Discover Royan
and the surrounding area
Just a few dozen kilometers from the Marennes Oléron basin, the Pays Royannais opens up to you! It’s true that a day exploring the riches of this region, only an hour from our campsite in Oléron, would be a very short time, but we’re going to give you the essentials!
A must-see is the La Palmyre zoo, with its 1,600 animals housed in an 18-hectare forest park. Plan a whole day to discover all the species and watch the sea lions and majestic parrots perform.
For other parks to visit, we recommend Planet Exotica, an exotic animal park, or for aerobatics enthusiasts, the Coolongalook adventure park.
Must-sees in Royan
Royan, a renowned marina and seaside resort, offers, in addition to its magnificent waterfront, a remarkable array of Belle-Époque villas where architects’ imagination was given free rein. Royan, largely rebuilt after the war, is also a veritable living museum of 1950s urban planning.
The majestic Notre Dame church, the central market and the Palais de Congrès are just a few examples of the city’s architectural style.
Things to discover near Royan
Parks and family activities
A day at La Palmyre Zoo
With 1,600 animals (mammals, birds, reptiles) of 115 different species spread over no less than 18 hectares of pine forest, La Palmyre Zoo is a must-see in the Charente-Maritime region.
Open all year round, this park set amidst forest and dunes offers a magnificent journey into animal country. Every day from Easter to All Saints’ Day, you can watch impressive sea lion and parrot shows.
Our favorite time to visit: spring, when many babies are born. Allow at least 4 hours for your visit.
Selection of themed trips
In addition to the breathtaking coastal scenery of creeks, cliffs, sandbanks and azure waters, inviting you to swim and relax, the attractions are also on the waterfront, with numerous boutiques, bars, ice cream parlors and restaurants, as well as a casino and thalassotherapy center…
It’s also from Royan that you can reach the Gironde via the Verdon ferry, which makes several trips a day. Just a stone’s throw away, don’t miss the magnificent beach of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne and its pleasant promenade, much appreciated by pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.
The Côte sauvage and its beaches
There’s no shortage of natural beauty to discover: the wild coastline and its beaches, the immense Coubre national forest, the Coubre lighthouse, the customs path at Saint-Palais-sur-Mer (if you’re passing through, stop off at the Viviers Charentais stand for an all-day tasting of top-notch seafood!), the Pont du Diable, the popular seaside resort of Pontaillac and its casino, the corniche of Pontaillac leading to Royan’s seafront, the immense beach of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne or, if you’re feeling more southerly, don’t miss a visit to the troglodyte caves of Meschers or Talmont-sur-Gironde, listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages.
If you’d like to visit the “Versailles of the sea”, as it’s nicknamed, no fewer than seven boat companies offer crossings to the sandbar where France’s oldest lighthouse is still in operation. In short, the Pays Royannais is well worth a visit during your stay in Charente-Maritime!
State forest and La Courbe lighthouse
The Coubre State Forest is a forest massif stretching across part of the Arvert peninsula at the foot of the Seudre Bridge (almost parallel to the Pont d’Oléron). Covering an area of 8,000 ha, it is one of the largest forests in the north of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Just a few dozen kilometers from the Marennes Oléron basin, the Pays Royannais opens up to you! Admittedly, one day to discover the region’s riches would be too short, but we’re going to give you the essentials!
A must-see and already mentioned: La Palmyre Zoo, with its 1,600 animals housed in an 18-hectare forest park. Allow a whole day to discover all the species and watch the sea lions and majestic parrots perform. For other parks to visit, we recommend Planet Exotica, an exotic animal park, or for aerobatics enthusiasts, the Coolongalook adventure park.
From its height of 64 metres, the Coubre lighthouse dominates the forest. The highest lighthouse in the Charente region offers, after a 300-step ascent, an exceptional 306° panorama of the Côte Sauvage de la Tremblade and its magnificent beaches, the pine forest, the Gironde estuary, Royan and even Oléron opposite. On a clear day, you can even see it from Plage de La Perroche.
The Meschers caves
The Grottes municipales de Régulus and Grottes de Matata are located a dozen kilometers south of Royan.
This troglodyte site welcomes you to an exceptional setting on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary, in the white cliffs where man has made his nest over the centuries. Discover this extraordinary life and the legends that accompany it.
Talmont-sur-Gironde
Perched on a peninsula and criss-crossed by narrow streets lined with hollyhocks and white houses, the village of Talmont has an undeniable charm.
The 11ᵉ centurychurch of Sainte-Radegonde is hemmed in between the cliff edge, which had to be consolidated to withstand the aggression of the sea, and its small marine cemetery. Its charm lies in its compact form andprecarious balance between land and sea.
Gallo-Roman museum and site at Le Fâ
After 2000 years of mystery, the archaeological site of Le Fâ is gradually revealing the remains of a Gallo-Roman port city covering more than 50 hectares. Today, a museum displays the objects excavated and an outdoor tour of the baths, temple, theater and warehouse welcomes you to discover the ancient town located in the commune of Barzan.
Overlooking the Gironde estuary, just a few kilometers from Talmont-sur-Gironde, you’ll discover the remains of a prosperous town that played a key economic role in the Gallo-Roman era, and was undoubtedlyone of the most important ancient port cities on the Atlantic coast, in connection with Médiolanum(Saintes) and Burdigala (Bordeaux), as well as the rest of the Roman Empire. From April to October, the site offers a wide range of activities: guided tours, Gallo-Roman events, excavation workshops, participatory events, garden tours…
Our favorites: themed trips such as the Train Gourmand with tastings of local produce in Chaillevette, or the “picnic” train with anovernight visit to Mornac-sur-Seudre, not forgetting the Santa Claus train in December!
