harbor quays were developed and the Les Sables neighborhoods became urbanized. A spa was set up at the foot of the château, promoting the benefits of seawater and hot baths.

Around 1850, magnificent villas were built between Pornic and Sainte-Marie, and beach accesses were created to enhance the town’s tourist appeal. Casinos and the Nantes/Pornic rail link followed, boosting business. A few years later, Pornic’s carnival expanded (floats, music, etc.) and became a must for summer visitors! And 1912: The golf course (9 holes in its early days, extended to 18 holes in 1992) is built.

In early September 1939, France entered the war against Germany, which invaded the country in May 1940, along with Belgium and the Netherlands. By May 20, the situation of the French army was catastrophic: the Germans had reached the English Channel, cutting the French army in two. England withdrew its troops… On June 17, at 6 a.m., the transatlantic ship “Lancastria” anchored 4km off the coast of Nazaire for Operation Ariel.