Royan, a popular seaside resort between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean
On the “Côte de Beauté”, in Charente-Maritime, the seaside resort of Royan is very popular with water sports enthusiasts and for its beautiful beaches. It offers many opportunities that will appeal to all visitors!
Royan: Belle Epoque style and a modernist style
The city has a rather surprising architecture, modernist, of which Notre Dame is a typical example! Made of plain concrete and inaugurated in 1958, it will surprise you with its height and the light that enters it.
At noon, a walk on the harbour allows to admire the boats and watch the fishermen bring the delicious oysters of Marennes Oléron back to port! Do not miss the Central Market, restored in the typical Royan style.
To discover the Belle Epoque district of Royan, walk in the park (on the promenade of Garnier waterfront). You will see the beautiful Belle Epoque villas and some mansions.
In the evening, stroll along the coastal path which is never the same as in daylight and finish by admiring the sunsets over the fishermen's huts. Take advantage of your stay to taste Cognac, inseparable from the Charente and discover the Bordeaux region, on the other side of the estuary of the Gironde!
Relaxing around Royan beaches
You will also have the opportunity to try out sailing at the city's club which is attached to the French federation or even why not go joy riding on a scooter, enough to satisfy your thirst for thrills! If you're more tempted to relax, enjoy the benefits of thalassotherapy in the centre of the city or choose from the beaches of the coast that best that suits your needs: the "conches" are very popular, small beaches nestled in the rocks, the beaches of the Grande Conche are recognizable by the blue and white tents that give protection from the wind, the Foncillon one is dominated by a saltwater pool, a little further, the coves of Chay and Pigeonnier are a paradise and Pontaillac beach is popular with surfers.
A visit around Royan
All around Royan, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the coastline but also pine forests, small villages along the road to Saint Jacques de Compostela and the views offered on the hillsides of the estuary ... Choose to stroll around Talmont-sur-Gironde, an ancient walled city with its hundreds of roses and its beautiful architecture revolving around the Romanesque, or enjoy the scenery from the cliffs of Meschers, small village overlooking the estuary and that was long the hide out of pirates and looters whose stories have forged great stories to discover! You can observe the many cave dwellings.
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, nearby, is ideal for families with its large sandy bay and the lighthouse of the Rois. A visit to Vaux-sur-Mer is a pleasant break in the shade of the cypresses during the summer season. The most impressive landscapes are towards Saint-Palais-sur-Mer: cornices, cliffs and superb villas make the character of this small resort. Children will be delighted to visit the Palmyra Zoo, the largest private zoo in France, in which the animals enjoy more than 14 hectares of pine forest!
Royan should seduce all travellers!
