Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Royan, Modern church in Royan, France
The église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption is a concrete church with parabolic curves and a rectangular plan, topped by a square bell tower decorated with ceramic details. The exterior reveals the postwar modern style through its clean geometric forms and distinctive profile on the city skyline.
The church was built between 1951 and 1954 by architects Jean Bauhain, René Baraton, and Marc Hébrard to replace a chapel destroyed during wartime. The building emerged as part of the town's broader reconstruction effort following the destruction of the Second World War.
The stained glass windows in the nave showcase expressive works by painter Maurice Rocher, creating a distinctive play of colored light throughout the interior. Visitors can observe how these windows shape the mood and visual experience of the space as they walk through.
The church sits on Avenue Émile Zola in the Parc district and is easily reached on foot from the town center. The modern design and location make it simple to find and approach from any direction.
The building draws inspiration from Brazilian modernist architecture, particularly Oscar Niemeyer's Saint Francis Chapel in Belo Horizonte, through its bold curved forms. This connection to South American design trends was uncommon for a French coastal town in the 1950s.
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