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Royan and surroundings
Royan and surroundings
To discover on Royan
A few miles away from Marennes Oleron basin, the country opens up to you! A day wouldn’t be enough to discover the riches of the territory, but we will give you the essential!
Must see: Palmyre Zoo and its 1600 animals installed in a forest park of 18 hectares, you should plan an entire day to discover all the species and to attend the show of sea lions and majestic parrots. We also recommend Planet Exotica, an exotic animal park, and if you are looking for thrills Coolongalook.
A beautiful escape from the wild coast in the heart of the Gironde Estuary
There is a lot of beautiful landscapes to discover: the wild coast and its beaches, the huge national forest of La Coubre, the lighthouse of the Coubre, the trail of the customs officers at Saint-Palais-sur-mer (you should stop by the stand of the Viviers Charentais for a tasting of seafood at any time), the Pont du Diable, the seaside resort of Pontaillac and its casino, the cornice of Pontaillac that leads on the seafront of Royan, the immense beach of Saint Georges de Didonne or if you feel like going further south, don’t miss a the troglodyte caves of Meschers or Talmont sur Gironde, classified among the most Beautiful Villages of France.
Along the coast, you will notice the majestic lighthouse of Cordouan, located at the mouth of the Gironde estuary and listed as a historical monument.
If you like to visit the “Versailles de la mer” as we name it, seven boat companies offer the crossing to the sandbank where the oldest of the French lighthouses still in activity stands. In short, the Royan country is worth a visit during your stay in Charente Maritime!
The national forest and the lighthouse of La Coubre
The national forest of La Coubre is a forest massif stretching over a whole part of the Arvert peninsula at the foot of the Pont de La Seudre (almost parallel to the Pont d'Oléron). Covering an area of 8,000 ha, it is one of the most important forests in northern New Aquitaine.
A few miles away from Marennes Oleron basin, the country opens up to you! A day wouldn’t be enough to discover the riches of the territory, but we will give you the essential!
Must see: Palmyre Zoo and its 1600 animals installed in a forest park of 18 hectares, you should plan an entire day to discover all the species and to attend the show of sea lions and majestic parrots. We also recommend Planet Exotica, an exotic animal park, and if you are looking for thrills Coolongalook.
From its 64 meters tall, the lighthouse of La Coubre dominates the forest. After a climb of 300-step, the highest lighthouse in Charente offers an exceptional 360° panorama on La Cote Sauvage de la Tremblade and its beautiful beaches, on the pine forest, the Gironde estuary, Royan and even Oleron that faceds it. It is also visible from La Plage Perroche when the weather is clear.
Palmyre Zoo, one of the most famous in Europe
With its 1,600 animals (mammals, birds, reptiles) of 115 different species installed on no less than 18 hectares of pine forest, the Zoo de La Palmyre is an unmissable place in Charente-Maritime.
Open all year round, this park set in the middle of the forest and the dunes offers a magnificent journey to the land of animals. Every day from Easter to All Saints Day, you can watch impressive shows by sea lions and parrots. Our favorite season to visit: spring, a period of many births. Allow at least 4 hours for visits.
City of Royan
Royan, a well-known marina and seaside resort, offers, in addition to its magnificent seafront, a remarkable range of Belle-Epoque villas where the imagination of the architects was expressed in total freedom. Royan, largely rebuilt after the war, is also a real living museum of 1950s urbanism.
The majestic church of Notre Dame, the market, the congress palace, are just a few examples of the architectural style of the city.
In addition to breathtaking coastal landscapes between creeks, cliffs, sandbanks, azure water that invite you to swim and relax, there are many attractions on the banks such as shops, bars, glaciers, restaurants, but also a casino and a thalassotherapy center. It’s also from Royan that you can reach the Gironde via the Verdon ferry which makes several trips per day.
A few steps away, you should not miss the beautiful beach of Saint Georges de Didonne and its lovely promenade, very appreciated by pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.
Meschers caves
Regulus and Matata’s caves are located a dozen kilometers south of Royan. This troglodyte site welcomes you in an exceptional setting on the right bank of the Estuary of the Gironde, in the white cliffs where Man made his nest over the centuries. Discover this extraordinary life and its legends.
Talmont sur Gironde
Perched on a peninsula and lined with alleys full of twilight roses and lined with white houses, the village of Talmont has an undeniable charm.
The 11th century Saint-Radegonde church is nestled between the edge of the cliff, which had to be reinforced to resist the aggression of the sea and its small marine cemetery. Its charm is due to its collected shape and its precarious balance between land and sea.
Gallo-Roman Museum and Site of the Fâ
After 2000 years of mystery, the archeological site of the Fâ reveals the remains of a Gallo-Roman port city of more than 50 ha. Today, a museum displays objects from excavations and an outdoor tour around the thermal baths, the temple, the theater and the warehouse, welcomes you to discover the ancient city located in the commune of Barzan.
Overlooking the Gironde estuary, a few kilometers from Talmont sur Gironde, you will discover the remains of a prosperous city that played a major economic role during the Gallo-Roman era, perhaps one of the most important ancient port cities of the Atlantic coast in connection with Médiolanum (Saintes) or Burdigala (Bordeaux) but also the rest of the Roman empire. From April to October, many activities are offered: guided tours, Gallo-Roman animations, dig workshops, participatory activities, visits to the garden...
Our favorite: Theme trips such as the Gourmand train with tasting of local products in Chaillevette, or the "picnic" train with night visit of Mornac-sur-Seudre, without forgetting in December the Santa Claus train!
