The Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine is part of the history of the Vendée coast.
Caught offshore, it is prized for its freshness and authentic flavour. It was also the first wild-caught fish to be awarded the Label Rouge, something the region is rightly proud of!
In Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, sardines are caught, prepared and enjoyed all year round.
Simple and delicious, the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine captures the maritime spirit of the Vendée coast all by itself.
During your stay at Flower Camping Au Bois des Biches, why not go and taste them, just 9 minutes away?
At a glance
- The Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine was the first wild-caught fish to be awarded the Label Rouge.
- The fishing season starts in spring and sets the rhythm of life in the port.
- The Gendreau – La Perle des Dieux cannery carries on a tradition of artisan craftsmanship.
- Enjoy them fresh at the Banc des Sardines or tinned at l’Atelier de la Sardine.
- Every April, the Printemps de la Sardine celebrates this iconic fish.
The history of the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine
The history of the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine goes back to the 17th century.
At that time, sardine fishing transformed the economic life of the Vendée coast. Around 1840, preserving in oil appeared. This method made it possible to keep the fish for longer and gave rise to the first canneries.
Very quickly, the town became a true sardine port. By the 19th century, there were as many as thirteen canneries!
Today, only the Gendreau cannery, known as La Perle des Dieux, keeps this expertise alive, handed down through the generations. Every spring, the boats set out from the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie fish market to catch this small, silvery-blue fish.
Listed in France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine remains a strong symbol of the region and its people.
Fishing in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
In Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, sardine fishing has always set the rhythm of life in the port.
The season begins in spring, when the boats leave the fish market at dawn and head for the Vendée coast and the Île de Ré.
Once landed, the sardines are carefully sorted before being sold at the fish market or prepared at the Gendreau cannery – La Perle des Dieux. There, everything is done quickly to ensure the fish is fresh and top quality!
This expertise, passed down from generation to generation, has earned the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine the Label Rouge, a first for a wild-caught fish!
Here, every boat leaving and every return to port is part of a ritual the locals know well. A whole community lives by the rhythm of this small, silvery-blue fish.
The canneries and their expertise
The Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine owes its reputation to expertise handed down for more than a century. In the past, the town had more than ten canneries.
Today, only one remains: the Gendreau cannery, known under the brand name La Perle des Dieux. The sardines are prepared by hand here, just as they used to be. They are sorted, dried, lightly fried in oil, then carefully packed into tins.
This painstaking work ensures a well-known quality and an authentic flavour. By visiting the Atelier de la Sardine in Saint-Gilles, visitors can discover the different stages of production, the colourful tins and the history of local fishing.
It is a living, working place that celebrates the skill and expertise of the women and men who keep this tradition alive. Through these precise gestures, the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine continues to embody the pride and maritime identity of the whole of Vendée.
Where to taste Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardines
You can’t leave without trying the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine.
To enjoy them fresh, head to Le Banc des Sardines, right next to the fish market. This little restaurant serves sardines grilled on the plancha with baby new potatoes and a squeeze of lemon. Simple, local and delicious. Address: 63 Quai Marcel Bernard, 85800 Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
To see what goes on behind the scenes, don’t miss the tour of the Conserverie Gendreau, the last cannery still in operation in the town.
During the Journées Régionales de la Visite d’Entreprise (regional company visit days), you can watch the sardines being packed by hand and chat with the team: a chance to understand the work behind every tin.
Whether at the table or on a visit, the Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardine is one to savour with all your senses.
The Sardine Festival in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Every spring, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie celebrates its much-loved fish with the Printemps de la Sardine festival. The event marks the start of the fishing season and brings locals and visitors together around the harbour. For several weeks, the town buzzes with entertainment, tastings, guided visits and sea shanties.
The highlight is the arrival of the Spring Sardine: the boats return to port and the first basket of fresh sardines is presented to the mayor. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with music, laughter and the delicious smell of grilled fish.
It’s the perfect chance to taste Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardines right where they’re landed and to discover the passion they inspire. A simple, warm-hearted event not to be missed if you’re in the area in April.
If you’re staying at Flower Camping Au Bois des Biches in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, why not make a detour to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, just 9 minutes away? It’s a great way to try Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie sardines and enjoy the true flavours of the Vendée coast.
