The history of Royan has been shaped by:
(i)
its position on the Atlantic coast and specifically its strategic location at the mouth of the Gironde estuary
(ii) political and religious conflict
(iii)a microclimate that vies with that of the Mediterrean
and, significantly, the town has had to completely renew itself after being virtually destroyed on two occasions.
There was a settlement at Royan in Celtic times operating as a fishing port. During the 12th century the area was under the control of Henry II of England via his marriage to Eleanor of Acquitaine. This was a period of peace and prosperity for Royan which saw the town fortified and surrounded by protective ramparts. Fishing was the major commercial activity especially for sturgeon in the Gironde. The port also exported salt and wine to England. For the next several centuries Royan was essentially a military town, the port was expanded by the creation of a sea wall. During the 100 Years War it alternated between English and French control and became increasingly important because of its strategic position controlling the mouth of the Gironde estuary and the considerable trade in wine and other agricultural produce from Bordeaux and rural Aquitaine.
During the 17th century Royan became embroiled in local religious wars. The area around Royan, including Saintes and La Rochelle, was the centre of the Protestant French Huguenots. In 1622 the French King, Louis XIII, send the Duke of Epernon as an envoy to Royan to seize control of Royan from the Huguenots inhabitants. However the next year the Huguenots returned, massacred the Royal garrison and retook the town. Louis was not prepared to leave this outrage unpunished and sent troops to retake the town. The troops razed the fortifications and the port and sea wall were destroyed; any person found carrying arms was executed. The king forbade any rebuilding of the town or the port - Royan was in ruins.
One of Royan's surviving Belle Epoch villas
The first visitors were from Bordeaux and arrived by river including steamboats. The arrival in 1875 of the railway saw an influx of visitors from Paris. Royan became very fashionable and many well to do Parisian families spent the whole of the Summer at the town and built the most extraordinary seaside villas. These Belle Epoch properties were both luxurious and fantastic in their style. This halcyon period in the history of Royan was not to last.
The town, given once again its strategic position controlling the Gironde estuary, was occupied by German troops during the Second World War (one or two of the German BlockHaus gun emplacements built on the beach at La Grande Cote have been left as poignant reminders of this period). Just as the war was drawing to a close disaster struck the town. For reasons which are still not clear, the French commanders of the local liberating forces ordered an airstrike by the RAF on Royan to help drive out a 'poche' of German troops who remained dug in on the outskirts of Royan. The bombers attacked on the night of 5 January 1945 - many civilians were killed and nearly all of the town was destroyed. A matter of weeks later the war in Europe had ended. For the second time in its history Royan was in ruins.
As part of the state sponsored reconstruction of post-war France, Royan was the subject of an extensive rebuilding programme which created a town which exemplifies the 'fifties' style of architecture. Particular examples are the church, the Palais de Congress and the shell shaped market. Royan again flourished as a delightful place to spend time, a friendly seaside town with a wonderful climate and spectacular beaches - the holiday destination of choice for the French themselves and what better recommendation could there be?
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