Royan

Bombardments in 1945 left Royan 85% destroyed, but after the war, the seaside town became a ‘laboratory for research into town planning’. Great architects like Le Corbusier and Niemeyer helped rebuild the town in modern style.

The seafront, its cycle track and La Grande Conche Beach, the church of Notre-Dame by Guillaume Gillet (1955/1958), the central market and the station all contributed to making Royan the most ‘50s’ town in France. Since 2010, it has been recognized for its cultural riches as a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire.