Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t maʁi syʁ mɛʁ]; Breton: Lokmaria-Pornizh), officially Sainte-Marie, is a former commune in the Pays de Retz, situated in the Loire-Atlantique département and in the French région of Pays de la Loire.The commune forms a part of Brittany, in the traditional county of Retz and in the historical Pays Nantais.Sainte-Marie-sur-Mer is a market town on the Côte de Jade, with a jagged coastline strewn with coves.Since the end of March 2007 the market was moved creating a heated debate between tradesman, customers and the town hall.In the Courier of the Pays de Retz of 5 April 2007 the writer of the article spoke of a toxic atmosphere in the town.
