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Offered languages
- English
- French
- Spanish
Explore the Atlantic Phoenix city of Royan in a fascinating day. Discover its rich modern architectural heritage, from Belle Époque villas to bold reconstruction buildings. Browse the 16 iconic sites, such as Notre Dame Church, the Central Point of Sale, and the Port of Royan. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of the squares and gardens, while enjoying the natural beauty of the Gironde estuary. This 3.2 km circuit can be made on foot and plunges you into the heart of a multifaceted city, ideal for history and architecture enthusiasts.
- Circuit of 3.2 km on foot, to discover in about 1h30
- 16 places of interest, including historic and modern sites
- Ideal for architecture and history lovers
- Ease of access with majority free parking in the city.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We build our circuits in the form of a loop so that you can easily start the tour at the point closest to you, the guidance will adapt automatically. If you are nearby, we recommend this ideal Check-out Point.
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
Here is the Church of Our Lady of Royan, jewel of modern architecture of the 20th century. It symbolizes the renaissance of the city after the bombings of January 5, 1945, which destroyed the old neo-Gothic shrine of 1874.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are here in front of the Protestant Centre of Royan, a discreet but meaningful building. Built between 1953 and 1957, it embodies the reconstruction of the city after the bombings of 1945, but also a much older religious history.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Place Charles de Gaulle carries with it all the tragic and renaissance history of the city. Here once stood the first church of Our Lady of Royan, a 12th century Gothic building.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
This boulevard perfectly embodies the revolutionary urban vision of reconstruction: to create a city with two faces. If the seafront represents the "seaside" dedicated to tourists and seaside leisure, this boulevard constitutes the "city side", the beating heart of the daily life of Royanese.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are, in Boulevard Aristide Briand, one of the main roads of the city, designed during the very first phase of post-war reconstruction.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
In Royan, you are facing the largest estuary in Western Europe: the Gironde estuary. This immensity stretches over 75 kilometers, born of the meeting between the Garonne and the Dordogne at the beak of Ambès.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are in Place Foch, one of Royan's most moving places because it is a rare witness to the history before the destruction. This square has a secret in its name: it was once called Place des Acacias before being renamed in tribute to Marshal Foch after the Great War.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The boulevard on your left is Boulevard Frédéric-Garnier, one of the most beautiful promenades in Royan. It runs along Grande Conche beach and through the Parc district, an area miraculously spared by the bombings of 1945.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are in a city that has revolutionized French relations with the ocean. The history of thalassotherapy in Royan begins long before the term was coined in 1865 by Dr. Joseph La Bonnardière, who associated the Greek words thalassa, the sea, and therapeia, treatment.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are in the auditorium square, one of the most emblematic areas of the Royal seafront. On your left, this particular curved shape, which evokes a huge shell, is Marcel Canellas' auditorium, completed in 1961.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Opposite the auditorium are the Botton galleries, one of the most original achievements of the Royal reconstruction. The first Botton galleries, built in 1926 in an Art Nouveau style, were located in Botton Square, north of the waterfront.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Kerveno’s Esplanade Felix Marie, on your left, pays tribute to a hero of the Second World War who fell here, just days before Royan’s liberation.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are on a site full of history. Where you admire today these flower gardens once stood the casino of Royan of the 1960s, one of the most daring works of architect Claude Ferret.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You will pass along one of the most emblematic ports on the French Atlantic coast. The history of this place dates back to the Middle Ages, when the first sailors discovered this protected natural haven, ideally located on the right bank of the Gironde estuary.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
You are on the beach of Foncillon. It was the first in Royan to welcome bathers: as early as 1819, Mayor Labarthe reserved access exclusively for women, while men went to the Grande Conche.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Here you are in front of the Palais des Congrès in Royan, one of the jewels of French modernist architecture. Inaugurated in 1957, this building was one of the first congress palaces built in France.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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