Église Notre-Dame de Royan

Église Notre-Dame de Royan is a modern church whose structure features 24 V-shaped concrete pillars that alternate with tall vertical windows around an elliptical form. The building extends roughly 45 meters in length and rises 56 meters high.

The original church was destroyed during World War II, and this modern replacement began construction in 1955. It was officially inaugurated in 1958 as part of the town's postwar rebuilding.

The church stands as a symbol of postwar renewal for the local community, representing how the town rebuilt itself after destruction. Its bold design has become central to how people see modern Royan.

The church sits in central Royan and is easy to reach on foot. Its distinctive design with large windows makes it simple to spot and admire from the outside.

The roof and walls are made from extremely thin concrete shells just 10 centimeters thick, yet they extend over 30 meters high. This bold construction method showcases an innovative engineering solution from the 1950s.

Location: Royan

Inception: 1955

Architects: Guillaume Gillet

Official opening: July 10, 1958

Architectural style: modern architecture

Height: 56 m

Length: 45 m

Width: 22 m

Address: place Notre-Dame

GPS coordinates: 45.62350,-1.03266

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:04