Royan
By the sea, lost in time between the Belle Epoque and modernism

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Royan was in ruins after the Allied bombings. The architects in charge of the towns reconstruction were therefore free to experiment with new techniques, new concepts. Exploring downtown Royan means discovering the architectural style of the 50s under the influence of Alvar Aalto or Oscar Niemeyer.

Fortunately, many older buildings and detached manor houses survived, most of them in the typical seaside style of the Belle Époque, with its Art Déco style.

Ultimately, Royan is a modern seaside town with an intense nightlife, a tourist hotspot, just a stone's throw away from the more rural and traditional Charente Maritime, making it a particularly interesting town for keen tourists.